i downloaded the linux kernal 2.6.11.11 when i extracted it there was only a text file with a load of code. I gather this is the source code which i have to compile but i dont have a clue how to do it.

From what you describe, you didn't download the kernel, just a patch file. The full kernel would have been around 40MB. when you unpack the actual kernel.tar.bz2 it will decompress to a folder, like linux-2.6.11.11 from there you can enter into the directory and do the following to compile a kernel

make menuconfig
make bzImage
make modules
make modules_install


If I'm correct that you've downloaded a patch file, then the patch command comes into play. You could need to already have the 2.6.11.10 kernel sources and you could use the patch file to bring those up to 2.6.11.11.


What was the name of the file you downloaded?

I have the proper kernal now. thanks anyway