boot loader not installed

[fyrbrds at netscape.net]

I tried to install ubuntu 9.10 beta. It completes the install but does not install grub. I boot with other boot cds or with easy bcd and these can find grub no where. Why would ubuntu think it made a proper install without a boot loader?
I have tried installing it 5 times on different drives and different partition schemes with the same result. 

I want a dual boot config. I have Windows Vista on a 500GB drive (hd0)
300GB NTFS (hd1)
300GB Nvidia SW RAID w/ 3x WD Raptor 150 (hd2)

Tried installing on hd2 3 times. Finally read pages with information leading every which way.
Tried hd0 twice. hd0 has 160G Vista partition. I set up a 40G /home, 12G swp, 4G /tmp, and 80G / (sda8)

All attempts to boot this config after install have failed. The Vista boot loader remains intact.
I tried NeoGrub and the Super grub Boot cd. No grub install found anywhere.

Last question: Is there a way to boot to a command prompt with the live cd for repairs? The live cd gnome terminal is practically blind-mute.

John


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