Absolute Newb to slackware... rtfm right now, and using the Kernel Compiling Guide for newbies on this forum.

I am currently logged in as root and in the usr/src/ directory... but the only subdirectory of that is rpm/...

I am using Slack 9.0 as far as I can tell from my friend's setup cd, and while he included his own custom kernel, I cannot find it anywhere on the system. I am truly lost.

I can say however, that I have just succeeded in fixing a broken network, and now have both my win2k AS computer and my slackware computer online. w00t

This 'cause you don't have the kernel sources installed!!
Not only Makefile miss but all the kernel sources files! That directory should be full of kernel files!!
Don't worry..is normal!!!Slack 9.0 doesn't install by default the kernel sources!!
You can find the sources on CD2 (some correct me if I wrong)!!
If you want to compile a new kernel (maybe a good thing to try 2.4.22) you should download it from www.kernel.org

Bye

the setup cd is supposed to have a kernel called Kromix... buuuuut it's not there.

nevermind.... it's all there... install is good to go after a reinstall... my bad for not reporting back sooner.