> That being the case, could the fault be in /bin/sh maybe?  I think
> I'll get a new image down from the site, and maybe a new kernel image
> too...since this friend of mine actually did burn the CD, that could
> be the source of all of this...if I just go back to that CD I'd end up
> right back where I am now... 
>
>> used 'ASCII' mode FTP transfer of binary sets, or more
>> chaostic/delicate network/hardware fault. 

I'm now leaning toward sort of hardware faults like bad main memory, bad
cache or inreliable SCSI cable because your symptoms sound
inconsistent and varying. 

Tohru Nishimura
Nara Institute of Science and Technology