I am a programmer and an experienced Linux user. I have used Knoppix successfully and happily on other systems without incident. Now, I try on two Dells in the office, and both run fine with Knoppix. But when I'm finished, I get absolutely *no* boot. Press power, lights on the monitor flash as if getting no signal, gentle whir from the box, nothing more.

Quite a shock after trusting absolutely nothing would happen to my machine. Now what?

My only guess is that it has to do with the boot device. To boot to Knoppix, I pressed F12 to get the boot device list and selected the CD. Now, powering on the system with the CD in also does nothing, and as mentioned above, there appears to be no signal going to the monitor.

Ideas greatly appreciated.