Make your linux hard disk the Primary Master (hda in linux speak/C: in windows speak/ hd0 in Bios speak). Install only linux on this drive, partitioned as you wish.
Make your windows drive the Primary Slave (don't forget to change the drive's jumper).
Linux can then install Lilo or Grub boot manager on the 1st hard drives boot manager, and can be updated to include the booting of windows.
If anything goes wrong, your Windows drive will not have been touched by linux, and you can set the PC's bios to boot the second (windows) drive. Also, even if the system is set to boot from the 1st drive, you can just disconnect it's power cable and the PC should boot the next available drive. Windows always sees the first available drive as C:, no matter whether its the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th drive - at least as far as Win 98 is concerned - WinXP is a different kettle of fish.
This has worked for me on several PCs, andnone of them have motherboards less than 2 years old
Hope this helps.
Bill
-- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
