load ubuntu help

Did you MD5 test the ISO you downloaded?
if you are using a CD, did you burn it SLOWLY?

Thanks

"burn it slowly" as in "40x" compared to "25x"
 I would HIGHLY recommend you keep a little space for windows, you never know when you desperatlely need it. Try boot camp or I heard there was an application in Ubuntu that could edit partitions that I don't know the name of.

I have found out that it doesn't work so well when you try to boot Ubuntu using a CD-R, Try using a plain CD if you can. Also you can install Ubuntu using Wubi, its already on the disk and auto runs when in Windows. You can install it that way. And if you really hate windows alot.... like Very much hate it then you can always just erase windows partition in Ubuntu after wards (not that I know how to do that but I know its possible)

oops! forgot to say that you can run Wubi with a CD-R, heck I think you can run it when its not on the disk.

You should avoid Wubi, as you will have both issues of multi boot and Windows. By installing Ubuntu alongside Windows, you will get a more efficient and reliable installation. You should keep at least Windows recovery partition, if you have one. One day, you will face a situation in which you will need Windows.
If you want to allocate more disk to Ubuntu and less to Windows, you can boot on Ubuntu CD/USB key, choose "Try" instead of "Install", and then System->Administration->Gparted. Then reduce Windows partition and after extend Ubuntu partition. If you need help, please post partition table ( sudo fdisk -l).