. So, let's get clicking.
You've got the source all ready, let's get into it and do it. As your normal user type:
Wow, look at that, click and drool kernel compile!. So, let's get clicking.
The defaults will give you a working kernel. Don't change non hardware related options unless you know what the change will do. You probably will want "Loadable module support" turned on. For all your hardware you have a choice of "y m n", or yes, module, no, which turn on and off what gets compiled and where it is put. Stock kernels have all the modules compiled and put into /lib/modules/kernel/version_number/. Your kernel install too will make such a directory with the modules you want. I was interested in having the initio driver in my kernel, so I punched "SCSI support", saw that the default options would support the driver and then punched the "SCSI low level drivers" and then put a "y" next to my driver. Other stuff, such as sound support, I put in as modules to be loaded on startup from the list I made in /etc/modules. When you have everything you want, save and exit.
Clean things up and actually compile by typing:
How long this takes depends on the machine you are using. PCMCIA support takes a little extra work and does not belong on an easy kernel compile page. Other than that, you are done and should have kernel package waiting for you at:
/usr/local/src/my_kernels/kernel-image-2.2.22-subarchitecture_your_kernel_name_i386.deb.