I have Windows Xp on a drive, created free space, then loaded Ubuntu 8.10 in the free space. The bootloader shows the normal Ubuntu options, other systems and Windows XP.
I am no teckie, but loaded Ubuntu without any problems, mostly by accepting the defaults, and Ubuntu worked fine. I logged out and tried to start Windows XP, but it went to a text mode and said Starting Windows (or maybe it was Loading Windows), but it stalled there for 15 minutes or so, so I gave up.
I created a new copy of Windows XP by using another drive and True Image, and checked that the new windows worked OK. I then used a partitioning program (G Parted) to reduce the size of the windows partition and created about 10 Gig of free space, then reloaded Ubuntu 8.10 in the free space. This time I picked a different option for the bootloader, finished the installation and Ubuntu worked fine. I then logged out and shut down, then tried to restart into Windows. The same bootloader came up, but when I chose Window it rebooted and highlighted Ubuntu again. Tried several times but it just went around the circle again each time.
Ubuntu looked good but it is no good for anyone wants to also use Windows, or who needs data from the windows partition. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your bug - this isn't normal behaviour, normally Windows should load fine from Ubuntu's bootloader. I'm moving the bug to the bootloader, as this isn't an Ubuntu documentation issue.