Which partitions do I actually need?

I've never had problems with the stick before, and (I'm just doing Ubuntu for now) I extract the iso using winzip, then copy the contents over to the stick the try and boot from it. I will try different sticks now

This is not the normal method to write a bootable flash stick. I'm not familar with bootable Linux installers or OS's, however in order to boot a stick must have bootsect code applied. This is why I suggested you use the Universal installer which has all Linux apps in its dropdown. Did you read that I suggested that in my last post? Or are you trying to tell me how it's done?

No, no. I was saying how I was doing it so you could tell me if I was doing anything wrong, which as it turned out, I was.

Hmm, well I seem I have installed Ubuntu, without a stick. I just started the installer while in windows, restarted and Ubuntu came up, fully installed. It appears to use windows boot manager. I'm kinda puzzled. Could I do the same for xp? Btw, thank you sooooo much for your help, even though I may have been a bit of a nuisance.

I'd follow the steps I've given you in post 96.

Ok, I'll try that out once Ubuntu updates have installed.

Just read somewhere that xp boot loader overrides the one in 7, so it can't be booted. Will this actually happen?

I hadn't read that far yet. Still trying to boot from the disc.

Ok, back again. Whenever I try to boot from a windows xp disc (no matter which one I try) it comes up with this screen after starting to loader drivers and stuff. What can I do?