I may have deleted Windows/all my files while installing Ubuntu...help!!

[stebmania]

It all started when I decided to dual-boot Ubtuntu on my cheap (Acer) laptop to make it run faster/better then my current Windows XP can run it. I know close to nothing about computers, so this friend entered Remote Assistance and installed Virtual Box or something--basically, it let us install Ubuntu on a virtual computer so I can practice partitioning and installing it without deleting my files/Windows. Clearly, this wasn't enough as I still messed up somehow.
So, it was all going fine until I got to the partitioning step. On the virtual PC, there was no previous partitions...on my laptop there was. So I went through the same things I did on the virtual PC, changed nothing in the steps. But the first thing I noticed was once I made the first partition was that three extensions that were there before now turned into empty slots. I thought tat maybe it was making room and they just weren't being displayed, so I continued, and all went as planned from there.
Now what I'm left with is confusion and desperation. Someone have any ideas on how to boot back into Windows XP? I'm new to this so if you could be thorough that would be great

[SunnyRabbiera]

Very unusual issue, do you have a windows recovery disk of some kind?
If not you may be up the creek.
What virtual machine client did you use?
If you can remember the exact name of the app perhaps we can help you.

[niccholaspage]

You really no nothing about a Virtual Machine....You didn't destroy any single Windows File at all.You can still boot into Windows XP.Just Open Virtualbox and delete the Virtual Machine you setup and try again.A Virtual Machine can NEVER effect any files on the Host(Real Machine)

[oilchangeguy]

It all started when I decided to dual-boot Ubtuntu on my cheap (Acer) laptop to make it run faster/better then my current Windows XP can run it. I know close to nothing about computers, so this friend entered Remote Assistance and installed Virtual Box or something--basically, it let us install Ubuntu on a virtual computer so I can practice partitioning and installing it without deleting my files/Windows. Clearly, this wasn't enough as I still messed up somehow.
So, it was all going fine until I got to the partitioning step. On the virtual PC, there was no previous partitions...on my laptop there was. So I went through the same things I did on the virtual PC, changed nothing in the steps. But the first thing I noticed was once I made the first partition was that three extensions that were there before now turned into empty slots. I thought tat maybe it was making room and they just weren't being displayed, so I continued, and all went as planned from there.
Now what I'm left with is confusion and desperation. Someone have any ideas on how to boot back into Windows XP? I'm new to this so if you could be thorough that would be great

I've said this before, always, always back up your data. BEFORE doing something like this. That being said, if you selected use entire disc, your windows install is no more. And once a drive has been formatted it's very expensive to get any data back.

[SunnyRabbiera]

You really no nothing about a Virtual Machine....You didn't destroy any single Windows File at all.You can still boot into Windows XP.Just Open Virtualbox and delete the Virtual Machine you setup and try again.A Virtual Machine can NEVER effect any files on the Host(Real Machine)

yes but we really dont know if it was an actual virtual machine he installed, he could have had some confusion on what he did.

[oilchangeguy]

You really no nothing about a Virtual Machine....You didn't destroy any single Windows File at all.You can still boot into Windows XP.Just Open Virtualbox and delete the Virtual Machine you setup and try again.A Virtual Machine can NEVER effect any files on the Host(Real Machine)

the op seems to state that they used a vm, and then tried to install it on his computer.

[niccholaspage]

But I really don't think this could happen.Maybe somehow a VirtualBox Hard Disk was some huge size as a fixed size image,And this consumed the whole hard drives's space?
If this is true than the OP needs to get a Windows Recovery Disk..

[SunnyRabbiera]

the op seems to state that they used a vm, and then tried to install it on his computer.

indeed, if the original poster installed Ubuntu in full without knowing it then that can mess up ones day for sure.

[niccholaspage]

Oh.I am dumb.I guess the OP will need to use a Windows Recovery Disk.

[Charcoal1981]

stebmania - can you confirm that your laptop (the real one not the virtual one) no longer boots? Secondly, do you have access to an ubuntu live cd?