I cannot boot to windows so I booted up to knoppix using the cd. I have an external HD connected via usb port. My linux for dummies book tells me I have to change the attributes to read-write. When I click on the black terinal like it says, I get the error 'KDEInit could not launch "konsole"'.

I am very ignorant in linux. I just use it on one of our desktops to browse the web.

Any help would be appreciated. I would really like to retrieve all my files.

Thank you so much.