Linux on Dell 17R with Intel Corei5

[Jza]

I got a Dell Inspiron 17R but have had issues trying to run linux on it. Anyone has a similar hardware that can tell me how to get it to run it. First I try a 32bit install and realize that this is not a 32 bit architecture and try installing the x86_64 version but still had issues. Basically it boots and succesfully launches Grub, then it starts the system and the scroll of text and then a blank screen that doesnt respond beyond that. Please let me know, how to go about it regards.
This is the specs of the laptop:

New 2010 Intel® Core™ i5-450M 2.4Gh (Turbo boost up to 2.66Ghz, 4 Threads, 3M Cache)
17.3" HD+ (1600 x 900) WLED Display with TrueLife™
4GB2 Shared Dual Channel DDR3
Intel® HD Graphics
HD Audio 2.0 Support SRS™ Premium Sound with Subwoofer

[Claudio]

Which distro?

Also, have you tried passing the "nomodeset" boot argument at the bootloader prompt? Seems like it's going into kernel-mode setting and the included driver isn't playing nice with your chipset. It might work once installed, though, but you need to get to that point first.

[Jza]

Mandriva, after some intense chatting on their IRC I got it to get X finally by having the video=vegafb argument on the boot prompt. However I still not much works, not an ethernet or wifi works, the video is still running on vesa, which doesnt give me the full video acceleration.

Any recomendation on how to better configure it?

[eddie]

One thing I have liked about Dell is their web site and downloads. You might go there to see if there any downloads for your machine. Usually the ones they have are for rpm type distros. I have not been there is a long time so things could have changed.