I have downloaded the file from Ubuntu:
ubuntu-14.04.1-desktop-amd64.iso
I have placed this file onto an SD card plugged into a USB 2.0 port.
The instructions I have found from Ubuntu say, "configure computer to boot from USB."
Okay, so how does one do that on Windows XP. If at all possible I would like to do it without having to download another program.
Please tell me how to do this. Please be direct and avoid too much tech jargon. If I understood such terminology I wouldn't be here asking what is probably a very basic operation.