I have Centos, xp and 2000. After 2000 reinstall
no Grub.
I spent hours by trying different advices that helped many people. Please help with my issue.

My fdisk (don't know how to save output so typed manually btw how to do that)

/dev/hda1 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda1 Linux
/dev/hda1 Linux
/dev/hda1 W95Ext'd
/dev/hda1 HPFS/NTFS

menu.lst (this one I saved to a floppy )

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
# root (hd0,2)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hda
default=4
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,2)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title CentOS (2.6.9-42.0.3.EL)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.3.EL ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.9-42.0.3.EL.img
title CentOS (2.6.9-42.0.2.EL)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.2.EL ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.9-42.0.2.EL.img
title CentOS (2.6.9-34.0.2.EL)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.2.EL ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.9-34.0.2.EL.img
title CentOS-4 i386 (2.6.9-34.EL)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.EL ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.9-34.EL.img
title Windows
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

What's the question???

Note: Please use copy and paste for things like fdisk output--in yours, you have listed five entries all showing /dev/hda1

If you are trying to install grub the the mbr, then do this:
(First, determine the partition which has the /boot directory---let's assume that it is /dev/hda2)
(note that GRUB counts from 0)

Please post the complete output of fdisk /dev/hda

sorry
hda1
hda2
hda3
hda4
hda5
I will try it again (it gave an error)
Just to add when I reboot I can see for a sec Grub loading stage 5 and it goes to
Windows loader.

grub (opens the grub shell)
root (hd0,1)
setup (hd0)

Succeeded!

But result is the same. When I reboot I can see for a sec Grub loading stage 5 and it goes to Windows loader. What's next? Thanks.

FDISK:

Disk /dev/hda: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 2932 23551258+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda2 2933 2945 104422+ 83 Linux
/dev/hda3 2946 3578 5084572+ 8e Linux LVM
/dev/hda4 3579 4865 10337827+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda5 3579 4865 10337796 7 HPFS/NTFS

Sounds like everything is working.
Centos hides the menu from you, and goes to the default entry if you do nothing. Edit your menu.lst and put a "#" character in column 1 of the "hiddenmenu" line.
This makes it a comment, then you will see the menu, and be able to make a choice.

just did it. The same result. Just takes longer (black screen) before Wind comes.

Checked menu.lst on my second Centos, hiddenmenu is uncommented.

What it could be. Everything is looks fine as you mentioned but there is something.

Thanks,
Michael

Reboot, and when you see the "loading grub 1.5" message finish (blank screen probably), hit the up arrow four times then hit <Enter>.
If this gets you to Centos, sounds like there is a FrameBuffer problem.
Erk ...

Your problem is that you have "hidemenu" specified in your GRUB config file, and "default=4" which tells GRUB not to show you the OS selection menu, and to boot XP.

Try changing the "hidemenu" to "#hidemenu".

I get weird black and white screen (difficult to read).

Booting CentOS 2.6.9-42.0.3 EL

root hd0,2
Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x8e
Kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.3 EL
ro root=dev/VolGroup00/Log Vo00 rhgb quiet

Error 17. Cannot mount selected partition

Press any key to continue...

When I press a key. I get a Grub screen the same crap as at the beginning.
and cannot choose any kernel but Windows.

Looks like root hd0,2 is a problem.

in grub>
I typed
root (hd0,1) [enter]
and after
setup (hd0) [enter]

I will check grub.conf for root (hd0,1)?

One thing at a time. Comment out the bootsplash line as well.

changed grub.conf root (hd0,1)
the screen is blank but i go up end enter.
spookie screen appear and after 5 seconds it becomes nice load screen
so my linux is up.
Now will try your last suggestions.

Totally fixed!
splash was uncommented but it was (hd0,2)
changed it
Super nice.
Thanks for your time. Your tips pushed me to right direction.
It was a nice lesson.
The problem was grub.conf
Do you have an idea why it was staying on(hd0,2)?