Dual-Boot Linux and Windows

Situation

You've got Windows XP installed on your computer, and you want to dual-boot Linux.

Solution

1. Backup your system, just in case.
2. Download the Gnome Partition Editor LiveCD from http://gparted.sourceforge.net and burn to a CD.
3. Boot with the GParted LiveCD and resize the Windows partition to allow sufficient space for Linux.
4. Reboot and let Windows run a chkdsk.
5. Reboot again, this time from your Linux source.
6. Install Linux, allowing it to create a new partition in the unpartitioned space.
7. Configure your boot loader, such as Grub, to dual-boot. It will likely do this for you.