I know you have your heart set on Ubuntu,
However Just FYI there are other distros out there that may suit you better. ALL Linux distros can be used for what you want (web, email, chat etc) but Ubuntu is hardly at the top of my list in terms of useability
try these:
Kubuntu
http://www.kubuntu.org/
Mandriva
http://frontal2.mandriva.com/en/downloads/mirrors
PCLinuxOS .92
http://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/dist...glish/preview/ ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/distr...glish/preview/
This is the distro I use and recommend, Why because it works right out of the box. No need to configure Everything, everything just works. It also comes as a 1 CD install that is a live CD that you can install later if you wish.
BeatrIX
http://www.watsky.net/download.html
OPENSUSE
http://www.opensuse.org/Download
Mephis
http://www.mepis.org/
Mepis install guides:
http://www.mepisguides.com/install/i...artitions.html http://www.mepisguides.com/install/i...and-clear.html
if you are still unsure of the distro:
http://eedok.voidofmind.com/linux/chooser.html http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/
if you are wanting to look into Fedora, but don't want to use fedora itself for the reasons listed above you might want to try Blag: it is based on FC but less bloted and has more useability: Blag
http://www.blagblagblag.org/download/
and if you are so inclined a little bedtime reading:
Linux online bible
http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz
Linux Tutorials: Introduction to Linux, Hands on guide
http://www.tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/index.html
Ultimate guide for beginners
http://www.linuxlots.com/~jam/
The beginners Linux guide
http://www.linux.ie/newusers/beginners-linux-guide/
but if you do decide to go Ubuntu here is a site on dual booting with XP: Dual boot Ubuntu 6.06 +XP
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installing
I am sorry if this post has caused confusion for you, not my intention just wanted you to be aware that their are other distros out there, as it seemed by your first post you were limiting yourself too quickly.
very few people stay with the first distro they try. so browse a little bit experiment with different distros see which ones you like, & in the end you might well stay with Ubuntu it was great for me when I first started but then I moved onto others until I found PCLinuxOS .92. it is all about personal preference and what works for you and if ubuntu does that then great!
I hope this begins a life long love affair with Linux
Jake