On the Linux laptop compatibility site, it shows:

Toshiba Satellite A15/S129 [RedHat9.0] Since 9.0 is suggested, I'd like to use it.

Do I have to either order a CD, or download .iso files and make my own? I've tried to follow the second option using both Windows Vista and Linux Mint, hasn't gone real smooth. I burn the .iso files to CD, then enabling that to boot and install is my hangup. I've done this with more recent distros, but for some reason this is a headache.

I took the XP off the Toshiba and have a clean drive instead of dual boot. I can get DSL, Kubuntu 7.10, Puppy 5.28, and Knoppix to show, but have trouble with AGP at times. I just want a basic laptop for my wife to use for finding coupons at local stores, nothing fancy...she doesn't even do email.

You mean you want to use Red Hat 9???
1. Red Hat Linux 9 was released in 2003.
2. In 2014 Red Hat (now called RHEL) is not free. You have to pay for it if you expect to use it.
If you want something like RHEL that you don't have to pay for you could try CentOS but I wouldn't advise that for a novice user.
You might try (L)ubuntu. I've never had any problems installing it on a large variety of machines.
jdk

this one? it's ancient.
you need to install a distro that can handle ancient laptops.
try distrowatch.com, then search "old computers".
prophetic hint: even lubuntu will not work. you need more lightweight, more geared towards ancient hardware. maybe AntiX, SliTaz, some puppy...

I would stick with slacko puppylinux latest or slackware14.1 and use xfce4 desktop as default. Red hat 9 nope it was junk back then and many of my customers hated it I did to it was junk. Sorry I usually have a few nice things to say about distros's but RH9 nope not one good thing.

Buying your wife an inexpensive web-surfing appliance (like a $199 Chromebook) would be a much better option, in my opinion. A standard Red Hat subscription is $299/year, so not only will a Chromebook give her better portability, beginner-friendliness, and battery life, but you will also save quite a bit of money in the long run. Another option would be a smartphone---many wireless providers these days will give you a smartphone for free if you sign up for a 2 year contract. Even the most basic smartphone these days has better hardware specs than your 2003 Toshiba!

Thank you all for your replies. The dilemma has been resolved.

As I said, the Linux site recommended RH 9. Since I had already tried 10 other distros which weren't compatible (some of the ones you mentioned.) I wanted THIS laptop to work with an OS that was compatible. I have 3 laptops: one Mac Pro (newest), one with Vista for church information, and one for my wife that I wanted to have fun ressurecting (the Toshiba a15-s129), and keep out of the landfill. My 3 desktops have Ubuntu 14, Ubuntu Mint 16, and XP (so I can help people with older units fix the XP systems they refuse to upgrade or replace, go figger)!

Since my post, I was able to download iso files from a different site, re-burn, and I now have a cute RH 9 on the Toshiba working just peachy. A couple of keys to replace and she can have a Red Hat luncheon any day of the week. She'll probably use it once...MAYBE twwice a week to searh for ads at 2 local stores. No email, no games, no using her arthritic fingers to punch little keys on a small tablet or phone.

Asking a question without spelling out all the embarrassing details, leads to answers that aren't compatible...I hate when I do that too.

install an ancient os on an ancient machine... why not, i kinda like it.
just don't start installing any updates...

and, i wonder how you can browse the web of 2014 with a browser of 2003...

I would try Porteus Kiosk edition since she just broweses the web, etc
http://porteus-kiosk.org/index.html

If she wants persistence, etc thenn use Porteus regular LXDE

Thanks for the snippets . If you call browsing the web checking two store's websites, I guess she's guilty as charged! I will try the suggestion but for now the RH9 is doing her justice. Thanks again for the blasts from the past.