I wondered if there is a way to perform a new install with a newer version kernel than the one on the install disks. I have looked around & can´t seem to find any info about this. Any ideas anyone?

Do you want to install everything again or do you just want a new kernel? If you want everything installed again just install it with the old kernel and then install a new kernel.
To install a new kernel, you will need to get the kernel sources from http://www.kernel.org . You will then need to install it from source. The instructions should come with the kernel - read them carefully. Installing a new kernel is tricky the first time you do it, because you probably don't know what all of the options mean in the configuration step. In general, you should go through each and every stage, and if you don't know what it means, then read the help on it (click the help button). Many setting say something like "if you don't know what any of this means, select N", but you will need to know your hardware specifications.
Search this forum about kernel compilation and you'll find some good links to help page if you're unsure.
Guy

To answer your first question - both actually. I have the rpms for the newer kernel & a nice shiny new box to install redhat 7.3 on, the problem is that the older kernel doesnt detect some of my hardware & the installation halts with a sys 11 error. I found this to be the case with several other distros which are using the 2.4.18 kernel, but redhat 9 with the 2.4.20 kernel installs fine. I prefer the older redhat & would like to install it again but it looks like I need the newer kernel as a part of the install. Hope this makes sense as nothing else seems to want to work for me, at least not yet anyhow.

Howzit

Well if u know how to compile a kernel and there r some good HOW-TO in doing this I'm sure it's just the case in activating the hardware u have in your current kernel and compile. Another way u may goto https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2003-187.html and u will find the kernel u need for your distro. Remember when u install the rpm use the cmd in the following manner rpm -ivh <kernel-pakage> this will preserve your old kernel and config files use Uvh this will do the opposite.

chow