3c509x module fails to load

[topher netscape com (Christopher Lamey)]

CPU: 133 Pentium (Clone)
RAM: 32M
Network Card: 3com 3c509b combo ISA

So, on bootup this message comes in at INIT Level 3:
3c900.c v0.40 beck3 nasa gov ismod init of 3c509x failed
delaying init of eth0

I have used the DOS util for the card to disable plug'n'pray and set the
transcever to RJ-45.  I'm stuck at this point.  This page here

http://cesdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/linux/drivers/3c509.html

says the latest version is 1.14, but also implies that the 1.14
driver isn't needed for the 2.x kernal.  I also noticed that my
/boot/modules sez that the 3c509 driver lives in drivers/net, but the
only 3cxxx.o's I find are in /lib/modules/2-30.0/net (haven't looked
enough, probably)  Oh, and the card does operate under Sin95.

So, 
1) how do I know what version of the driver I'm currently using? 
2) if it's less than 1.14, should I get 1.14?
3) how do I get more info on why it won't init?  Is there a verbose
setting?
4) what's the command to show me the bootup messages?

many thanx,
topher