Thaumielx722,

Compiling a new driver doesn't count as a big change, and I have compiled many drivers before. But synaptiuc was asking you to install Xfree86 over xorg, and then changing all the kde packages -- that is a way major change of the Knoppix components, and will break Knoppix.

Anyway, I have some good (well maybe good) news for you. There's Debian packages of the newer ATI drivers. Since Knoppix is based on Debian, you will be able to install these packages into Knoppix and you won't need to do any installing of xfree86 or recompiling. Just do a google search for "debian packages fglrx-driver". See if this works for you. But there's a catch. This driver will only work for 2D.

If you want 3D acceleration, you also need to install a kernel module. Google for "debian packages fglrx-kernel-src". You will also need the package "module-assistant" to help compile the module. So what's the catch? You need the kernel source to compile this, and Knoppix CD version doesn't include the kernel source because of space constraints! It is available on the DVD version though.

So what's the alternative? If you install Debian etch, you can get the kernel source, and you can compile fglrx-kernel-src..... So you see, looks like Debian will be the answer tor you. The beauty of Debian is that it is maintained, as you say, by a community of volunteers. So rather that compiling the stuff yourself, someone out there has probably packaged a readymade Debian package for you.

It's good that you will give Debian Etch a try. You are right, the Debian server is pretty busy. Rather than download the whole CD, I suggest you try download the Etch net-install CD which is only about 100 MB, or even smaller, the business card net-install version. When you install this CD, it will ask you to select a mirror, so select a mirror near you, and then it will download the other components from this mirror much more quickly.

Good luck!