Sorry morrisset but I've never compiled a 2.6.x kernel and I could
never figure out GRUB which is why I use LILO. You should search
LQ (especially the RedHat forum) and
www.google.com/linux and
if you can't find any answers there, start a new thread in the RedHat
forum so you'll get better help from RedHat users.
I may be wrong, for I don't know your soundcard, but I don't think
it's necessary to upgrade to a 2.6.x kernel to get it working. I'm
almost positive it's not, but since I don't know your soundcard I
can't say for sure.
To get your soundcard to work, probably the best thing is to go
to
ALSA and look it up and follow their instructions.
Don't give up - its' always darkest before the dawn! Look to that
light at the end of the tunnel. If you look back you'll see the light
on the Micro$loth train that wants to run you over. If you keep on
looking forward, you'll see the light of freedom that comes with a
properly setup GNU/Linux system. ;}