Bootup hangs at many stages/phases of the boot process.
Only way for me to make it move forward is to keep
hitting the carriage return (i.e. to force an interrupt).
Mouse clicks did not help. Only CR from KB makes it hop 
to the next stage/phase, and I have to hit the KB again
and again ...etc.

The same problem occurs during shutdown, and the same
solution: i have to keep pressing CR until the system
finally shuts down.

If I do not press CR, I can leave the machine alone
and 3 hours later, it is stuck at the same position
in the boot or shutdown process. Only CR makes it move
to the next step/phase....etc.

I can reproduce this problem at will, with any of
the 2.6.38 kernels.