yep, you could install debian instead of knoppix.

I'd do the following.
Copy the /etc/fstab file to a floppy (since knoppix was nice enough to autodetect yoru drives for you, it's nice to have those drives automatically come up) and copy it to your new install.

Copy the desktop items, because it's handy havnng the hard drive and usb drive stuff on the desktop ready to be clicked on and mounted.

The debian install is a standard linux install. I really like knoppix and it's autodetection though.