Stop there Marc. No need to install Ubuntu. Check your CD/DVD burner if this can make a bootable ("ISO") disk. If so, everyone with a Windows problem, download Ubuntu Desktop version, and burn a ISO image with this. Insert the CD and reboot from this. Just "Try it", and if you like it, install it.

There are several separate providers of ISO-burners should your software not be able to make this. And this is the most difficult part of Ubuntu.
Can you run Windows, you can run Ubuntu - it requires much less resources than Windows. You can also download 64-bit versions, and drivers for most. For Mac users, it supports "hfs+" and a dock can be downloaded.
It can emulate Windows, and run most Windows binaries using the "Wine" emulator.
There are no known issues with the USB ports. or