The idea behind this is to facilitate an existing Windows XP user who is interested in Linux, but doesn't want to leave Windows XP behind.
This is fair enough.
As a Linux user there is one thing I actually think is rather intolerable when you get Windows users and support groups expecting you to discount your years of experience with your favourite operating system since they don't like it or don't understand it.
I'm sure it works the other way too.
This allows you to keep you existing Windows XP installation completely intact and allows you to run both Linux and Windows both natively and virtually (one inside the other).
Also it allows you to keep your computer in a working state as much as possible so you don't actually hit the "point of no return" where you feel you have burned your bridges and left all your life experience for a brave new world of the unknown.
Please be aware this is a "Work in Progress".
Running Linux inside Windows XP
This is about running Ubuntu Linux whilst running your Windows XP installation.
It covers downloading the open source virtualisation application VirtualBox
and installing it into your Windows XP installation
then downloading the open source Ubuntu CD image and running this in VirtualBox.
This brings you to the point of running Linux from within Windows XP without any installation of Linux itself.
Installing Linux from inside Windows XP
This is about installing Linux natively on your hard disc to run inside Windows XP in a virtual machine.
This takes you though the process of shrinking your Windows XP partitions to allow space for Linux on your PC.
It then takes you through the installation from the Ubuntu CD image to your hard disc
while running your Windows XP installation.
This brings you to the point of having Linux and Windows both installed on the PC
and able to run Linux either natively or inside your Windows XP installation in a virtual machine.
Bringing your Win XP installation up in Linux
This is about running your Windows XP installation inside Linux as a virtual machine.
It covers converting your Windows XP installation to run both natively and as a virtual machine inside Linux.
Parts of this stage are done while running your Windows XP installation natively
and parts are while in Linux running your Windows XP installation in VirtualBox.
This brings you to the point where you can run both operating systems at the same time,
one inside the other as a virtual machine either way round.
Moving Windows XP into a virtual machine or a terminal server
This final part is for anyone who wants to remove their Windows XP installation from the hard disc
but doesn't want to delete their Windows XP installation.
It covers moving their Windows XP installation from a hard disc partition to a virtual disc from inside Linux,
then adding the free space to your Linux installation.
This virtual disc can be kept in your Linux installation or moved to a USB disc
or a server to run as a virtual terminal server.
This brings you to the point of having an entirely native installation of Linux.
It also covers preparing your installation for the Ubuntu update cycle (6 months)
and thus making sure you have trouble-free computer use in the future.
This stage is not necessary but I anticipate some users may want to do this at some point.
