I updated the page on the wiki, replacing
cp -p /tmp/tcloop/grub-0.97-splash/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/* /mnt/sda1/boot/grub
with
cp -p /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/* /mnt/sda1/boot/grub
This is simpler.
Also, the first method would not work if you have a file called tcz2ram.lst in the tce directory, and the grub extension is listed in it, or there is a file called tcz2ram.flg.
Did you create an Ext3 partition on the hard drive?
Did you create a tce directory in the Ext3 partition?
Did you copy the grub-0.97-splash.tcz extension to the tce directory?
Are you running Tiny Core from the CD when running the command
cp -p /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/* /mnt/sda1/boot/grub
Be aware, if you type one letter wrong when typing commands, you will get an error message. Check that there are no typing errors.
One way to overcome typing errors is to download the Xfe extension, .dep file, and dependencies, as explained in the wiki. Type sudo xfe to start it as root. Click on the file, select copy, go to the directory where you want it and select paste. Then rename it.
When installing Tiny Core using this method, most things are done while running the Parted Magic CD.
Copying Grub needs to be done running the Tiny Core CD. It can't be extracted while running the Parted Magic CD.
On my computer, if I create an Ext3 partition, create a tce directory in it, paste extension to the tce directory, and run Tiny Core from the CD, it will load the extensions.
If all else fails.
Download the Super Grub Disk:
http://www.supergrubdisk.org/Use the 0.9799, 0.9798 or 0.9797 version.
It is a very small download. It can be run from a floppy disk. I suggest you use the CD version, as not all computers have floppy disks now.
While running Parted Magic, copy /boot/grub from the CD, and all of the files in it, to /media/hda1/boot.
With this method, there are things you need to delete in menu.lst, when you put in the Tiny Core start commands.
The rest of the installation will be the same.
I also noticed, you downloaded grub to hda1, and you tried to copy it to sda1. It needs to be the correct partition, and will be the same.