Lucid AMD64 Server clean install: Grub does not load

[Csimbi]

I have a 40GB SSD.
I create a 32GB Primary partition, and install Windows XP Pro there.
I leave the rest empty.

I start installing Ubuntu Server 10.04 AMD64 from the CD (ubuntu-10.04-server-amd64.iso).
At some point I need to select the partition to install Lucid.
First, I selected "use biggest free space" option. When I tried installing Lucid a second time, I chose manual partitioning and I chose automatic in the second menu. The result it identical in both cases.
The installation goes through just fine, at the end, Grub identifies the Windows XP Pro partition correctly, and recommends updating the master boot record - so I chose yes.
After reboot, Windows XP Pro is loaded. Grub does not appear and thus, the server that just installed successfully is nowhere to be seen...

The partitions seem ok under XP's partition manager (two unknown partitions are shown, probably "/" and "swap").
I am guessing that there is something wrong with the debian-installer, because Grub does not even appear.

I tried fixing Grub using the "recovery mode" on the install CD.
In this case, I can select the root file system /dev/sdb5, but when I try to re-install Grub any /dev/sdb* device, I get a red screen with an error message.

For a temporary solution: Is there any way to install the old Grub instead of Grub2?
Thank you.

[Csimbi (turbotalicska)]

Small update.

I could not install Lucid despite my efforts, so I have to put Karmic back (can't wait).
Karmic installed flawlessly (on the same system).

There is one difference that I noticed during the installation process of Karmic and Lucid:
Karmic put the boot drive first (/dev/sda), while
Lucid put the boot drive second (/dev/sdb).