[plug] New Installation- question.?

[James Elliott - WA Rural Computers]

I am installing Ubuntu 8.10.

I have re-partitioned my 250 GB hard disk and it now looks like this:

*.........................Unallocated ........... 8 MB  (used: 0)
*.........................Extended ........ 2134 MB (used: 2134)
Ubuntu ..............Linux Ext2 ........... 86 MB (used: 3)
Swap Space ...  Linux Swap .....2047 MB (used: 0)
C: C Drive ........ NTFS ........ 236,311 MB (used: 53)

I used Partition Magic running under Windows XP to re-partition the disk and 
followed all the suggestions and defaults applicable to setting up a new 
partition for the Linux operating system.

The spaces allocated to Linux seem small compared to those used by Windows.

QUESTION #1
Would it be advantageous to re-size any of the above Linux spaces?

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When running the Ubuntu installation from CD, I quit at Step 4, because that 
launched the "Partitioner" which apparently wanted to re-partition my hard 
disk.

QUESTION #2
If the hard disk is already partitioned, whey does the Ubuntu installer want 
to do it again?

QUESTION #3
Is there any chance of losing my Windows installation and all the data I 
have saved over the years, by making the wrong choice in the Ubuntu 
installation?

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I would be very much obliged for your help, so that I can continue with my 
installation.

Many thanks, James