The XUbuntu ISO images are in a file in WinRAR, so should I just get a program to burn the whole folder to a CD? Once I get the CD I'm pretty sure all I have to do is put it in the drive, reboot the computer, and follow the installation instructions and GRUB should automatically be installed and partition the hard drive for me. I've already defragged my hard drive and backed up my important files. I heard that you have to resize the windows partition before you install linux to make room for the partition. If this is true then please tell me how to do this. I know I sound like a complete noobie (which I am) but I'm making sure I get this done right because I hear a lot of people messing up their files doing it wrong.

The ISO needs to be an image (.iso) - explode the rar. You'll need software that burns image files - the CD writing software that ships with XP doesn't. Nero is a commercial option.
Being a open source type of fella, I went to sf.net (bookmark it) and got InfraRecorder - works a treat. There are other options on sourceforge.

For the partition resizing, go get the gparted liveCD and use that. Also terrific - and free.

There should be a file with an .ISO extension. You need to use whatever program you have (like Nero) for copying to cds and you have to burn the .ISO file as an image.

I'd strongly suggest that you buy an imaging program like Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost (or find a free source one) and make a full image of your hard disk before you do anything. This will let you easily get back to where you were if things go awry. Grub will overwrite your main boot record and having an easy way to copy it back and start again is a really good idea when you aren't too sure what you are doing/what's going to happen. Alternatively make sure you have all of your installation disks, service packs, updates, drivers, etc. so that you can reinstall if you have to.

The cd will boot the program - you can run it and use it from the cd and need not install it straight away. If you decide to install it, the installation program will go through the various things and prompt you. Most of the installation programs let you resize your partitions during the installation. (I found Xubuntu's installer confusing - it talked about using "C" drive when I didn't want it going anywhere near "C" so I "chickened out" and didn't install it).

If you aren't sure what partitions you already have, I'd recommend downloading something like gparted live cd (Edit: already recommended!) and use that to have a look at the partitions you already have (or have a look in disk management in XP). If you've got a newer computer, you might have a recovery partition (and maybe a data partition as well). You need to be sure what you've got and where it is, so that you don't inadvertently install to the wrong partition.

(GRUB doesn't repartition anything - it is the bootloader and will be installed during the installation process)

I definitely second the recommendation of InfraRecorder. It's a great free tool for burning CD ISOs easily and painlessly from XP.

And if Xubuntu runs as LiveCD, you could then boot your new CD without installing it, and use Gparted from there. Can someone verify whether Xubuntu runs live, and if it includes Gparted as Ubuntu does? This would at least save you the extra download of the Gparted LiveCD, although as others have stated, it is VERY handy to have anyway.

Enjoy!

SVA

Another easy, reliable CD burner for Windows - ImgBurn:

http://www.imgburn.com/

if you go back to the ubuntu website and find the page where u downloaded the ISO, there is a guide/faq on how to burn that to a disk

There is also a link to recomended software to do the job

J