to date the only *nix ive been successful at getting to work 100% right out of the install is RH9. Mandrake 10 semi worked, but when i finnaly got the first update patcher to run it crashed the system.

debian/slack can not be installed as they are CLI installs and my monitor has an odd resalution to it and cuts off the bottom 2in on thier install. hard to install something you know next to nothing about when you can not read everything in the display. yes i tried hooking up a monitor to it with the same results.

knopixx runs, but i dont want that as my OS as the NIC still did not install.

FDc1 installed, but could not install the NIC drivers for it.

any sujestions, help, guidance would be much appriciated.

the cli installs usually have a boot option to set the text mode. going non-vesa may solve that problem. it's usually a right before boot, there's a pause, and maybe a press blah for help. try other distros a www.linuxiso.org

ok a little more detail on what you are talking about for the CLI installs please. my tag states it very clearly im a mega newbie.

well not as new as i was a few months back, but still extreemly new to *nix.

if i could perhaps get something i already have a CD set for up and running that would be nice.

maybe look to the website for the distro or google to find boot options on the install cdrom to change the screen resolution for text at boot. i've seen this before with some video cards i had.

Kk ill poke around.