debian kernels

Anyone ever successfully installed a debian kernel pacakge?

I've been trying to compile a specific kernel module.

So far no luck. So now I'm compiling and installing a kernel from sources.

All because I want my scanner to work in debian. Funny it used to work out of the box in other distros, but in debian it is installing some funky wrong module. Granted it is a parallel port scanner.

<rant> I have another scanner, which I just bought, but it won't work in Linux, so I need to build a M$ box so I can scan in my medium format negatives. Then I'll start working on finishing the experimental driver for the scanner. </rant>

Thanks,

Brian JD