Sounds like your xserver is having trouble starting. What type of video hardware do you have?
Have you tried booting with the cheatcode:
Code:knoppix xmodule=vesa
I'm using an HP/Compaq nx9008 laptop. With nothing connected, I boot the laptop w/ knoppix v3.4 & the last line says "starting xserver ??? something ???, Retry xfree86 ??? something ???, Unable to load xserver ". Now when I boot w/ knoppix v0.1 (the original or 1st release of knoppix, I think), I have no problems... Note: I have tried my copy of knoppix v3.4 on 3 PC's w/ no problems.. Only on my LapTop for some reason... So after the Error I get an All Grey Screen and a Black Crosshair acting as my mouse. Any ideas??? tia
Sounds like your xserver is having trouble starting. What type of video hardware do you have?
Have you tried booting with the cheatcode:
Code:knoppix xmodule=vesa
I'm using a Radeon IGP 345M graphics card. I think intergrated. And I've tried using your cheat and still notta. I think I used it right. I typed right before the boot at the propmt that says enter to begin or something like that. But this time, I was able to see the Error message... "Error: No suitable x-server found for your card"... ???![]()
Here's a bunch of cheat codes you can mix and match:Originally Posted by NoDice
knoppix xmodule=ati noapic noapm
knoppix xmodule=radeon noapic noapm
knoppix xserver=XFree86
knoppix xserver=XF86_SVGA
knoppix26
if all else fails, you can try this:
knoppix failsafe
If you want more cheat codes, look at http://www.knoppix.net/docs/index.php/CheatCodes
Hello & Thanks a Billion! The cmd "knoppix xmodule=ati noapic noapm" worked but what does this mean? I'm going to google these cmds for a while and read what I find. Thanks again... Dave
Yeah, I'm having a similar difficulty loading the xserver on another laptop in the same range: the Compaq nx9005. Tried the cheatcodes recommended in this thread and a few different combinations, but to no avail... the knoppix CD works fine on other machines... anyone know any other cheatcodes or things I could try?
FWIW, I got there in the end: knoppix acpi=off worked for me...
![]()
This is a great site for AcronymsOriginally Posted by NoDice
http://www.acronymfinder.com/

Acer Aspire 14" AI Copilot+PC Laptop Core Ultra 5 226V Gen 4 ARC 16GB 1TB Refurb
$481.27
Dell Latitude 14" Laptop Computer Intel i5 Up To 32GB RAM 1TB SSD Windows 11 Pro
$316.61
Western Digital Purple 1TB 3.5" SATA Internal Surveillance Hard Drive (WD10PURX)
$49.99
External SSD 1TB 2TB Portable Hard Drive USB 3.1 Type-C High Speed PC Mac
$15.99
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI 16" i9 275HX 2S RTX 5070 Ti 32GB 1TB SSD Refurb
$1794.16
Western Digital WD Blue WD10EZEX 1 TB 3.5" SATA III Desktop Hard Drive
$23.99
Netac 2TB 1TB 500GB Internal SSD M.2 NVMe PCIe3.0 Solid State Drive lot
$129.99
Fanxiang 1/2/5/10Pcs 2.5'' SATA SSD Lot 1TB 2TB 4TB 512GB 256GB TLC Internal SSD
$129.99
Dell Latitude 14" Laptop Computer Intel i7 Up To 32GB RAM 1TB SSD Windows 11 Pro
$569.98
2026 NEW SGIN 15.6" Laptop Win11 Intel i3 16GB RAM 1TB SSD Wi-Fi 6 RJ45 USB-C
$302.99