Gave up on Wubi, planning traditional installation

[ebolaRETURNS]

Hi all.
So Wubi isn't really working for me. It looks like I may want to make a dedicated partition and just install normally. SO, then the questions/issues:
1. What I need to do is take a blank portion of an existing windows partition, devoting it to a new and blank Linux partition. I am working under severe space limitations. The linux partition will be 8 gigs.
--How difficult is this? Where should I look find info on how?
--How risky is this? Should I do a FULL back-up and be prepared to do a fresh format on everything?
2. I need to install Ubuntu and set up the menu for dual boot.
[same dashed questions.}
3. Then I need to get Ubuntu to "see" my windows partitions, so I can just store shared media files on those...and maybe to toy with windows emulators and WINE.
--again, looking for difficulty and how-tos.

thanks!

[Partyboi2]

Here (http://apcmag.com/the_definitive_dualbooting_guide_linux_vista_and_x p_stepbystep.htm) is howto if you are going to dual boot xp and ubuntu
Here (http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_linux_vista_installed_f irst.htm) is one for vista and ubuntu
Always a good practice to backup your important data before working on partitions.
After you have installed ubuntu you should be able to read/write to your windows partition.
Wine is in the ubuntu repos you can install it by going to Applications>Add/Remove and searching wine and then install it by clicking on the "apply" button
or you can install it from the terminal (Applications>Accessories>Terminal)

sudo apt-get install wine

[ebolaRETURNS]

Thanks!