I used apt-get for rpms.
http://apt.freshrpms.net/
after install, edit /etc/apt/sources.list
add the line
rpm
http://people.ecsc.co.uk/~matt/downloads/apt redhat-9-i386 gnome extras depends
*note red hat 9 only*
somewhere under #Red Hat Linux 9
save.
at terminal (outside X might be a good idea) do a root:
apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
...wait
tip: type apt-get upgrade again and see what packages it didn't want to install.
if one of them was named something like libbonobo libbonobo-devel, you will probably need to do:
apt-get install libbonobo-devel
and answer yes when it warns you.
again, do:
apt-get upgrade
Now you should be able to start X again, with gnome 2.4
Before doing that do, you could:
do:
apt-get upgrade
again, to see if ther is anything else you want.
do:
apt-get install synaptic
, for a nice gui for apt-get
Note: It's not perfect, and I have a few oddities. I recommend you remove the 'extras' in the line to sources.list you added if you use mozilla, 'cause that upgrade is miffed.
The little alert icon doesn't work either.
Mouse-wheel on my mouse doesn't want to work (yet)
The box with "Sound and Video" pops up whenever the gnome-panel pops up.
The pop-up menu (that is, the red hat, changed to defaul gnome-foot), is rearanged, some things not there anymore.
Well, good luck!