OK, now we're getting somewhere.

I just got SuSE 7.3 installed, but no NIC came up. I'll disable the on-board NIC and try it with a 3COM I have laying around.

By the way, this thread is also running on the HP support forums, so we are definitely not alone.

I'll let you know what happens.

Bye for now, Stuart.

<snip> Does it Kernel Panic while booting the CD? if so this is usually an issues with the non-linear organisation of the memory map on the Compaq, I have certaily had this problem with Proliant 2500's.

The trick is don't even attempt to load SuSE 8.1 , 8.2 should be fine. boot the cd on command line add something like:

Mem=16M@240M

As I understand it it works like this: the Compaq memory map has a lower 16MB region with the balance being elsewhere, so the above example reflects the setting if you have 256MB of RAM. also add acpi=off for good measure.

If you then get as far as the YAST installer gui, then before you start the installation go to the bootloader configuration settings and select Lilo instead of Grub as Grub is unable to resolve this memory mapping arrangement. </snip>