Help with compiling of kernel
 

I have decided to download and compile a new kernel. I have found a guide on how to do it somewhere on this site. What I would like to know is should I download the patch or the full thing. Also how would I dual boot between two different kernels. I don't want to replace the kernel that is there until I know that the new one works.
Also if I use a new kernel will I need to reinstall the drivers.
Help would be mush appreciated

you need the full kernel source as for the others I don't know.

if you want to keep your old kernel and your new kernel is a newer version, then download the full thing from www.kernel.org and untar it into your /usr/src directory

from there just follow the kernel compile guides on this site

as for dual-booting kernels, you should rename your current kernel in /boot to something like vmlinuz.old and change the entry in grub.conf or lilo.conf to boot vmlinuz.old when linux.old is selected; then when you copy your new kernel image to /boot, just make a new entry to boot that image

or you could just use the slackware kernel compile guide and use make install which will take care of backups automatically

Thanks that was very helpful