Sorry - I didn't make my post clear enough. The hdd I will multi-boot from is currently blank - no OS just blank partitions with two formatted ready for installing an OS. All partitions (four) Fat32 though might change two to NTFS using Convert.exe when I'm sure the multi-boot setup is ok. The hdd was formatted as a slave which I will change to master for installing the OS's. The existing hdd with XP (NTFS) will be disconnected during this process in case I mess it up.
Up to this point you are fine...you will now have a machine that runs on Win98...you will not however have a machine that will dual-boot to WinXP when you re-introduce the XP HDD unless you use the BIOS to choose which HDD to boot from.
If you don't need ANY data from that XP HDD then here's what you do next:
Leave the Win98 HDD as the primary master.
Hook up the XP HDD as the primary slave making sure the jumpers are set correctly.
Then re-boot with the XP CD in and follow the instructions to re-install XP to the 2nd HDD
This is getting more complicated than it need be...did you happen to check if your BIOS will allow you to boot to either drive ? ?
If so you can skip the above suggestions and just use it to boot either OS as you need.
OPTION # 2
Do a clean install of XP to the 2nd partition on the Win98 HDD after a few successful Win98 boots and shutdowns. Then you can re-introduce the original XP HDD, and use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to import your XP settings to the new clean XP install...
XP will automatically give you an option at startup as to which OS you want to boot to.
patio. 8-)