live cd... 1.4rc_1

Hi.  I've always wanted to try out a source based distro, and I think I
like gentoo the best.  It seems to be the most polished and maintained
of all the source based distros that I have found.  I downloaded and
burned the live-cd 1.4rc_1 iso image, however, when it begins to boot,
it simply stops at the partition check.  Since the cd boots
automatically without asking for parameters, I am assuming using the cd
to install gentoo is out of the question.  I still want Gentoo though. 
Can anyone point me to a floppy install system or something of the
nature, perhaps even a way to boot from a floppy, and then resume the
set-up with the CD.  I really want to use gentoo.  Anything would help. 
--Matt