Well, I had to download and burn another iso...
I'm happy to report that after downloading and burning another iso from another site, I have successfully started Knoppix 3.8.1 with an X server and kde. Please note that no strange cheatcodes were required (except noapm which I did try with the other CD).
So I am trying out the latest versions of all of the packages and am as happy as a pig in a poke (I am in the Heart of Dixie). Thanks to everyone offering ideas and assistance - that's testimony to the forum and the community.
I am posting this from the konqueror web browser from the live CD just so you know it's really working.
roofer
And it works on the Athlon
I tried the new CD this morning on my athlon k7... didn't need the noapm as it does have that power scheme. My screen was a bit dark, contrastwise, but all of the menus displayed well and everything that I tried worked. I was able to create a persistent home and do those things that are needed done 8)
So, the new iso has worked on my Dell 8500 and my older Athlon K7 desktop with very little else needed. Did I mention that I burned the CD at a slower write rate? I throttled down to 12X from 20X, though I don't know that this is enough to make that kind of a difference.
Later...
RE: Cant find suitable Xserver
8) Here is something Ive noticed since Knoppix 3.7 and also with 3.8.1 and 3.8.2 now.
If I cold Boot the machine from CD . The video card is detected and the AGP bridge as well. It starts up with Xfree86 server but as soon as the X11 interface starts and KDE starts up the monitor goes to a Orange LED indicating the monitor is in standby. The soundcard works and KDE is running as far as I can tell but there is no video on screen. If I use Ctrl Alt F1 I get back to the console ok with video on screen and shutdown from there..
Ok now one easy way around this is to boot windows first and then reboot knoppix from CD without powering down. Sounds odd doesnt it? True enough if I boot windows first and then Knoppix from CD the plug and play detects the same hardware but the video works with KDE this time.
Also if I do a HD install of knoppix there is no problem doing a cold boot into knoppix.
This problem only happens with the last few Knoppix distros when cold booting off CD.
If I use a cheatcode of Xserver=xf86_svga then I get KDE up and going ok but there are a few errors before I get KDE up and stable. Its cleaner to boot windows first frankly.
The fact that I get a different reaction if I boot windows prior to booting knoppix seems to sugest that there is something missing in a plug and play driver.
The video card is a AGP Nvidia Riva TNT2 Model 64 hardware version 21. It boots up in knoppix allways as NV6 Xfree86 and the AGP bridge is allways detected. Ive tried a few different cheatcodes including NOAGP but the only one that has any bearing is the xserver=xf86_svga. The machine is a Athlon 1500Mhz desktop with 256Megs of ram.
Maybee this means something to somone and will help sort out other issues in the same area.