Isn't updating Tumbleweed enough to be with the latest (stable) kernel? Also when you say 'try' - do you mean that I should try booting the system or the installation without 'nomodeset'? (or both?) I am asking because I noticed that after installing the system (using nomodeset in the installer) there was nomodeset also set in the boot loader of the intsalled system - yet removing it and booting the installed system (without nomodeset) shows the mouse pointer fine (and not corrupt like in the installation). I hope you understand me :)