alsa and kernel

[jack mendez]

hello all.
i am trying to install a custom configured kernel with alsa
here is my problem
alsa will refuse to finish the configuration saying that there is no
version.h in /usr/src/linux/linux/include i think. unless i do make dep
after make mrproper and then i copy the .config file back.
now, after doing make bzImage i usually go into the alsa dir
which in this case is /usr/src/alsa-0.9.3a
do a ./configure
it tests finishes
 then i can do make and it will compile successfully
next i do make install
it says that they have been installed and gives the warning about setting
up a mixer to increase volumes
then i go back to /usr/src/linux
do a make modules
and i get unresolved symbols
which appear to be all alsa related
is there some way to fix this?

thanks
Jack