thanks for the insightful tip

google led me here; where the files show mismatching .md5 signifying damaged archives:
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-mirrors/index-en.html

i was able to locate a download that was not corrupt (no special d/l tools needed): http://linux.softpedia.com/progDownl...load-2621.html

i was hoping the dvd would contain additional files with regards to networking, unlike the smaller cd version i have.

btw - discs are NTFS not FAT