Comment 17 for bug 434827

working around the problem (loading sata_via.ko from an external drive) I succeeded to install.
It then worked because sata_via.ko is present in version 2.6.31-10-generic or 2.6.31-11-generic by default, but not in 2.6.31-9 included in the installer (at least in the alternate/server one).
to work around if you have a working karmic install, just copy sata_via.ko from /lib/modules/2.6.31-10-generic/kernel/drivers/ata and copy it to a disk. Then, when the installer asks you to select the driver, press "ctrl+alt+F2", activate the command line and copy the driver from the external media to the local /lib/modules/*/kernel/drivers/ata.
then press ctrl+alt+F1 to switch back to the installer, press esc and repeat the find disks step.
If you don't have a working karmic install, use the file attached in the following post.