the thing is that most noobs probally will check the thead after they solely tried to install debian. So, the sour taste of the "going-wrong-installation" will be in their mouths

bigjohn: for knoppix hd install knxhdinstall from a console. You will need about 2.2 GB on your hd.(for 3.1 - that's what I remember)

adz,

yeah, fair comment, though from my experience, I found it more of a case that "it could be easy" rather than " it is easy".

When I started, I looked into it, and logic dictated that I follow the "stable" route. This turned out to be a total waste of time, because while it would boot, it wouldn't start X, and in my ignorance, I didn't have a clue where to go from there (despite following various suggestions).

The initial snag turned out to be a problem with the drivers for my graphics card (which is current, though not exactly "cutting edge"). The cure for that turned out to be a different kernel i.e 2.4.xx instead of the 2.2.xx that comes default with stable. This was followed by a myriad of dependancy problems, and trying to work out the "correct" way of running the resources list for apt-get (which when it runs correctly, is a magnificent app, but when it's not "doing its thing" is total stress).

This is one of the reasons that I am exploring the options of using the hd install of knoppix - so far thats as close as possible to having "mandrake type easy install" for debian that you could get.

While I fully appreciate the philosophy behind debian, the "choice" thing seems to be overkill - the "sledge hammer and walnut" syndrome.

The very complexity, and in my view, excessively technical rhetoric, used in linux documentation is THE, major downfall. IMO, if the developers of whatever put as much effort and enthusiasm into the doc's as they seem to for the actual software, would result in a better uptake of desktop linux.

Thanks for the tip pe2338, as yet, I'm still undecided as to whether I should create a new partition and do it there or just install it over the top of my current "sarge" install, which works relatively well, but I'm still not entirely satisfied with (possibly thats because I've been "spoiled" by my mandrake install).

regards

John

There are some knoppix hd install issues (problems)!
Like not having access to cdrom's etc. after install. So...

Make sure every piece of hardware is working properly before you start the hd install, so make sure the video resolution, mouse, etc. are working and mount every hd partition and every cd device (with a data cd, etc. before the install.

Then you'll have a much better hd install, the reason is that a knoppix hd install is a copy of a working (running) system, so if your cdrom isn't being used it won't get setup properly.

~rock