Hi, when I do `make modules_install` I get several errors such as:
depmod: *** Unresolved symbols in /lib/modules/2.5.72/kernel/drivers/ide/ide-cd.ko
depmod: cdrom_mode_select

reviewing the kernel source and my .config file, I find that either cdrom.h was not compiled, or its compiled library was not made available to the rest of the modules (such as, ide-cd). However, it was set to be included in the kernel. I didn't think that there was any rule that if one thing was compiled into the kernel then all its dependent objects need be as well (as opposed to their being compiled as modules). Is there? Am I an idiot for trying to play with such a new kernel when I'm not an expert?

Quien

You should just stick to the latest stable release (2.4.21) as the 2.5.x series is under development and not recommended unless you are going to debug, develop, etc for it.