Can't install on Precision M4300

[r9mcgon]

Hi

I'm trying to install Ubuntu on my new Dell Precision M4300 laptop. I want a dual boot with XP. I've tried installing Ubuntu 8.04 by booting from the LiveCD (and the alternate CD) without success - both froze on the 'installing linux kernel' part of the install. However, the alternate CD managed to create a partition.

I then tried 7.10, it gave me a bunch of I/O errors but seemed to partly install. It got as far as the login screen, but I hadn't been prompted for a username or password so I didn't know what to enter. I switched off the power to get back to windows - no sign of Grub or Ubuntu on boot.

Is there a common opinion that this machine is just not compatible with Ubuntu? From searching these forums, most people seem to at least able to get it to install before encountering video problems etc.

Are there other possible Linux versions I could try? Failing that, can I recover the ubuntu partition so that is is visible to XP?

Any comments or opinions appreciated.

[Guanglin.Du]

Try http://www.dell.com/linux to see if you can get help there. Or do a google search. My experience is telling me that DELL products are more compatible with Linux than the other. Redflag Linux of China has a list showing which DELL products support Redflag Linux well: http://www.redflag-linux.com/ppd/product_user/Dell/. Unfortunately, there is no Precision M4300.

[r9mcgon]

Thanks Guanglin.Du

Dell are shipping the M4300 in the US with Red Hat. So it is possible to install Linux. I'm going to try openSUSE next, then Fedora, and maybe a few others until I lose patience... As its a fresh install I have the opportunity to find out which if any of them work. If none work, I'll try Ubuntu again when its next released.