FYI, my 3rd attempt to go to Linux failed. Ubuntu didn't get anywhere - the startup install screen would not show, just a blank screen. Tried 32 bit and 64 bit - same failure.
Fedora 17 64 bit installed just fine. After updates I got the "GPU-lockup - switching to software fbcon" problem. I think I fixed that in an OS reinstallation with a lot of work involving installing nvidia drivers.
The main problem was no local home network connection (unable to mount location). I had internet connection (unlike the previous time I tried to move to Linux), but no home network. I spent a lot of time trying to figure it out, but no luck. Maybe next time.
All this was on a brand new machine.
I'm back to Windows 7 for now. At least it works (sort of). It sure was painful giving MS $100.
Mike Flannigan http://www.mflan.com/index.htm