I somehow attract issues whenever I build a new computer or do a fresh installation on my desktop.  I currently dual boot between Windows XP 64bit and  Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic) which has served me well the last 3 years.  My current setup is running atop a fakeraid mirror which at the time, was a PITA to get configured as it involved using a live cd and following a really long howto while crossing my fingers it would work.  Today the installer supports fakeraid out of the box so no poor soul would have to go through those installation steps.