its not impossible..........but dont expect a dual boot system.
Once you have the 2 drives physically installed and jumpered correctly start
your system with the XP CD in place and watch for the words..press any key
to boot from CD(assuming you have the CD set in the BIOS start up list)
Once XP install starts pick new install and be sure to pick the right
drive(or do not connect the 40 gig till XP is installed)
Once XP is fully installed and operating...connect the 40gig..........and
from within XP format the drive
All programs that were on that disk would now be erased and the disk is
ready to use as you see fit.
If you were aiming to use some of those programs you will need to install
them under XP....you would have had to anyways.
Dual boot....where you are given a choice as to which OS you wish to start
with ..is also possible but requires a different setup.
The 40gig should stay as the master and the 80 gig as the slave.Start
computer with the XP CD ,pick new installation but onto the 80gig drive.XP
will see 98SE on the 40gig,rewrite the bootsector of that drive and install
to where you told it to..the 80gig.
Upon starting up you will be given a choice of which OS to start with.With
XP writing a new boot sector on the 40gig be aware that you cannot format
that drive without losing the ability to boot to both systems......no boot
whatsoever!!! without a Repair Installation of XP.Programs that you
need/want to use under 98SE or XP need to be installed under each OS for
them to work.
Example if you use program A under 98SE,Program B under XP and Program C
under both thats how you need to install them.
I would stick with just XP and format 98SE
peter