I've been trying to install a Mandriva free 2009 on a Latitude E6500 and got several problems:
1. If I don´t use F5 Driver option(DVD) before installing, it seems not recognize cdrom device, so installation finish.
2. If I use F5 driver option, it asks me for kernel third party modules, so I try to choose a CDROM option as a way to install mandriva and fooling the cdrom, but I get this message "Fatal Error finishing initialization". On this way I installed mandriva 2008 so I could fool the system, but I couldn´t configure my NIC. For that reason I decided to install a new release.

It has been impossible to find a solution.

Is possible to install mandriva 2009 on a Latitude E6500? Regarding Mandriva's website this is compatible but something wrong is happening.

P.S: if nobody knows how to solve this, just tell mi which distribution works fine with a Latitude E6500, however I rather a solution for mandriva. Tks

Hello,
I am not sure why you can't install on the Dell E6500 but I have the Dell 8600 and I used Mandriva live 2009 to install..
However,that does not help you..
I suggest if you can, get a few live cd's of a few Distros and try each
to see which agrees with you and you hardware..That way you'll know B4 you install anything..
Goodluck,
jolphil
OH BTW Welcome to LQ

I installed Ubuntu 8 and it recognized everything. It´s a shame because I have mandriva at home and it has a lot of good applications. However, I needed something for my job and Ubuntu was a solution.