A few n00b questions

[foamrotreturns]

Your machine sounds very customized. I would recommend trying a different flavor of linux - probably a linux that is optimized for your 64bit processor. Knoppix is a great distro, but I have found that it works best on machines that have relatively simple, standard hardware. Since your machine is using so many high-end parts, a CD-based distro is not very likely to include the software necessary to power all of it. Try something more robust like Fedora Core 3 or Suse.

[fzappa123]

First I realized that I had posted a reply to the sub item in the original topic section, my mistake sorry.

Ok, as far as other distros, I'll certainly look into that. Its just that the (planned) attraction of the Knoppix Live CD approach is in allowing folks like me to take a peek at Linux before we potentially go whole hog with a full blown distro.

Audigy Soundcard issue: Looking further into the forums, I saw advice to use the knoppix26 at boot. This seemed to sort of work as I can now get output from the analog jacks on the Audigy. This is where my headphones are on the Audigy. So, I can get sound outout on the headphones, but still no sound on the digital/SPIDF outs where my speakers are. Just have to keep trying I guess.

Failsafe Boot: knoppix26 also seems to address the broader hardware detection issues I listed before (USB and Firewire dtection hang) and it did see, and mount my external USB HD. So thats very cool.

Printer: I still cannot get my HP 2510 network printer to be detected or set up for printing. Something about CUPS server not being initiated. Guess that'll take a few more days of poking around the forums.

My remaining question has still not been addressed either by my own rather limited use or another moreexperienced forum member. I can see using the Knoppix Live CD as a recovery tool, and maybe as a noobie playground for basic Linux exposure, but so far this system is so much more difficult to setup than any recent Windows or MAC system I have used that I can't see relying on it as an everyday tool. My initial impression is that It's very DOS like, with an "almost there" GUI. Still trying to understand why I would want to use this system as opposed to XP or OS X, particularly as an exclusive OS.

Any insight from you much more experienced users is welcome, I am really trying to be open minded and learn some basics before comign to any firm conclusions.

Paul