Your prose is getting in the way a little. :-)
You're still trying to get Linux to install on the HP laptop? The HP will boot and with run with Knoppix 3.3, but nothing higher? You can't burn a new Linux .ISO from k3B while booting Knoppix?
I can't help with running k3B from a CD boot - maybe someone else can help with that.
I can burn you the latest Knopix (4.0.2), Ubuntu (5.10 - Breezy Badger), Kubuntu (5.10), SimplyMEPIS (3.4.3) and/or anything else that might be useful (e.g. an older version of Knoppix). Burning things on my T41 laptop has been very reliable, so I would hope they would work for you.
Just let me know. :-)
Cheers,
Scott.