OK i downloaded linux redhat 9 disk 1 , disk 2, and disk 3. They are *.iso which you all know and im not sure if i burned them right. I used Nero 6 full version and i selected data cd then i selected the iso and selected 14X and the cd burned. The only Problem i have is i cant boot to the cd. I never worked with linux b4 so i am not even sure this is how to install it. After the cd is burned the only thing on the cd is the original *.iso image. Do i have to unpack it or sumthing then burn it any help would be great. Many thanx in advance. I think what all you people are doing is great. After the iso has been burned how do i install

Think of an iso as a sort of virtual cd. Its basically a picture of everything on the cd all in one file, hence the term image. So the program you use to burn the cd needs to know that its burning an iso so that it lays everything out instead of just droppin the one iso file on there. In nero there should be an option to "write image" or something. You will probably have to exit out of whatever "new compilation" dialoug may come up. In Nero 6 the option you want is under the recorder menu.

Ok so after i select that when the cd burns it should finish and have more than the iso image on the cd when i explore it in windows right, or wrong. I am going to install the linux on a dual boot machine, but the hdd will be blank, i am getting a new computer. What should I install first redhat9 or xp. Is there anything else i should download besides the three disks of redhat 9 in order to install linux and have it booting correctly

Thats correct, it will have more than the iso on it.
If you're going to dual boot, the easiest way is to install xp first, and Linux second. It will work the other way too, but not without some tinkering. The reason is windows assumes it will be the only operating system you will ever need, so it will overwrite the master boot record of your hard drive (MBR) without asking you. The windows boot loader will load windows, so if you want a choice, and we both know you do, you should install linux second and it will put a different boot loader (I use grub) on the MBR, overwriting the windows one.
It works a little different if you are going to be booting from more than one hard drive, but if your just using the one, this should work.

At this point I would like to recommend that you format your windows partition using FAT32 instead of NTFS. If you usually log on as an administrator then it won't make much difference in windows. However, you can mount a FAT32 partition with both read and write capabilities in RedHat9, so you can access your windows files from either OS. It is possible to mount NTFS partitions under RH9, I think, but from what I recall, it's read-only, and you can't do it with the default RH install.

FYI
http://www.linuxiso.org/viewdoc.php/neroburning.html

For most it is easier to install XP first.

Thank you for replying the posts it helped me out a lot. I tried your site you gave me and finally burned my linux disk1 cd. I have another ? though i was reading the readme and it said GRUB was the better bootloader but lilo is installed. What is the difference. Is there screenshots i could view or sumthing. Thanx for the help i am excited to install my first linux os hope to get some answers that will help me out. Ohh yeah and does redhat9 support DVD Playback or no

There are several DVD playback applications. I use mplayer. zine is another player. Check freshmeat.net for others. I don't know which ones RH installs.

IMO grub is probably a little better. If lilo is working in your system then I wouldn't change it.