Attempted install RH9.0 on two different systems. One system BIOS doesn't allow boot from CD. Created boot floppy and install proceeds fine until the installation requests the CD. The error reads,
"CD not found"
"Please insert the Red Hat Linux CD and press OK to retry"
The CD tray opens and closes fine. But it won't spin up. I have tried three different CD Drives and they all act the same. On the other machine CDROM Boot is supported, I select "Boot from CD" in the BIOS but it tries to boot from the HD which has no OS.
Any help is appreciated.

Have you looked at the contents of the 1st install CD? Is it a bunch files and directories or just an ISO file? Did you download the ISO and burn it to CD? What CD burning software did you use?

Hi, I have exactly the same problem as you and I would be very happy if I
can share your received solutions, if you get ones.
regards
GE

Using NERO I burned the image which gave me all the required boot files. As an experiment, I installed Debian "Woody" (which I also created from ISO files)on the same machines after posting my question, and everything went great, so I know the hardware is working properly.

Problem solved! Turns out since my CDROM's were pre-1997, they didn't recognize the CD-RW format. When I used the CD-R disks it went just fine.