media error bug report blocking is incomplete

Exception during installation:
Oct 15 03:45:43 ubuntu ubiquity: Error in function:
Oct 15 03:45:43 ubuntu plugininstall.py: SystemError: E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
Oct 15 03:45:43 ubuntu plugininstall.py:

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. Reviewing your dmesg attachment to this bug report it seems that there may be a problem with your hardware. I'd recommend performing a back up and then investigate the situation. Measures you might take include checking cable connections and using software tools to investigate the health of your hardware. In the event that is is not in fact an error with your hardware please set the bug's status back to New. Thanks and good luck!

The ubuntu.py general hook looks for the "I/O error" in Dmesg or CurrentDmesg to determine if there is a hardware error. The ubiquity source package hook though looks for 'Buffer I/O error on device' for CD devices and doesn't look for error messages regarding the physical drive Ubuntu is being installed on. The ubiquity source package hook should be updated to check install log for error messages regarding the drive Ubuntu is being installed on using a method similar to the ubuntu.py general hook.

ATA bus errors are another indication of hardware problems. As an example:

Nov 6 12:29:53 ubuntu kernel: [ 297.462670] ata1.01: failed command: WRITE DMA
Nov 6 12:29:53 ubuntu kernel: [ 297.462680] ata1.01: cmd ca/00:90:20:5c:46/00:00:00:00:00/f4 tag 0 dma 73728 out
Nov 6 12:29:53 ubuntu kernel: [ 297.462682] res 51/84:48:68:5c:46/00:00:00:00:00/f4 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
Nov 6 12:29:53 ubuntu kernel: [ 297.462686] ata1.01: status: { DRDY ERR }
Nov 6 12:29:53 ubuntu kernel: [ 297.462689] ata1.01: error: { ICRC ABRT }

And ATA uncorrectable (UNC) errors:

Nov 20 02:16:22 ubuntu kernel: [ 1185.845975] ata2.00: failed command: WRITE SECTOR(S)
Nov 20 02:16:22 ubuntu kernel: [ 1185.845997] ata2.00: cmd 30/00:08:28:c5:4b/00:00:00:00:00/e0 tag 0 pio 4096 out
Nov 20 02:16:22 ubuntu kernel: [ 1185.846002] res 41/41:41:41:41:41/00:00:00:00:00/41 Emask 0x20b (HSM violation)
Nov 20 02:16:22 ubuntu kernel: [ 1185.846013] ata2.00: status: { DRDY ERR }
Nov 20 02:16:22 ubuntu kernel: [ 1185.846021] ata2.00: error: { UNC }

There is also a separate media error class:

Feb 28 17:36:58 ubuntu kernel: [ 1199.540413] ata1.01: exception Emask 0x0 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x0 action 0x0
Feb 28 17:36:58 ubuntu kernel: [ 1199.540426] ata1.01: BMDMA stat 0x64
Feb 28 17:36:58 ubuntu kernel: [ 1199.540441] ata1.01: cmd c8/00:28:60:85:71/00:00:00:00:00/f2 tag 0 dma 20480 in
Feb 28 17:36:58 ubuntu kernel: [ 1199.540443] res 51/40:28:6b:85:71/00:00:00:00:00/f2 Emask 0x9 (media error)
Feb 28 17:36:58 ubuntu kernel: [ 1199.540449] ata1.01: status: { DRDY ERR }
Feb 28 17:36:58 ubuntu kernel: [ 1199.540453] ata1.01: error: { UNC }

This bug was fixed in the package apport - 1.93-0ubuntu2

---------------
apport (1.93-0ubuntu2) precise; urgency=low

  [ Martin Pitt ]
  * debian/control: Add python-launchpadlib and psmisc build dependencies for
    the test suite.
  * Merge from trunk:
    - apport: Set the group of written reports to "whoopsie" if that group
      exists.

  [ Brian Murray ]
  * data/package-hooks/source_ubiquity.py: prevent reporting of bugs where
    there was an I/O error with the disk being installed to or from
    (LP: #874727)
 -- Martin Pitt <email address hidden> Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:54:54 +0100