Linux on Inspiron 6000d

I got my shiny new Inspiron 6000d today, and the first order of business
was to wipe out the XP and install Linux instead.
I picked FC3 as a convenient distro to use; I have it running on my
desktop without problems.
When I booted the laptop with the install image on a USB key ("diskimage.bin"),
it started booting fine; then it started probing things in the kernel and
next thing I know, the screen blanked, followed by it becoming brighter and
brighter slowly till it was quite bright, and I had to power-off in a hurry.

Thinking it was something wrong with the USB boot process, I burnt a boot
CD, and tried the install process again. Once again, after the kernel
starts booting (and before asking any of the questions like keyboard, etc.),
the screen blanks, followed by a gradual increase in brightness till it looks
painfully bright (and I have to shut it off to prevent damage to the LCD).

Anyone else seen this problem? I tried the "noprobe" option, as well as the
"text" option; no luck.