I'm posting this message from my brand-spanking new Knoppix 3.1 install!
YES!!! I've been able to install the distro that runs off a CD to my H.D.; it's the equivilent of Debian unstable; it defaults to KDE 3.0 for a WM, and it just looks great!
If you want to have a state of the art Debian install, here's what you do; boot your Knoppix CD, when the splash screen starts, hit F2 and select knoppix 2; this will start a CLI with root privileges. Enter /usr/local/bun/knx-hdinstall, this will start the installer and allow you to partition your H.D. (make sure you're not going to wipe out any data you want to keep!!). When you've finished partitioning, you will be asked if you want to install the Knoppix files and where to install them; select the partition you just created, it will take 10-40 minutes. Once the files are installed, various dialogues will open to create root account, user account, what partition to use for swap, etc. It's easier to do than to read this post, so just go do it!!