trying to put linux on a new machine.

livecd boots to a concole prompt without obvious error. keyboards doubles. can't backspace to fix it because ... that is doubled as well. can't even mount a device.

help!

As this is a live cd, and in view of the problem, editing of config files (or any files) is not possible.

EDIT
p.s.

this is not a duplex problem. if I type "mount" and press enter, the machine responds as if I had typed "mmoouunntt".

is your keyboard a "US " i think that is # 41 or # 43 . It has been a bit of time since i needed a live cd .

No idea. Most livecd's say (in a nutshell) "if you have a regular US keybaord, just press enter and skip this step" ... so I do that.

Thanks for the reply.

Then it got weird ...

I booted the machine again with the same livecd and the keyboard then worked. No explanation why. Chalk it off to the usb gods or something.

the last time i used knoppix, my normal fix it cd , it asks for the keyboard ( from a list ) then for the mouse ( list of 3 ) .And i am pretty sure that the fedora live also asks .

Does it start when you reboot the machine for the first time after installation? During installation it is normal? When you boot and press 'e' while grub is booting can you edit there? If Knoppix doesn't show the boot screen, can you enter some Knoppix command line (before installation) and type something?

(At least you can use the dd command , just kidding)

Did you try to boot from a totally different Live CD, other version etc, other distro, and is that working right?

I take it you have a standard kbd? Not a USB? If so, can you try and replace with a PS2? Just guessing, could the BIOS USB driver be in the way of the Linux TTY driver?

jlinkels