Dual-boot laptop: suggested strategies

Suggested strategies please for converting a Win98 laptop to a dual-boot system, Win200 + Linux.
Laptop is Thinkpad 600X, 12gig, 64meg RAM, CD. Currently partitioned as C: 3 gig, D: 9 gig
I have Win2000 and Linux install CDs ready. Also, an IBM backup CD with Win98 and Thinkpad drivers as insurance.

What should be my first step, after backing up all data on the laptop?

Thanks
Mike

Get more RAM. Min 128 for Win 2000 and Linux. Then install Windows 2000 first, only partitioning what you want windows to use (Use FAT32 if you want Linux to be able to write to the windows partition, NTFS is better but linux will be read only to the Window's partition) then install linux which version do you have, I believe SUSE have some good tools specifically for IBM laptop's but never tried them so can't advise.

I was going to install SuSe 10.1 (it's available as cover disk in some mags).
But then I found an old Debian 3.1 CD. I may go with this instead.

I used to run RedHat5.2 on this same Thinkpad 600X. Everything worked OK under Linux -- and that was a few years back.

Mike