I created the boot diskette, and the pcmciadd diskette as per instructions (my CD-ROM is now a PCMCIA FREECOM drive, the original is dying).

The machine boots from the diskette, but doesn't find the external CD-ROm drive, nor does it give me any chance to insert the pcmciadd diskette, nor ask for any such driver. So the attempt must be aborted.

The CD is mounted once the installed RH8 is up and running, and I can see the files OK.

I haven't found anything on RedHat's site.

Is there a way round this, e.g. starting from the installed RH8 on the Harddisk?

My experience tells me RH9 is too heavy for this old laptop, so I won't bother.