With linux-image-3.5.0-41-generic = 3.5.0-41.64~precise1 there are no Buffer I/O errors, either with mkswap or mkfs.ext2
With linux-image-3.2.0-54-generic = 3.2.0-54.82 the errors are the same as in linux-image-3.8.0-31-generic = 3.8.0-31.46~precise1
So the lts-quantal image is good, the others are not.
With linux-image- 3.5.0-41- generic = 3.5.0-41. 64~precise1 there are no Buffer I/O errors, either with mkswap or mkfs.ext2
With linux-image- 3.2.0-54- generic = 3.2.0-54.82 the errors are the same as in linux-image- 3.8.0-31- generic = 3.8.0-31. 46~precise1
So the lts-quantal image is good, the others are not.