i have SUSE Linux 10.0 GM, and im trying to upgrade to kernel 2.6.14.3

then apply the Con Kovilas patch onto it, complete newbie at the kernel, wanted to have a shot at it,

i ve the following files,
linux-2.6.14.3.tar.bz2
patch-2.6.14.3.tar.bz2
patch-2.6.14-ck5.bz2

im in the /usr/src directory, and everthing ive tried aint working

SuSE is a rpm-based distro. You have downloaded compressed tar files.

You have three options:
1) download the equivalent rpm files and install those.
2) use archiver to view the contents of the compressed archives. Look for README and INSTALL files to read. They should contain installation instructions.
3) use archiver to view the contents of the compressed archives. Look for a file called .spec. If it exists in the archive, it is an rpm .spec file, which tells rpm what to do in order to compile and build rpm .src.rpm and .rpm files (source and binary installable files). If the .spec file is there, cd to the directory in which the tarball resides, and use the rpm -tb <filename>.tar.bz2 command to build a installable binary rpm, or rpm -ta <filename>.tar.bz2 to build both a .src.rpm and .rpm. Install the .rpm as you would any other in SuSE; either manually or via YaST. Archive the .src.rpm somewhere on removable media. Should you need it again, as in hardware upgrade, you can recompile quickly and easily.

bigrigdriver: he mentioned he wanted to have a shot at building the kernel manually...

NetBlaster:
You don't need patch-2.6.14.3.tar.bz2, as this patch is intended to patch an old source tree to 2.6.14.3. As you have already downloaded the complete source, it is not necessary.

So: first unpack the source:
Now cd into the source tree:
Now copy the patch into the source tree:
Uncompress the patch:
Now apply the patch:
See this page for more info:
http://www.linuxhq.com/patch-howto.html

After the source is patched, have a look at README for instructions on building and installing the kernel.

ahh, thank you alot, lol all of a sudden it all becomes much more simple thank you bulliver