How to install dual O/S – ME & XP?

I want to install dual O/S on my computer. I currently have ME, and want to install XP as well. I tried to do this a few months ago – created a new partition on my C drive, and tried to install XP onto that, but when I did that, it messed up ME sobadly, I had to reformat. I gave up with XP and just reinstalled ME, because a lot of my hardware won’t run under XP. Can anyone tell me step-by-step (ie “dumbed-down”) instructions on how to successfully install XP while keeping ME? I know a screen comes up for you to pick which O/S you want to go into; I want the computer to automatically boot up ME as the default. HELP, PLEASE!!!!!!!!

Thanks!
Jen, the Jersey Girl