I have tried doing a dual boot setup with ubuntu(i set up the wubi installer in its own partition every time) and vista several times using the wubi installer only to have my ubuntu fail to load after a week of two every time I have set it up. The error messages have been different every failure, one was kernel panic and there were several others that i cannot remember. Is this a problem with the wubi installer? Has anyone had a completely successful installation using this program. My other question is if I install from a live cd will the grub bootloader take over as the primary bootloader or will the microsoft bootloader still be in charge? any help or feedback would be greatfully appreciated.

If I understand you correctly, you say after a few weeks your Ubuntu install fails to load? A few error messages would be helpful in tracking down what the problem might be. If you install from the live cd then 'yes' grub will take over as the main bootloader. I have heard there is a way to allow winblows to keep control, a google search should help you there.

Here is a tutorial for installing Ubuntu inside Windows using Wubi:
http://www.howtoforge.com/wubi_ubuntu_on_windows
If you want to install Ubuntu the real way, to it's own dedicated partition, then follow this guide:
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installing
Write back if you need more help.

If you install Ubuntu to it's own partition from any CD then grub will overwrite the Windows MBR, and grub will take over booting both Ubuntu and Windows.

The current error message that i receive now is "minimal bash line editing supported" it has a grub command line below it. I have tried several times very unsuccessfully to boot from the grub command line. and yes nexus every time I have attempted to install and use ubuntu I have been successful and have used it for about 2 weeks each time and then error messages like the one already gave will come up and only boot to grub.

Have you checked the disc using the disc checking utility included on the Ubuntu disc? It's certainly strange that it fails after 2 weeks. Do you perform any updates when Ubuntu is up and running? What happens if you type: startx?

hwo do you use the checkdick utility/. And I tried the startx command in the grub propt( thats all i can get too) and it said command not reconized.

When you boot off the cd, there's a media (or disc) check option. Select it. Can you post a screenshot of your grub prompt?