Grub error

[Justin Sleith]

I'm trying to install Ubuntu onto an IDE slave drive and am getting a 
Grub Error 17 coming up.

This is the machine I am using to do this.

AMD 3500+
1 gig RAM
IDE 1 - 80 gig (running Win XP)
IDE 2 - 8.6 gig (where I want to install Ubuntu)
IDE 3 - dvd-writer
IDE 4 - cd-rom
SATA 1 - 200 gig (NTFS for games etc)

If I run the install for Ubuntu and put the install onto a partition on 
the 80 gig IDE it reboots and starts up fine.
When I put Ubuntu onto the 8.6 IDE I get an error 17 as soon as Grub 
loads. I've tried putting Grub into the MBR (which gives me that error). 
I've also tried loading it manually (which gives me a failure at 
installation) and I get the same error (installation failure) when 
trying to use LILO instead of Grub.

I'm pretty sure there is an easy solution to this but googling hasnt 
given me anything I can work with yet. Most of the sites I have found 
say error 17 is to do file system type (if memory serves correctly).

My other question is how do I now get into the ubuntu installation to 
edit/change thr grub config files to see if I can get this to work?

Justin

(Sorry for the long post)