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This is my step by step process on a Dell Inspiron 6000 with a brand new 320 HD:

  • Turn on Laptop
  • Insert Xubuntu 9.1 disc
  • Boot to CD-rom
  • After boot has finished, I install and instance of Xubuntu on the machine
  • After install (without any errors), I reboot the the machine
  • On reboot, the BIOS claims to be unable to read from device

What could this be? (Feel free to ask for more information to perform a proper diagnosis)

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I think you or the installer messed up (accidentally). Just try the installation again.

  • Did you let the installer install grub in the MBR? (it'll ask you at the end of the installation).

  • Did you try another Linux dristo (Ubuntu or a newer Xubuntu?).

  • If everythin fails (maybe check this first): Are you SURE that it's the BIOS telling you it's unable to read from the device, not the boot loader or the OS?

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Grub error 18. But I think I figured it out; I was reading somewhere about the BIOS not being able to read such a large hard drive. When I went into the BIo and read the sys info, it only said the HD was 137 GB. So what I did was make a boot partition that was 80 gigs and left the rest well alone and it installed just fine. – Chris Jul 16 '10 at 17:48
Sounds like the Problem is solved! What i would do in this case: Make a /boot partition that's only 256 MB in size and add the rest of the partition to /. The only files that will be installed on /boot will be the 2nd stage of the bootloader - which will be loaded by the 1st stage in the MBR - which will be loaded by the BIOS) your kernel (ca. 15 MB on a fairly modern system) and a few other files needed to boot. That way your Bios won't complain about your boot device (/boot) being to big and your root device (which contains /home, i figure?) will be in one piece and almost 320GBs. – lajuette Jul 17 '10 at 20:06
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