In further exciting news... I tried Solaris 05/08 as well but no luck. Plan B, install Ubuntu and then hopefully SXDE could pick up that grub's setup and overwrite.
Ubuntu (7.04) install worked a treat (someone should really look at how an installation should work :). This set up 2 partitions (a linux swap and an ext3). I then ran the SXDE install, which this time was able to get as far as the gui part, asked me which partition to use (I chose the ext3 to be the solaris partition), answered a few more questions and then the install started... and crapped out again. This time complaining that it couldn't delete the partition... As an aside, both installs were done with the Latitude connected to its docking station. Ubuntu used the desktop lcd screen and usb keyboard out of the box. With the SXDE install, I had to open the laptop and use the laptops keyboard and screen... This message posted from opensolaris.org
