these are the commands i have to issue after something times out...
# modprobe aic7xxx
# modprobe ext2
# mknod /dev/sda b 8 0
# exit
then it boots.
this is my /boot/grub/menu.lst
default=0
timeout=7

title Linux
        root    (hd0,1)
        kernel  /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-28-386 ro root=/dev/sda silent quiet
        initrd  /boot/initramfs.img-2.6.15-28-386-sda

title Windows
        root    (hd0,0)
        chainloader +1
        boot

this is my /etc/lilo.conf
#! /dev/lilo.conf        # configuration file for lilo
boot=/dev/hda
compact
delay=70
vga=0x0f05
default=Linux-sda
other=/dev/hdc1
    label=windows
    boot-as=0x80

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-28-386
    label=Linux-sda
    initrd=/boot/initramfs.img-2.6.15-28-386-sda
    root=/dev/sda
    append="silent quiet"