DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven unresectable or metastatic melanoma

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Greater than 3 months Hematopoietic: Hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL WBC greater than 3,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.8 mg/dL AST less than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase less than 3 times ULN No hepatitis B Renal: Creatinine less than 1.4 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance greater than 50 mL/min Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class II cardiac disease Pulmonary: No pulmonary disease requiring oxygen therapy Other: Not pregnant Fertile patients must use effective contraception during study and for 3 months following No concurrent serious nonmalignant disease No AIDS No uncontrolled infection No uncontrolled diabetes No medical condition that will interfere with taking oral temozolomide

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered No prior carboplatin and temozolomide No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered At least 3 weeks since prior palliative radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: No concurrent surgery to tumor Other: No other concurrent investigational agent