Another "I cant get it to install" thread

Im having installing any sort of linux. I dont know if the problems are related or if tux has just hexed my computer. Ive been using SuSe 7.3 just to learn it for about 6 monthes on an old crappy pc, but i cant get it to install on my new computer. After it loads the kernal i just get a blank screen and what appears to be no drive activity. I searched the forums and found someone that had a similar problem with Suse 9, but that thread died without any real resolution. After SuSe didnt work, i tried to run Knoppix 3.3 to see if that would work, and no, it didnt. After some of the kernal has loaded i get the following error:

Unable to handle NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 00000000
*pde = 00000000
Oops: 00000000
-then it states a bunch of hex addreses, which semed rather inconsiquential to my problem, and was way too much for me to write down and then type here if i didnt have to.-
then:
<0> Kernal panic: Attempted to kill init!

I think i also tried to instal mandrake at some point in the last few monthes but i cant remember what went wrong there, i was too discouraged to note it. ill try again if yall need some more info.

I hope someone out there knows how to fix this, Im goin into my second year of a CS/CIS major education and i dont wanna have to use the lab to learn linux. Even if you dont know what i should do, thanks for looking

Here are my specs:
Soyo Dragon Mobo w/ KT400 Chipset
512MB OCSystem 333 Ram
512MB CorsairXMS 333 Ram
Sapphire Radeon9500
WD Hard Drive (doubt thats the problem)
LiteOn CDROM and CDRW

I just tried a failsafe boot and that didnt help anything, but i did notice that the last thing to be loaded before it halted was hde: and then my Hard Drive's ID. Its a standard ATA133 Hard drive, so sata isnt the problem. Help Please

Update: Just tried redhat 9 outta desperation, same error as knoppix. HELP PLEASE! DONT LET THIS THREAD DIE!!!

I would appreciate help on this as well. I am attempting to install Gentoo and I get that error message with both the minimal live CD and the universal live cd. Any ideas anyone please!!!

ed a failsafe install with Knoppix? I have had problems on some boxes with Knoppix ---- leading to a freeze. Press F2 (sorry if you've already done this) when you get to the Knoppix boot screen to see the Knoppix "cheats" --- or type "failsafe" at the Knoppix boot prompt - this boots with very little hardware detection.
Good luck.

bump

Sounds strange, but try to install with only one stick of RAM at a time. Could be there is a problem with your RAM modules being different or one just failing.

Vince

How exactly are you attempting to install Linux? I'll assume you're downloading an ISO image, then burning it to a CD. (Knoppix is a perfect example). If so, did you first do a checksum (aka MD5SUM) on the downloaded image to confirm that the file is not corrupt, and second, did you simply copy the downloaded file to the CD or did you burn it as an ISO? You will need to burn it as an ISO, not as a regular file. It's a subtle but important difference. Good luck with things -- J.W.

burned it as an ISO :P I odn tthink if i didnt know the difference id have deserved linux. ANd i dunno about knoppix, but i know suse and redhat were in perfect working condition, ive used the same cds on other systems with A+ results

hmmm... okay, this will be my last bump. If i get no answer ill just have to use VMWare

*bump for good luck*

I hope your issue is resolved.