I download the source files for the kernel 2.4.20 from slackware ftp site.

I used pkgtool for installing the sources.

And I have done this.

make menuconfig
make dep;make clean;make bzImage
cp /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz.test

I add the new kernel in /etc/lilo.conf with label test

lilo [enter] without error

depmod -a [enter] without error

rm -rf /lib/modules/2.4.20

make modules modules_install

If a choose test or linux at startup, when the kernel try module depencies, a recived failes to initialize modules...... my xfree86, mouse, sound, etc.... doesn't work anymore.

I don't know what to do.

Compiling your kernel the quick and easy way:

make [menu|x|old]config
make dep clean bzImage modules modules_install install

Make will plop your hot off the press binaries in / (or /boot), update all of your links, and run lilo for you.

How come nobody thinks of running make install? What install guide are you using that tells you to cp your kernel manually??

Because I want to keep a kernel for backup....

ok make install do it?

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...threadid=49035

It's at the top of the forum...check what you're doing against it, and maybe it'll help.

make install doesn't overwrite your current kernel. Even if the versions match it'll rename your old one to *.old

This is true, but you still want to have a backup kernel and Sysmap named something like *.good or *.dontmesswiththisifyouvalueyoursystem. If you don't and have two bad compiles in a row, you no longer have a good kernel. Believe me, I learned this one the hard way.

Yes...this is very good advice

I am going crazy, I downloaded the new and improved slackware 9 ISO file burned it on to CD and installed it, but when I go to add drivers to my wireless LAN it says that it can't find the linux install directory, so I think ok I will first build a custom kernel and then add the drivers, but once again defeated, when I try to move to the /usr/src/linux directory it says that the directory is an invalid directory, and of course the make mrproper doesn't run from out side that directory. I know that the OS has a kernel because it runs but can someone help me find this directory. I know that the /usr/src/linux is normally a link but to where.
And how do you create a link.

I am a newbie so any help that could be given to this stupid and blind newbie that has obviously done something wrong would be great. I even download a different slackware9 iso and installed that hopping that would give the dir but no luck.

please help

The ISO you downloaded does not include the kernel source for space reasons. You have to "installpkg kernel source2.4.20.tgz" in order for you to compile anything.Download the kernel source from k directory in the ftp site where you dl the ISO .

Please read ALL the readme files that are included in the ISO and also the ftp site directory for slackware. You will find instructions there on what to do in case of problems.

I had a problem booting the CD in burned using the ISO and the solution is there in one of the readmes in the ftp site.

To wildTiger23,

IF you are using Slack 9 why do you need to compile a 2.4.20 kernel? It is already using the kernel. I think what you wanted is to install the kernel source which can be done simply by "installpkg kernel-source-2.4.20-noarch.tgz".

http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Kernel-HOWTO/quick_steps.html
See section 2.4, step 10

thanks for your help. I just needed the kernel source /usr/src/linux and all the files for a install that i am trying to do for my wlan card. I will try your suggestion. This is a great site thanks for all the good advice.