glad to be back but I have a dilemma.

[Christopher Moore]

Dan,
You could also use fips to create space for a linux partition on your
existing drive.  Then you would run fdisk in linux to create the linux and
swap partitions.  But, if your current drive is almost full, this may not
be a great option.  

Also, if you're running dsl, I would advise getting a router which can
handle all the pppoe stuff.  

My system is dual boot using one hard drive and a dsl connection over a
router.  But having a separate drive for linux is a good option provided
you or a friend knows how to install the drive in your system and configure
the jumpers properly.  

Chris