Some answers
Not using grub (yet) - using Lilo. I need to poke around and figure out how to point it back at my old kernel - nevermind, fixed that. The file "config-2.2.20-idepci" is 3888 bytes, the file "config-2.4.18" is 20500 bytes. Just a wee bit different, methinks. :P I'll poke around and see what I can find missing, though.
"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." -- Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989