After trying to get an installation of Xubuntu on a laptop with boot support only for a floppy and USB 1.0, I found an alternative. I have not had a problem with UUIDs yet.

What is needed

• A method to hook up your disk drive to another computer (connected via USB->IDE/SATA / directly via IDE or SATA)

• VMware Workstation
• Ubuntu or derivative ISO or CDROM

Installation

Configuration and Setup

Suggested Configuration

• Go to Advanced Configuration

Virtual Hardware

• Name: Xubuntu Install
• Guest OS: Other
• Memory Size: (Half of whatever you have in your current machine, NOT the one you are building for)
• # of CPUs: 1

CDROM Drives

• Either your CD, DVD, or ISO.

Hard Drive

• Use Physical Disk (make sure you are using the extra drive, in my case "\\.\PhysicalDrive1")

• Make sure you use the entire disk

Actual Installation

• Boot the VMX in VMware
• Boot by booting the DVD drive in VMware, in my case by selecting CD-ROM in the BIOS boot menu
• Continue through the install
• When you are done installing, after rebooting, shut down the VM and disconnect your virtual CD-ROM drive
• Once your drive is the way you like it, plug your hard drive back into the original system and boot!