This is more informative than question oriented:

I just installed vmware on my modest XP pro machine - 1.4 gig, 1 gig ram - and I must say how impressed I am with the software. It recognized the knoppix dvd and I was able to operate it with its usual grace from within windows xp. I have a stockpile of antique machines and this is a great way to "kick the tires" and test drive a distro before installing it. Moreover, vmware is also great at installing live cds from an iso file still on a hard drive - I gave "chubby puppy" linux and vector linux a spin.

If I could only figure out how to get knoppix to have rwx permissions in Gnome for my RedHat 9 drive, I would be all set!