I get some errors on my systems with rtl8139 NIC's due to wanting an unavailable irq, but usually they will operate OK. They do use the 8139too module.

What kind of system do you have? What kind of video etc?

On motherboards with integrated video often the pci=biosirq boot option will help, I would try booting with:

knoppix pci=biosirq &nbsp[plus any other boot-options required]

HTH

rock