Hi. i have been struggling with getting linux on my machine for quite a while. Gentoo was the only one i got installing and it wound up screwing up my boot record. I've additionally played with a few linux live CDs. Knoppix 2.9 would load on my computer, but it refused to let me connect to my network (or even directly to my cable modem). it saw the router and was able to ping it, but nothing else really. I need internet. I've tried using knoppix 3.4 STD and some other version of knoppix 3.4. The STD one hangs after it shows tux in the upper corner and the other hung even earlier. i don't get why the older version of knoppix would boot. I've also tried running a SuSe 9.1 live CD. It tells me it has errors reading pretty much all the files it needs to run X.

I haven't tried mandrake or redhat because people with my laptop have had mixed reactions; they worked for some but not others. I didn't want to do an install on my harddrive before ensuring that they will work (like i did with the live CDs).

I really want to get some version of linux running and fuly operational on my computer, though preferably not mandrake or redhat. I would even be happy if someone just helped me fix knoppix. I have a fairly decent knowlege of linux but i am not too familiar with the more complex interactions and stuff. I am therefore looking for a solution that is not too complex or that is atleast easy to understand.

I have a HP pavillion ze4400 with an AMD XP 2600+ processor and the standard video card that comes with that machine.

Thanks a bunch and hope someone can help.

-Bella

i've been trying everything.... my computer won't even boot off the older SuSe CDs and i definately have booting off CD before harddrive in my BIOS (plus it lets me boot off of other CDs). USB legacy is off and all, so i really don't know why my system is being difficult.