> have you read http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Hd_Install_HowTo
> If so did you note that a HD install is not an easy thing to use or figure out? Did you also note > the minimum system requirements?

Yep. It says, "make sure there is some empty space on your hard drive so you can create at least 2 Linux partitions, one for the System (minimal 3 GB, 5GB recommended) and another partition for for Swap (http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_memory) (minimal 200MB, 500MB recommended) during the installation process."

> You may not be able to install to a 2GB hda1 since it might not be big enough to hold the
> entire decompressed Knoppix CD. If it is large enough to allow a complete install, then you
> will probably have at most 100MB of free space.

If I try the install anyway, but the hard disk turns out not to be big enough, do I run the risk of destroying the disk entirely?

For more free space I was planning to use an external hard drive.

> If I read your hd stats correctly, the HD is 4Gb total?

Yes. 4 GB total.

> If so, just delete all the partitions, then create at minimum a 2.5 GB hda1 (or use the whole
> 3.5Gb for root), then 500MB hda2 then 1GB hda3. Format hda1 as ext3. Format hda2 as
> swap. Format hda3 as ext3. Then attempt to to install.

2.5 GB for root sounds too minimal. How about going with: 3 GB system (active), .5 GB swap, .5 GB free.

How to proceed with this is still a mystery... How do I delete all the partitions
and create new ones? I assume that's what QTParted is supposed to do. Will QTParted be intuitive enough if I just go ahead and click Format and do what it says?

> Its not that easy.

I guess not But you know what they say, Nothing comes easy.

> I wish you success.
> James

Thanks, and thanks for the reply.
--Bill