Since you are new to this you could try using a different and easier bootloader.

Bootpart comes to mind. It will actually allow you to use WinXP's boot.ini
menus. It will automagically place a line in boot.ini for you.

You have to run it once to see what your Linux partition is. Then use the number it comes up with to create a file it will use. It's actually pretty easy.

It is a free download at:

http://www.winimage.com/winimage.htm

Look in the left column under free software.

Bootpart is the boot loader that the old Corel Linux used when it was around.

sakiZ