How to upgrade an existing kernel version to a newer version

Qs. I am having BOSS kernel 2.6.26 installed on my PC and I want to upgrade that version to 2.6.32 without deleting the existing applications installed on my previous version?

Ans:  download linux-image-2.6.32 from latest repo and install using sudo dpkg -i
         Installing a newer kernel will no way affect your other existing applications.
         You can straight away install any number of kernel in a existing partition and boot from that.

 
Qs. Is there is any system that we can Install some patches in the existing kernel and upgrade it??
Ans: If the kernel supports DKMS then you can upgrade individual drivers alone..not the whole kernel