Problem install grub (solved)

[Jim Byrnes]

Rashkae wrote:
> Jim Byrnes wrote:
>> Still trying to install Ubuntu 9.10 on a netbook. The install stops at
>> 95% at grub-install, with a fatal error. At this point the drive was:
>> |freespace 256MB|sda1 primary ext4| sda5 swap|
>> I made the freespace into a primary partition and tried to format it
>> ext2.  This failed with a message saying there was a short read with
>> block 0 bad.
>>
>
> We just had this thread.. apparently there is a component to Karmic that
> causes some SSD's to report bad sectors, (and in some cases, even
> permanently bricking the drives.)  It's possible to work around, but
> since the code that causes this has been known for several months and
> Ubuntu devs still refuse to either fix or remove it (after all, it's
> only bricking hundreds of dollar's worth of hardware, no big deal), I
> would suggest staying with the previous release of Ubuntu until this is
> resolved.  Please look over the mailing list for the discussion on
> marking bad sectors to find the link to the bug I just mentioned.
>
>

Well the grub part is not solved, but I did manage to get Ubuntu 
installed on the netbook (Eeepc). Just in case someone else is in the 
same situation.

First I used the Eeepc recovery cd to reinstall the original OS. Then I 
used the alternative CD to install Ubuntu.  When it got to the 
partitioning section of the install I selected not to format any 
partitions.  I did however create a swap partition.  From that point on 
the install just ran it's course.  This means I ended up with ext3 as a 
filesystem, but at least I have a functioning netbook.

Regards,  Jim