How to Install XP as VM in Linux Ubuntu

If I install WinXP as a VM on Ubuntu (using an ISO of my XP install disk), will I be able to do everything to the XP installation that I did to customize my normal XP installation before, and have the VM remember all of that when I reboot the computer and bring up the VM again?

Or is the VM always going come up as just the uncustomized install from the original XP Install disk?

Thanks --AnneF
.