Question/help re: themake scripts in 2.6.36

[JD <jd1008@gmail.com>]

I have compiled 2.6.36 (i686) without any problems.
Since then, I have decided to change a couple of
config variables (using xconfig).
When done, running make all
causes the make scripts to stop compilation after building
a few objects, and spawn a shell.
Since I have no idea what to do in that shell, I exit
that shell, and the compilaton continues.
This takes place 3 times before compilation is complete.

Now, when I type make modules_install install,
only modules_install is done. /boot does not get
populated and /boot/grub/grub.conf is unchanged.

The currently installed and running 2.6.36-1
went through a similar scenario during build,
but at least install did work.
Now the install does not work.
Befor the present build attempt,
I had edited the Makefile to change the EXTRAVERSION to -2
in order not to clobber the installed  2.6.36-1

Could someone tell me what to do to force the install in /boot?
/lib/modules does have 2.6.36-2.fc13.i686 fully populated.

Thanx,

JD