You got 2.6.8, right? Trust me, you don't want that (has too many problems). Get 2.6.7 instead. You'll need to dig through kernel.org to get it, but it's worth it.
Ok, now for a crash course in recompiling a kernel. I'm far to lazy (and sick) to sit here and write my doctorate thesis on it, so I'll point you so someone who has
http://www.linuxjunior.org/cgi-bin/p...Display&id=110
(Thanks PB/Brak!)
Some More:
http://www.digitalhermit.com/linux/K...ild-HOWTO.html <- This one's pretty good
http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT3855888078.html http://www.yoper.com/forum2/index.php?showtopic=880
Compiling the kernel is not an easy thing, and it requires that you think things through (will I need that, do I need this, etc). Fortunately, the help system in the kernel configuration step (the most critical part) is very friendly and nearly complete.
Things to remember when setting up:
1) Linux 2.6.x uses ALSA as it's sound library, not OSS. OSS is still there, but heck, ALSA is about 3 billion times better anyways, might as well switch over. I really reccomend the OSS compatibility (emulation?) setting though. Some apps don't like ALSA too much.
It's generally reccomended that you compile the drivers for the sound card (both the one specific to your card and thwe ALSA driver itself) as a module, but you don't have to. I didn't
(just means I have to recompile the kernel if they update ALSA and I want it bad enough)
2) ALWAYS compile the 5 basic filesystems (ext2, ext3 (may be called ext2 + journaling), XFS, JFS, and ReiserFS) into the kernel. If you aren't sure which one you use, compile them into the kernel anyways, it won't hurt anything. I compile all the filesystems I know I'l need (those + vfat (windows), iso9660 and udf (CDs), etc) into the kernel anyways.
3) Compile loopback support in block devices. It's useful.
4) If you have an nVidia card, do NOT compile Riva framebuffer support. It confuses the real nVidia drivers.
Ther are other things I'm sure I'm forgetting, but that and those websties should get you in the right directions. If you have any questions, just ask them here and we'll get back to ya on them (like 'What do I need for USB support?', things like that).
Good luck!
Or, if you want to sidestep all of that, find a new kernel rpm and some sources. Here's one for Redhat 9:
http://rpmfind.net//linux/RPM/redhat...20-8.i686.html <- For Non-Athlon Systems (Intel, K6, etc).
http://rpmfind.net//linux/RPM/redhat...-8.athlon.html <- For Athlon Systems.
http://rpmfind.net//linux/RPM/redhat....20-8.src.html
hardware
prices 
