How to Download and Use a Different Kernel Than the Default

In this particular case then the GRAMPS website provides a download link for a Ubuntu .deb package of version 3.2.5.

On this listing page select gramps_3.2.5-1_ubuntu10.deb which should be easily installable by double clicking on the downloaded file.

Most programs are looking for files they need (like config files, GUI ressources, ...) on a few hardcoded places and will refuse to works if those files aren't there. To change this places you usually need to recompile the programs (but sometimes you can use command line options or environment variables instead).

dpkg and apt offer a way to change the install location (as far as I remember it's --root= with dpkg and Dir::Root in the apt config - but check the docs if you really need it). This is so you can mount another systems's root dir on your system and install packages on it (like if you have diskless systems mounting their root via NFS from a server).