Last night I installed Ubuntu 10.4 onto computer with Windows XP, specifying dual-boot. It installed perfectly, I did a few "chores", then re-booted, expecting to get the "choice" screen with option for XP or Ubuntu.

Alas, it booted directly into Ubuntu, and didn't see how to get back to my regular stories and files from XP. So re-installed, and was not even asked if I wanted dual-booting.

Big problem, though I know that XP is on the hard disc (it mentioned the program as I was re-installing). But it didn't recognize a rescue disc when I pressed F12 for a choice of hard disc, zip etc.

Thus, three options! a) How can I get into XP, if only to straighten things out (and finish a story before a deadline)? b) How can I simply delete Ubuntu, leaving me with XP? c) Are there any other options?

I'm not much of a techie, just a simple writer who would like to continue writing...if I can.

Many thanks

We need (much) more info. From a Linux terminal, enter this and post all the output

yes as soon as you see the grub screen press esc button if ESC doesn't work try the TAB button. that should stop it from booting and see some options. another way is to set the time before booting. Edit your and set your time you will see a line like this. that will give you one minute to choose. default is like 5 seconds or something in ubuntu.

What exactly do you mean by "specifying dual-boot"? Did you adjust your disk partition table to shrink the XP partition and use the space freed up for Ubuntu or did you select "use the whole disk"? If you used the whole disk you've toasted your XP install. Am I correct in thinking your "Rescue disk" is a restore partition on your hard drive accessed by F12? Or... Did you install Ubuntu to a separate disk?
It appears, from your description, that you boot directly into Ubuntu without going through the Grub menu? Hmmm...

Play Bonny!

That would be the default behavior for Ubuntu if there is only one system (Ubuntu) installed so I'm thinking that xp is gone. Not knowing which option the OP selected for the install or more details, all we can do is guess.

All was solved very simply. I knew that XP was on the computer (with all my files), so I deleted the partition with Ubuntu, then loaded in another version of Ubuntu (I think it was #6), it installed easily, and when I rebooted, that screen giving me a choice was on.

So today I will finish some stories in XP, and over the weekend will discover the joys of grub, wine etc etc.

Make sure you find something newer than 10 before you settle in and get things customized and such. Support for Ubuntu 10 ended in either 2012 or 2013 depending and which you installed