Ok rshaw,
I tried to update the kernel again today and the same thing happend..It just locks up? So had to uninstall and re-install the default again...Any ideas at all what might be causing this? Here is what I am doing
1) Run yast and get the kernel update
2)Install new kernel
3)At prompt, it says might have to reboot system after new kernel is installed because it will need some the modules at boot
3) After install complete, I reboot the system and it just hangs ?

if it's any consolation, alot of people are having problems with that kernel update, no word from suse yet. i would hold off for now, and take note of the version (run online update again to the point you can see the kernel version, then cancel out) then compare with future kernel updates and go with a later build when offered.

I cant even get suSE back up now...I tried the update , installed, mk_initrd,rebooted and it just hangs..So, I put the cd back in start it back up and had it boot up the "installed system" , then go to yast and try and install the default kernel and now it will not let me .....? Is there anyway that I can reinstall the default kernel again from the rpm ? Jeez, lol, I don't have a clue(although its been fun thus far) =)

there should be a 'repair system' option some where during the installation routine, might try that instead of 'boot installed system'

It does no good.....Surely there is a way to installed the default kernel again.......

yast refuses to install the default, or you can't even get to that point? if you can get to a root prompt, put cd1 in and 'mount /media/cdrom' find the kernel package, then 'rpm -ivh <complete file name> --force --no-deps. then 'mkinitrd','SuSEconfig', 'ldconfig'

I can get that far, but when I select the default, then click next it just refreshes now., almost like it will not install because its a older version ....as for the location of the default kernel, lol, I am not sure how to even find the default location......

right clicking the box should give the little () swirly arrow thingy as an option, then clicking accept doesn't install the on disc kernel? odd. you may want to try to reinstall mkinitrd along with the kernel, in case that was online updated

should be in /media/cdrom/suse/i586/kernel-default-2.6.4-52.i586.rpm

Still not having any luck on this yet...but how would i re-install this?

OK, got it back up and running with the default kernel again .....Nice work rshaw..Now, here is one thing I don't understand ..when I bring up a root console and type rpm -qf /boot/vmlinuz here is the feedback that I get
kernel-smp-2.6.5-7.95 (this is the updated kernel that has been giving me problems trying to load)
kernel-default-2.6.4-52 (this is the default that come s with suSE 9.1)
Why is it reading both now? I know this may seem like a silly question, but over the past few days , I have learned so much so I don't mean to be asking such silly questions .

heh, go question, try an 'rpm --rebuilddb' then the rpm -qf again.

lol tried that, still showing same thing