So, on a knoppix forum you would tell a new user (who is having problems with the live cd) just not to use it and even though the developers went to a lot of trouble to include install-files, that installed on the harddrive it doesn't work either. You never know, by doing an install, new users might learn something. Whatsmore you said a newbie should try Debian Etch ?!
Why not just go the whole hog and tell everyone on the forum that Knoppix is no good, go get PClinuxOS instead?

Just out of curiosity, for the OP, what is your solution for his slow "live" knoppix ? I am intrigued.