After doing the beginner install and having it work flawlessly, what I would obviously like next is to do a propper install of Linux without the reliance on Knoppix, or ALL the drivers/modules/scripts that it installs.

How can I assess the version I have to determine what is actually used, and what isn't? I want to now start seeing what it is that get's the monitor and video correct on this version, what it is that makes the sata drives reconisable, the network functioning (which they all got right anyway)...

Is this possible? Is it that simple? Or do I just have a steep learning curve ahead of me?

It's also the little asthetics that make knoppix sweet. I love the colourful consols (which dont appear to be default in most distro's off the bat) and small fonts...