FreeBSD 10 w/ fresh root-on-ZFS fails to boot

[Warren Block]

On Fri, 15 Aug 2014, Elliot Robinson wrote:

> Good evening all,
> I'm attempting to install FreeBSD 10 from the memstick image. Installing
> with guided partitioning works and boots with no modifications, but I'd
> prefer to run ZFS. I've spent the last 6 hours pursuing that goal to no
> avail. Any assistance the group could offer would be greatly appreciated.
>
> So far I have attempted to install with root-on-ZFS with GPT and MBR, swap
> on and off, and 4k alignment on and off. I've also done some half-hearted
> playing with the loader.conf & etc after the install, but, since all the
> references I can find are focused on FreeBSD 9, I've come to the conclusion
> that the root-on-ZFS utility knows better than I what needs to be done.
>
> The only variable change which seems to have an effect is the GPT/MBR
> change. GPT gives:
>
> gptzfsboot: error 1 lba 1
> gptzfsboot: error 1 lba 49
> gptzfsboot: No ZFS pools located, can't boot
>
> after POST. MBR POSTs, then freezes with no output. As best I can tell with
> gpart, the partition table is effectively equivalent between guided and
> root-on-ZFS w/ GPT installs (with the obvious exception of the filesystem
> on ada0p2).
>
> Hardware platform is a 2009-era Dell Studio XPS with a Core2 Duo and 8GB
> RAM. Installation media is a 40GB OCZ Vertex II SSD.

The error suggests a hardware failure, bad blocks on the SSD.  If the 
SSD supports SMART, can it pass a short or extended test?  Otherwise, 
there might be vendor testing software.