Ubuntu Security :: Safe To Transfer Files From Infected Windows Partition?

My Windows XP Pro laptop has been attacked! Windows will no longer update and Microsoft Security Essentials will not update either. I've been trying to resolve the issue for over two weeks with Microsoft support, but it's just taking too long. I also tried some rescue CD options (all running some form of Linux, obviously):

- BitDefender Rescue CD (removed infections, now detects nothing),
- Kaspersky Rescue CD 10 (removed infections, now detects nothing),
- Trinity Rescue CD (won't load AV Engine, so can't use it to do anything).

Malwarebytes cleaned a bunch of stuff, but will not clean the final threat detected (it's supposed to get deleted on reboot, but never does). Hijack.FolderOptions is stuck in the accursed registry, and it keeps causing Windows Explorer to crash. I cannot rename files or work with them or everything just crashes.

So I'm ready to reinstall XP from scratch, and add a dual boot with Xubuntu & LXDE, which I'm already running on a much older laptop.

Question: I want to rescue the files I need. My idea was:

1) Install Xubuntu with dual boot.
2) Copy over files from Windows XP partition using Xubuntu.
3) Back up files to an external drive using Xubuntu.
4) Reinstall XP Pro and format hard drive.
5) Reinstall Xubuntu with dual boot.
6) Use Xubuntu for daily use.
7) Only use XP for those tasks that require it (TomTom updates ...)

Should I be concerned about the security risk from copying files from the Windows partition to the Xubuntu partition, and from there onto an external hard drive?

Is this the way to do it, or is there a better way? I just want my laptop back in working order. Right now I can't use it for anything.