How to recompile the kernel?

[ELMIT]

The hardware I am using, needs a patch for sound.

I tried Puppy 109.CE, which boots from USB flash drive and from CF.
I tried Puppy 2.0 and it does not boot.
Same USB flash drive can boot on another board.

Questions:
Since in both cases I need to recompile the kernel to patch for the sound. How to setup both environments?
Which config files have been used for these two puppies?
Which, if any, patches have been applied?
Where can I find all the sources for that?

GOOGLE and the website is not a good resource, since too many changes on the web site and links are linking you in a circle to itself telling you that the page is out dated, .....

Confused !!!

Ronald