Running btdownloadgui.......

[Harry Kuhman]

the link I got those instruction from was:

http://knoppix.net/get.php

just to the right of the big yellow advertising box.

Yea, that would confuse me too. Looks like Clinton could edit that a bit to make it clearer. But it is trying to explain to first download a BitTorrent client and install it, then download the torrent file itself, then get the torrent client to open and download the torrent. There are different ways to do that, including both opening the torrent file from inside the torrent client as well as just clicking on the torrent file (the install usually associates the torrent extension with the client and causes it to start and open the file when it is clicked on in Windows systems). The name used to represent a generic knoppix torrent file is confusing. Anyway, you downloaded the torrent and so are past that.

re: md5, is that the same as "checksum"? (it's been a long time), will need to know how to do that, but will check the FAQ

By the time that you read this I expect the faq or a google search will have explained it, but the md5 test is similar to a checksum (a bit more complex of a formula than a simple checksum but the concept is the same). Very much needed for those who still insist on using the mirrors, as the downloads are often corrupt (mine were about 50% of the time) but somewhat redundant when using a torrent download. I think you may also get a ASC file, which is another check file based on a different formula. Either can be used, using both would be overkill.

Also, the downloaded Knoppix came in a folder, with 5 files, and one called "packages"????

I'll go read the FAQs,

Yes, since torrents can easily deliver several files as well as just one, Klaus threw in some extra files. It used to be about 8 so I guess he's dropping some, but he often includes the cheat code information, a couple of test files (md5 and acs, user's choice which to use) and sometimes a change log. The extra files are tiny and really don't affect download time. The ISO is the key file, and the one that will be burnt to disc as an image.

Packages is a text file, a nice list of exactly what Linux packages should be included on that Knoppix CD. Sometimes the menus have been pretty sloppy in Knoppix as of late, but if packages says that what you are looking for is on the disc then it very likely is (and conversely, if it isn't in packages then don't spent too much time looking for it on the disc).