I have finally downloaded and burned ubuntu. I tried to use it as a live cd and rebooted my computer with the disk in but it does not automatically load as it is supposed to. windows loads and then reads the disk as if it were a cd rom
where I get the ubuntu logo and a menu that lists the software it comes with, and at the top it says "reboot your computer with this disk in to try ubuntu and nothing will be instaled permenently". I've tried it on a friends comp. and it works fine. just not on my comp. I have an HP pavillion 551W with an intel pentium 4 and the obvious windows xp. any thoughts and suggestions are WELCOME PLEASE.

You will need to tinker with your motherboards BIOS settings and set the cdrom to boot before the hard drive. How you access the settings depends on your motherboard, but normally when you boot your computer, you will see a message that shows you how to access them (On my computers I normally press delete or f2) . There should be an option somewhere that will enable you to change the boot order of your devices. Put your cdrom drives first and then your hard drive second or third depending on what other devices you have on your system.