This seems to be a general problem with all distros (Gentoo, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, MAndriva...) I tried many distros...I always got the same error. Bottom line is, you can install the distro on the laptop by adding "acpi=force irqpoll" to the boot, but during start up or shutdown the computer gives a load of errors of the type:"unexpected IRQ trap at vector b8 " or "b0" for that matter. It goes into a loop and eventually freezes. Here are a few threads on the topic: http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-p-3764583.html#3764583 http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=299929 http://community.livejournal.com/linux/1554783.html there are also a few threads going on at Dell Community forum under Hard Drives, but no real solution yet. The "irqpoll" solution is not a good one, since it doesn't fix the problem, it rather just ignores it, and your laptop then still freezes. THanks
If it's a general problem with all distros, then it doesn't belong to Gentoo bugzilla. http://bugzilla.kernel.org/ Thanks. ;)
Well, but don't you think someone needs to look at it? Everywhere I go I get the same stupid answer...nobody wants to help. Since it's not "their" problem. It is ALSO a gentoo issue!!! Because I cannot install Gentoo! Besides, isn't that what linux is all about...community!? Helping solve each others problems? If I can' get help here? Where can I get help?
This is first of all manufacturer issue, go complain to them about their sucky BIOS that doesn't work with kernel. Not a Gentoo bug, closing.
