exerpts from my install notes, i hope this helps

cykick

Now is the time to get the grub bootloader installed. The reason for this is that grub needs to have the same version on the boot floppy (in this case the Knoppix Live CD will be our boot floppy) that is found on the harddrive in case you ever need an emergency recovery. We will manually copy the files we need from the install directory into the working directory. Then should apt install newer versions of grub in the install directory we don't have to worry because our working grub directory and the grub floppy(in this case the Knoppix Live CD will be our boot floppy) never change. Create a directory for grub. The basic kernel installed is vmlinuz-2.2.20-idepci from the Debian GNU/linux 3.0r2 CD.

~# mkdir /boot/grub/

create a configuration file for grub called menu.lst

~# joe /boot/grub/menu.lst

#
# configure file for the grub bootloader
#
# timeout is 10 seconds
timeout=10


# for booting Debian GNU/linux operating system
title= Debian GNU/linux
root=(hd0,1)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.2.20-idepci root=/dev/hda3
boot

# for booting the Windows XP operating system
title= Windows XP
root=(hd0,0)
makeactive
chainloader=+1
boot

put the Knoppix CD in the CD drive

reboot:
~# /sbin/shutdown -h now

When the KDE desktop comes up, right mouse click on the hda2 icon
mount the hda2 partition
right click on the hda2 icon
click on Actions
change the read/write permissions to writeable

open a terminal window
superuser to root

~# su root

~# whereis grub

~# ls /usr/lib/grub
~# ls /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/

~# cp /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/stage1 /mnt/hda2/grub/
~# cp /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/stage2 /mnt/hda2/grub/
~# cp /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/e2fs_stage1_5 /mnt/hda2/grub/
~# ls /mnt/hda2/grub/

install grub in the MBR

~# /sbin/grub

this will initiate the grub bootloader and give you a grub prompt

grub >

use the install command to install grub in the Master Boot Record
usage of the install command can be found in the grub manual
http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html

grub > install=(hd0,1)/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0,1)/grub/stage2 0x8000 p
grub > quit

end Knoppix session
reboot by holding down power button for 7 seconds
the grub prompt appear in boot sequence, run the grub setup command

grub > root=(hd0,1)
grub > setup (hd0)

reboot, [Ctrl][Alt][Del] and try out your new grub bootloader. Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to choose the operating system you want to use.