i am receiving a command error when launching Ubuntu via the Windows Installer from Archive Manager

You are trying to run the Windows installer for Ubuntu, in Ubuntu. This makes absolutely no sense and is not how you use wubi.

What are you trying to achieve?

Ubuntu my friend installed on this computer about 3 years ago. Your statement. Which Ubuntu release are you using?

Please go to the command line again, run this command and send us the full Terminal output (not your interpretation of the results):

cat /etc/lsb-release

More info about Ubuntu is here:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ExternalGuides

If you are already running Ubuntu, there is no point in trying to launch wubi.exe

wubi.exe is a messy way to try to install Ubuntu.

wubi.exe is NOT used to install separate Ubuntu applications.

If you need to install an application, use Ubuntu Software Center INSIDE Ubuntu.

So please also answer the questions from actionparsnip and michael.

Thanks.

@Riijckenberg-

terminal feed:

DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=10.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=lucid
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS"
sean@sean-desktop:~$

@parsnip- achieve? overrated-

@michael- the version before 10.04.4 -

Ubuntu 10.04 (lucid) LTS Desktop edition is end-of-life and not supported anymore.

Please read this:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases

I recommend performing a clean install of Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, which is
supported until April 2017.

You can install it from a LiveUSB or LiveCD session.

If you want to install a newer version of Ubuntu you will need to either remove the current install and install the newer version in place, or upgrade the current install. You can jump from Lucid to Precise in one jump as it is LTS to LTS.

Wubi.exe is a Windows application which will only run in Windows. Running it in Ubuntu makes no sense at all and does nothing at all.

Personally i suggest you do not use Wubi as the project is no linger maintained. Wubi is not a ling term solution, it is a quick and dirty try before you buy. If you resize your NTFS in Windows (assuming you are not using XP which is dead on 1st April 2014) then install to thr freed space.

If you reinstall with Precise or Saucy, you can upgrade directly to Trusty in April 2014 and have the latest release which is also LTS and supported til April 2019. There are pre-release ISOs of Trusty you can install too but it is officially unstable but will mean you don't have to upgrade to get the newest release, you will upgrade to the release candidate seamlessly on release day.

Thank you both for the information. everything is more clear now. as stated, i am new to this, with immediate goals focused on self-education. whatever intriguing discoveries lay ahead, i shall explore them once encountered. sho7uld i have a few minutes this evening, i will try and re-install and hopefully be able to push the "problem solved" button.
Thanks again