Yes, the cool thing about the windows installer is that linux is installed on a file on your hdd. But linux considers it a real hdd. So if a virus gets into linux, the only thing it can access is that file on your hdd, nothing outside of it. And should that happen, you can simply uninstall ubuntu as if it were any other program in windows.

The only downside to this is that you cannot run xp and ubuntu at the same time like you could with a virtual machine. You have to choose one or the other at boot. But on the plus side, Ubuntu will run 100x faster if it is not on a VM.

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ub...dows-installer

Here is the link for the windows installer.

I see on the MicroSoft site that Virtual PC 2007 is compatible with my XP version. Would it be better to use it and the Linux I already downloaded, or just dump it and go with the Desktop version you just linked?

Just back up your **** first John... I have not seen a reason for you not being able to install VM on XP ...

Either one is safe John, MY recommendation is to use the windows installer because Ubuntu runs a lot faster, but if you want to be able to switch back and forth between ubuntu and xp without rebooting, I would try virtualpc

Meh, it'* late and I have 138 gigs of info on here and alot of it backups to websites. Another day. Here'* the warning I get.

I really don't care to run both back and forth. If I can run UNBUTU, download torrents and browse at the same time, thats cool. Rather leave my other junk untouched and protected within XP. I'll just do the desktop one.

John, after the windows installer finishes and asks you to reboot, make sure you select Ubuntu from the boot menu. I know this sounds obvious, but the first time I installed this, I didn't even notice the boot menu!

Ok, cool. Long day and some holiday cheer. I'll wait for a fresh start. Just waiting for the wife to get done talking to the kids and off to sleep it off.