1st partition (hda1) windows boot partition FAT32.
2nd parition (hda2) windows XP NTFS
3rd partition (hda3) redhat9 EXT3
4th parition (hda4) swap
so /dev/hda1 for windows 9x
/dev/hda2 for windows xp
/dev/hda3 redhat9
/dev/hdb1 suse8.2
this is my lilo.conf:
prompt
timeout=50
default=linux
boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
#message=/boot/message
#linear
lba32
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-20.9
label=2420209
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.20-20.9.img
read-only
append="hdc=ide-scsi root=LABEL=/"
vga=792
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-8
label=linux
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.20-8.img
read-only
append="hdc=ide-scsi root=LABEL=/"
vga=792
for your windows u should do
image=/dev/hda1
optional
label=9x
image=/dev/hda2
optional
label=xp
this is grub.conf (i use lilo with no windows)
# 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 (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hda3
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hda
default=1
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,1)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-20.9)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.20-20.9 ro root=LABEL=/ hdc=ide-scsi
initrd /initrd-2.4.20-20.9.img
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-8)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.20-8 ro root=LABEL=/ hdc=ide-scsi
initrd /initrd-2.4.20-8.img
title nt
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1
see if this helps ( i don't know how 'cause your prob is the mbr and lilo and grub)
u should pick one of the distros and remove the others (coment out) on grub.conf one at a time and like it says dont rerun grub after changing it see if u can get at least xp to boot right and get rid of the others.
and for your own sanity.... PICK ONE PLEASE i would go for either mandrake or red hat.
oh and please chek out gentoo linux
http://www.gentoolinux.com
good luck.