Multimedia :: System locks up at the end of a myDSL download

I'm working with my old box (32M Ram, frugal install) after replacing an apparently failed HD. MyDSL worked fine before, now whenever I try it, the system locks up (can't open bash shell, emelfm etc, if I close X I have a whole screen of errors like "cp - unknown command"). I've tried several extensions(streamripper, grip) , but they all do the same thing. The streamripper files make it onto the folder and are there after re-boot. But 'running' them from emelfm after re-boot locks it up again. I've tried alternative locations (/tmp, /mnt/hda3), but no help. Have just re-re-installed and it's still hosed up. Any thoughts?

"cp - unknown command" sounds really weird. What do you get when you enter the command "which cp" in a terminal? I think your PATH variable may have been broken at some point.

Well,

I tried it again and I'm still locking up, but now with the only error message being "lost X server".

original here.