>>Try this: boot: knoppix nohwsetup 3 That should boot Knoppix into a virtual console with a root shell. Does it?
>>If so, you can then run hwsetup manually. To see the option hwsetup takes, type: hwsetup -h
>>You can run hwsetup via the strace program to see what system calls it is making. Type:strace hwsetup -a -s
>>What do you see on the screen just before Knoppix hangs? For example, what's the last line say? Also, what's the last line that begins with "open(...." say?

-----------------------------Attempts to startup Knoppix 3.9 and results below-----------------------------

1. Start with: knoppix nohwsetup 3.
Result: Success

2. Type hwsetup -v -p
Result: Failure. The Autodetection Devices still hangs endlessly. I tried to force quit the process via kill & top but it wouldn't let me. I pressed
Control key plus X, Control plus C, Control plus Z to stop hwsetup.

3. Open a new console, switch to root, type: strace -a -s hwsetup | grep -w open
Result: The last 'open' line refered to a USB device.

4. I tried again to start Knoppix 3.9 and disabling the USB ( knoppix nousb ).
Result: Success... but no USB at all.

I can now start up knoppix but I have NO usb support.
How would I acomplish troubleshooting the USB?

Thank you much.
Serene