attempting a dual boot w/ XP and Ubuntu-BEGINNER

I want to switch os to ubuntu from xp. The problem is, I have dial-up internet and can't use my modem with ubuntu. I have downloaded scantool and wine. The problem here is when I am running ubuntu from the live disk and try to open scantool the CPU usage spikes to 100 % and the program closes. In order to prevent this I want to put ubuntu on the hard drive so that I will have enough memory to run the program. I need to temporarily keep windows in case after running scantool, I still can't get the modem going and need access to the web to get the info I need. When I go to install ubuntu I get to the point where it asks if I want to partition the disk. Here there are 3 options. The first is a resizing option and it has a slider to select the size and is guided I think, then there is unguided and manual. I've searched on here for answers and it seems like a lot of people don't have this resize option. I have a 60g and the slider comes up with a size of 29g which seems fine. Now my main question is, if I select this, will the work be done for me so to speak or will I have to input partition locations and names and what-not. And if so, what would the general rule of thumb be for the partitions( such as in a beginner way with things going right) for names, locations, ect. as I am clueless about this and the other questions I've read have just made me want to run for my life and take my xp with me. I haven't tried this yet and am just trying to get the info I need to hopefully get it right the first time. I have read here that ubuntu can't partition a windows disk and am wondering if this is a rule of thumb or if it is only certain systems, basically... can I just follow the instructions on the live disk and IF everything goes o.k. will it set me up for a dual boot or is this an illusion and do I need to download the partitioner for windows and run the one for ubuntu(which is on the disk) and figure out which is which and figure the sizes and names....and what about the SWAP, will the live cd do this or do I need another bunch of info to do it? Lastly, and I do sincerely apologize for my ignorance here, but is there some sort of basic instruction on this that I can get as these help pages have been difficult. Most of what I am reading is from people who already have a good idea about what they are doing and have had things go wrong and these pages aren't much help to a novice such as myself, I guess I just need basic instructions on how to do a task IF things go as they should the first time. I have no desire to keep windows and have no important files to keep, just want to get my modem straight before I erase windows. Thanks, any info would be appreciated very much.