how do i create partitions on an empty drive?

Clarifications

I am fairly sure that Vista and XP both contain options during the setup process to create partitions. If you wish to have all your partitions set up before you try installing the OS's, then there are free, bootable images of partition software. If you are not familiar with dual booting OS's, then you should also investigate that.

You could also try the Seagate software. Seatools for Windows. Things were so much easier with fdisk.

And like Zenith545 said, when you're installing the OS you get the options to choose which disk and partition sizes if you want partitions.

I've been using GParted Partion Manager for years, works great, Parted Magic is another and both are free. They both work from live CD's or usb drives, both have easy to navigate GUI's, (you may not even notice your working in linux). Not at all complicated Good luck.

First boot from windows xp cd and then create partition during the installtion. Then install vista in the remaining available space or create a new one again during vista installation..
Then it's done...