USB booting

OK so I have Knoppix installed on a USB flash drive. It is working fine when I get it to boot.
The problem is that many computers (older) cannot boot or have trouble booting from a usb drive.
So heres what I was thinking might work, have a small boot loader on a floppy or mini CD that would then boot the flash drive. Would that work? If a computer doesn't support booting flash drives anyway could a boot loader do it?

If so how. I am slightly familiar with GRUB and anything else I would need guidance on.

Thanks in advanced.

Knoppix 5.1 will boot directly from the CD and thus has no problem with old
BIOS' which will not boot from USB. Saved my b** more than once.

I want to boot from a usb because it is customized to my personal liking and because its a bit faster.

then you need to find an update to your BIOS that supports USB devices.

otherwise, you're up a creek w/o a paddle :(

http://linuxgazette.net/116/okopnik1.html