i got it working thanks to someone in another part of the forum, thanks to anyone who took the time to read this though.
alright, im here, obviously, because i dont know as much about linux as i definitley should being a computer science major. Due to limited hard drive space (being a study abroad student i could only bring a laptop, my real machine is back home in the states), knoppix seemed like the way to go.
However, when i put the cd and go to boot knoppix it goes like this:
boot: knoppix
scanning for USB/firewire devices ... Done.
Enabling DMA acceleration for: hda [toshiba MK6021GAS]
Enabling DMA acceleration for: hdc [SD-R2512]
Looking for CDROM in: /dev/scd0
then it freezes, it never makes it past that point.
if i boot: failsafe, it will load into knoppix, then about a minute into it the whole OS freezes.
I've downloaded it twice (thinking it may have been a bad download the first time around), and made about 5 cds of it, but same problem no matter what. If anyone can provide any help, I would greatly appreciate it.
i got it working thanks to someone in another part of the forum, thanks to anyone who took the time to read this though.
Good that you managed. I had just finished reading your question when I saw that
you are up and running now. Congratulations.
What happened?
/Donald
it apparently didn't like dms at all. Booting knoppix nodms makes everything work fine, well the bare minimums anyway. Im working on getting sound to work now
Thanks for the NODMS (shouldn't it be NODMA?) tip.
Regarding SOUND:
I used the KDE control center to get sound up and running; at first
it was shut off, and I chose "sound system"->enable
"Test" worked, but when I tried to play the KDE-sounds, nothing
happened.
I then chose external sound player, and found that the "artsplay"
program was one which worked (I had an inkling from other
installations, though!)
Then it seemed that two sound systems were competing. At
one time I had to disable/enable again in order to get it to work
again.
Normally I run Gentoo and I have arduously installed the ALSA
sound system. The new 2.6.7 series should be easier to deal with
as the alsa sound system is default and included in the kernel.
/Regards
yes its nodma, typo i suppose.
i plan on spending a better portion of today working on resolving the sound issue, ill let you guys know how it works out.

Mini Computer Vacuum USB Keyboard Cleaner PC Laptop Brush Dust Cleaning Kit NEW
$13.89
Mini Computer Vacuum Cleaner & Compressed Air Duster 14500Pa, 110000RPM, Cordles
$53.99
Cordless Air Duster & Vacuum Cleaner for Keyboard & PC Cleaning - 110000RPM Powe
$53.99
LEVOIT Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Stick Vac with Tangle-Resistant Design, Up to...
$162.04
US Mini Computer Vacuum USB Keyboard Cleaner PC Laptop Brush Dust Cleaning Kits
$13.89
2-in-1 Compressed Air Duster & Vacuum, Brushless Motor, 320000RPM
$37.99
2 in 1 Compressed Air Duster Air Blower & Vacuum Cleaner Cordless Duster Blower
$16.99
Multifunctional Handheld Vacuum Cleaner & Blower for Keyboard/PC US SELLER
$39.99
Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Compatible with DeWalt 20V Battery
$107.67
Electric Air Duster Blower High Power Cordless Cleaner for PC Laptop Keyboard
$17.99