kernel compile err

[harsha <harshu@hd2.dot.net.in>]

Hi,
    I have screwed up my debian box real bad that I am not able to
compile the kernel. For some reason I can't seem to patch the kernel
tree from 2.4.14. to 2.4.16. 

When I tried recompiling 2.4.14 kernel this is the error that I get.
<snipped>

make all_targets
make[2]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux/arch/i386/lib'
make[2]: Nothing to be done for `all_targets'.
make[2]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux/arch/i386/lib'
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux/arch/i386/lib'
ld -m elf_i386 -T /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/vmlinux.lds -e stext arch/i386/kernel/head.o arch/i386/kernel/init_task.o init/main.o init/version.o \
	--start-group \
	arch/i386/kernel/kernel.o arch/i386/mm/mm.o kernel/kernel.o mm/mm.o fs/fs.o ipc/ipc.o \
	 drivers/char/char.o drivers/block/block.o drivers/misc/misc.o drivers/net/net.o drivers/media/media.o drivers/char/agp/agp.o drivers/ide/idedriver.o drivers/cdrom/driver.o drivers/sound/sounddrivers.o drivers/pci/driver.o drivers/video/video.o \
	net/network.o \
	/usr/src/linux/arch/i386/lib/lib.a /usr/src/linux/lib/lib.a /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/lib/lib.a \
	--end-group \
	-o vmlinux
drivers/char/char.o(.data+0x46b4): undefined reference to `local symbols in discarded section .text.exit'
drivers/sound/sounddrivers.o(.data+0x734): undefined reference to `local symbols in discarded section .text.exit'
drivers/sound/sounddrivers.o(.data+0x77d4): undefined reference to `local symbols in discarded section .text.exit'
make: *** [vmlinux] Error 1

I had downloaded the complete kernel 2.4.16. However when I compile I
get the same error. :((
I am able to patch the kernel from 2.4.10 all the way till 2.4.15, but
to 2.4.16 this is the problem.

When I tried to patch the kernel 2.4.16 to 2.4.17 it failed. 

can't find file to patch at input line 4
Perhaps you used the wrong -p or --strip option?
The text leading up to this was:
--------------------------
|diff -Nur linux-2.4.15/Makefile linux/Makefile
|--- linux-2.4.15/Makefile	Thu Nov 22 17:22:58 2001
|+++ linux/Makefile	Sat Nov 24 16:21:53 2001
--------------------------
File to patch: 

I am a little lost.

regards
Harsha


-- 
Time is a drug. Too much of it will kill.