upgrade to kernel 2.4.4 in Redhat

[Richard <degage teleport com>]

At the risk of being ridiculed to dust, I tried to upgrade my kernel.  I am 
running RH 7.1 with stock kernel, working ok, but I could not get video (TV) 
from my All-In-Wonder card.  I think that the video for linux option was not 
part of kernel, and neither was parallel_parport service.  This last prevents 
access to bi-directional mode of printer when using VMWare.  So.  I figured 
if I had to make kernel changes, why not use newer sources at the same time.  
I know, I know.  Having built kernels fairly frequently when I was using 
SuSE, I just jumped right in.  No errors in build, modules install.  When 
re-booting, the error message onslaught began.  Some I can expect and 
probably handle, such as "LPR conflict, another service using LPD spool".  
But biggest problem was the inability to start the X server.  A string of 
messages all suggesting sockets that either did not exist or were not 
available.  Since I set lilo to use the new kernel as an additional boot 
option I was able to return to original and here I am.  

Is there something simple and basic I have missed?  

How safe might I be to simply re-build stock kernel with new options added?  

I understand the "-2" in the stock kernel says that RH has patched some extra 
stuff into the standard 2.4.2 kernel.  How might this affect the system?  
Would it prevent use of another kernel by locating files somewhere 
unknown/inaccessible to another kernel source?  Thanks for any light anyone 
can shed.  I do still consider myself a newbie, must, since these questions 
are coming up, but on the other hand, I do know what I know from earlier 
experiences.  Richard