[lubuntu] installing to wiped hard drive

After trying to save my laptop after many attempts, I abandoned it, bought a new computer, then came back to that laptop drive, wiped it clean, thinking reinstallation of Ubuntu would be a snap. It ain't. it is standard BIOS (not UEFI), but I remember reading something about needing to write the installation to block zero, which seems impossible without specialized software. Created a partition as close to block zero as possible, but no go. So - is there any shortcut for installing Ubuntu to an entirely wiped hard drive?