Bug#296695: CD net-install won't work on Dell Inspiron 5000

[Martin Stiaszny <stiaszny@MIT.EDU>]

Package: installation-reports

Debian-installer-version:
http://cdimage.debian.org/pub/cdimage-testing/daily/i386/current/sarge-i386-netinst.iso
(circa 1 pm today, which, looking at your timestamps, might actually be
the Feb. 22nd cut)

uname -a: Linux ortelius 2.4.27-2-386 #1 Thu Jan 20 10:55:08 JST 2005
i686 unknown
Date: 2 pm this afternoon
Method: burned sarge-i386-netinst.iso to CD

Machine: Dell Inspiron 5000
Processor: intel
Memory: enough
Root Device: IDE/hda  20 GB
Root Size/partition table: 
     hda1 is the linux swap for the other distro
     hda2 is root for the other distro (ext2, ~18 GB)
     hda3 is root for the debian install (ext3, ~2 GB)
     hda5 is swap for the debian install ~130 MB
Output of lspci and lspci -n:
       the installer has crashed;  let me see if I can get it by booting
       to the other distro...  (I was able to do uname -a before the
       crash) wow... this is a LOT of spew to type in (net doesn't work
       on that distro - hence debian.  If this will actually help, let
       me know and I will do it)

Base System Installation Checklist:
[O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it

Initial boot worked:    [O]
Configure network HW:   [O]
Config network:         [O]
Detect CD:              [O]
Load installer modules: [O]
Detect hard drives:     [O]
Partition hard drives:  [O]
Create file systems:    [O]
Mount partitions:       [O]
Install base system:    [O]
Install boot loader:    [E]
Reboot:                 [ ]

Comments/Problems:

I posted on debian-boot;  I guess this is the Better Way to do it.  Here
is content of my post:

I had this problem with sarge's RC2, so I grabbed the daily build for
today, and the problem is still there.  It is as follows:

My friend has a Dell Inspiron 5000 laptop that he was(is) running
slackware(?) on.  I used GNU parted to shrink his slackware partition to
make some free space.  All that appears to have worked fine.  However,
when the installer tries to install GRUB it hangs on the screen that
says:

Installing GRUB boot loader
33%
Determining GRUB boot device

He was booting with LILO before, and I can only presume that it is
sitting in the MBR.  His other distro still boots fine, so the hardware
is A-OK.

cheers,
- martin