Tried to install Lubuntu into free partition, not able, then onto a USB stick, not able

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Had a dual boot laptop with Win XP, tried to update the Ubuntu installation, using presented prompts. That process failed, and the Ubuntu would start up but have many errors trying to run, so basically useless.

Tried to update it using an ISO CD with newer version, that was not possible - or I didn't know what to do differently.

Tried to erase the partition where Ubuntu was installed, then install a smaller footprint lubuntu version there. Was not able to complete this process, would not let me select the emply partition to install into.

Tried installing the lubuntu 16.10 to an USB thumb drive, it also failed, so attached reports (if I am able to find them and attach) should relate to that attempt.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.10
Package: ubiquity 16.10.14
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.8.0-22.24-generic 4.8.0
Uname: Linux 4.8.0-22-generic i686
ApportVersion: 2.20.3-0ubuntu8
Architecture: i386
CasperVersion: 1.379
Date: Sun Mar 19 18:49:24 2017
InstallCmdLine: file=/cdrom/preseed/lubuntu.seed boot=casper only-ubiquity initrd=/casper/initrd.lz quiet splash ---
LiveMediaBuild: Lubuntu 16.10 "Yakkety Yak" - Release i386 (20161012.1)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=unknown
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
 LC_NUMERIC=C.UTF-8
SourcePackage: ubiquity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)