Hi Peter, > So my question is: Did I unwittingly abort a simple, legitimate, > automatic install process that would have preserved my existing XP > setup on C:, installed Ubuntu wherever I subsequently instructed it > to, and set up Grub for dual boot, or did I interrupt a potentially > disastrous overwrite of my existing XP installation on C:? Before I can exactly answer your question, I need to know... 1. Did you burn Ubuntu LiveCD? 2. If yes, have you booted the LiveCD until this menu? <a href="https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=804+Live+2+.png">https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=804+Live+2+.png</a> 3. Then, which menu option did you choose? Please tell us your detailed procedure so we can track at which part you did that may overwrite your existing XP installation on C: In case you haven't found any detail documentation or instruction on booting and installing Ubuntu using LiveCD, Please view <a href="https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD">https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD</a> You can also view the detail instruction on how to do the dual boot installation <a href="https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot">https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot</a> or you can view the screencast on how to do the installation it in details. Preserving your Windows partition. <a href="http://screencasts.ubuntu.com/Installing_Ubuntu_with_Windows_Dual-Boot">http://screencasts.ubuntu.com/Installing_Ubuntu_with_Windows_Dual-Boot</a> -- Best Wishes, ApOgEE a.k.a JeRuNgKuN ---------------------------------------------------- <a href="https://edge.launchpad.net/~apogee">https://edge.launchpad.net/~apogee</a> - ApOgEE on LaunchPad <a href="http://artofapogee.blogspot.com">http://artofapogee.blogspot.com</a> - Art Of ApOgEE <a href="http://coderstalk.blogspot.com">http://coderstalk.blogspot.com</a> - Coder's Talk ----------------------------------------------------