1. Make a backup of your files.
2. Boot Knoppix from CD.
3. Press CTRL+ALT+F2.
4. Type "knoppix-installer".
5. Select Partition drives.
6. Press Spacebar to select the drive to partition

^ are these steps implying that you have previously partitioned your hard drive for the installation?

it's late and i have read many a forum, so i'm sorry if this is a broad question, but pretty much can i use qparted to partition, granted i use it correctly? reading threads involving partitioning has me scared to partition at all, because it seems a little complicated