A Solution

1. Using your favorite browser, navigate to
   http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/core/updates/2/i386/

2. Download the file named kernel-2.6.7-1.494.2.2.i686.rpm. Make a note of where you saved it. This assumes you know in advance whether you need the i586 or i686 version of the kernel. I established that I needed the i686 version, by observing the output of the command uname -a in a terminal.

3. Open a terminal and navigate to the location of the kernel-2.6.7-1.494.2.2.i686.rpm file you downloaded.

4. Type su at the prompt to switch users to the root user. Give it your root password.

5. Type the following command:

   rpm -i -oldpackage kernel-2.6.7-1.494.2.2.i686.rpm

6. Progress of the installation will be noted on the terminal.

7. When completed, reboot your machine, carefully selecting the 2.6.7-1.494.2.2 kernel.

8. After the boot into our old kernel is complete, you can remove the 2.6.8.x kernel². You can see what all kernels are installed on your machine by typing:
   rpm -qa kernel

9. Remove the kernel(s) you don't want with the following command at a root prompt:
   rpm -e kernel-versionnumbergoeshere

   Important note: Be sure you do not remove your current kernel! That would be a ``bad thing'' analagous to sawing off the limb you are sitting on.

Your system will now be able to burn CDs using any of the typical burning tools on Fedora Core 2, such as k3b, cdrecord, and xcdroast. At this point, you may wish to consider modifying your /etc/yum.conf and up2date configuration to exclude (or ignore) kernel-related updates, allowing your machine to otherwise update itself nightly, but afford you time to review any serious issues that may arise with a new kernel.

A word of thanks goes to Alexander Dalloz and Andrew Konosky for their advice on installing the old kernel.