You need to make sure that everything works BEFORE you do a hd install, if console mode won't work you'll probably end up in trouble later on. Try starting up with " knoppix vga=normal " (plus any other necessary boot parameters) then you should see the hardware detection etc. Make sure your video is working as it should, in console mode and in X and everything else is working, sound, networking, etc. Then try the hd install. If this doesn't work post back. Make sure to include any error messages.

HTH

rock