What to install first.....Linux or Windows?

Do i install windows XP pro first, and make 2 partitions, and then install linux on the 2nd partition? Or linux first?

you have to install windows first or windows rewrites the mbr. how I go about making the intial partitions is with dos's fdisk. I run fdisk and make a partition for windows the size I want for windows and then make it active then install windows now when I install linux I can use the other part of the drive for linux without having to worry about linux having to resize windows.

how do i get into dos's fdisk?

You need to start the computer with a windows boot disk in the A: drive. Then at the A : type fdisk

Whenever I have to format or partition my hard drive I almost always do it with a Partition Magic boot disk, or rescue disk, or whatever the name is. It's cool, and gives you a "windows look and feel". Much easier to work with than ms-dos.

But, then again, I never installed Linux on my pc, so I don't know if Partition Magic works for it.

Yes it does.

When you start the install for XP it gives you the option to set partitions up.

Its best to use XP bootable disk (CD) to create partitions if they are giong to be larger sized. 98 boot disk (A) can only recongnize a certian ammount of gigs which means smaller partitions

what program is it that you use for partition in winxp. There is different ones for linux but I prefer fdisk and what's the limit on partitions for win98?

If you plan on using /boot partition for lilo instead of MBR you can re-install windows at anytime without messing up boot loader. if you reinstall windows it writes to MBR and won't run lilo but you can fdisk /MBR and then it will work correctly again but it has to be done with dos fdisk not the linux version