I really want to get into Linux.  I have the time, the resources, and the ability.  My computer skills are far above novice.  I know what distribution I want to try (Ubuntu), I know what I need to do, and I can easily complete several steps of the installation process. 

But that's where it ends for me.  There's a problem during installation where the installer can't resize a partition.  Why not?  I don't know.  The internet is obviously a huge source of troubleshooting information and how-tos.  There's all kinds of information about this specific problem.  But nothing works.  Nothing ever works with me and Linux, and that's why it sucks. 

I'm pretty good when it comes to computers.  I know how to program.  I know about web servers and domain names.  I know how to use a command line.  I know what a regular expression is.  I know stuff. 

So if someone like me can't figure out how to install Linux on a brand new computer, there's definitely something wrong.  Fix this, Linux gods! 

Update (2007-04-18 2:44pm):  Thank you, Linux gods (a.k.a. Ubuntu documentation and Google search)!  Although neither of those links provide an accurate solution, here's what I figured out: 

1. The Linux partition editor (GParted) only has read access to Windows XP's partition, but it needs read/write access.
2. Through a random combination of Defrag, Chkdsk, and a number of restarts, GParted is able to get read/write access.
3. Using the System Rescue CD, run "ntfs-3g /dev/hda1 /mnt/windows".  This will result in an error, but apparently that's ok.
4. Run "startx" and run GParted from within the X.Org GUI.  Create a partition from the main Windows XP partition.
5. Restart the computer with the Ubuntu LiveCD and format the partitions like the directions say.

So the main problem is that Ubuntu couldn't edit the Windows partition because it didn't have read/write access.  My solution sounds a little shaky, but it magically worked.  I'm now running a clean install of Ubuntu 6.10 on the same computer as Windows XP, and none of my data was lost.  If the Linux/Ubuntu people made this a little more clear, it would've turned a 4-hour headache into a 20-minute breeze.