help with dual boot

Ubuntu can read and write to NTFS quite happily. Install Windows first but only partition the windows partition as a portion of the available space (default is 100% but don't use that). The unpartitioned space can then be used for Ubuntu and you will not have to mess around with resizing and the dual boot wil be fine.

You can do it the other way around by resizing the current partitions in a live cd environment to make space for Windows. Make sure your backups are recent before you start. You can then install windows to the free space and then you will have to reinstall grub to the MBR as the windows boot loader will overwrite it, you may also need to add the windows boot stuff to grub manually but cross that bridge if it crops up.

This is certainly possible. Basically you split things over at least three partitions.
1) Windows
2) Ubuntu
3) Shared data partition, formatted as NTFS.
It's quite simple to resize your existing partition using a live CD (System > Administration > Partition Editor) or by installing gparted (this is accompanied by the usual warning to backup any important data first), and then create some new extra partitions.

You can create symbolic links in Ubuntu in order to share, for example, Firefox bookmarks, Image directories, etc.

Quite a good guide for Win7/Ubuntu is on Lifehacker:
http://lifehacker.com/5403100/dual+boot-windows-7-and-ubuntu-in-perfect-harmony

This is easy enough to modify for other Windows versions, but if I remember correctly it suggests starting by installing Windows, then installing Ubuntu. Since you've installed Ubuntu first, you might want to look at:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RecoveringUbuntuAfterInstallingWindows
to restore GRUB after installing Windows, instead of reinstalling Ubuntu.

nUboon2Age suggests this article as an answer to your question:
FAQ #65: “Dual Booting windows and *buntu”.