kernel panic when booting LiveDVD

[Harry Kuhman]

I downloaded KNOPPIX 5.3.1 LiveDVD with DAP (download manager), so I believe that the file is not corrupt.

I don't know if it's corrupt or not, but since you are getting a kernel panic, that should not be ruled out. Certainly not when there is a simple md5 test that will settle it once and for all. I personally never trust download managers, and while I know nothing at all about the one that you are using, the problems that I saw with corruption before BitTorrent downloads were available were caused by the servers, not by any bad ju-ju in the connections. I used to get about 50% corrupted downloads before torrent downlods became available, none afterwards. I strongly suggest that you do the md5 test (read the downloading faq if you are tempted to ignore that just because you have never done a md5 test before). This is so likely the source of the problem that there seems no reason to go on, but I want to also address the next line...

I burnt it with Nero at 8x on a 16x certified disk. Data verified with success.

8x is a pretty high data rate for a DVD. While it's at the upper limit of a speed that I might use for a CD, I personally think it's too fast for DVD burning. While I have no hard data to offer to prove this, I burn all of my DVD's at 4x, and would suggest that, at least until you get one that works, you use that speed also.