You were right.
That did work in XP.
specifically.
##Add this to the top of the boards.txt file.
board328p.name=Boarduino
board328p.upload.using=avrispv2
board328p.upload.maximum_size=32768
board328p.build.mcu=atmega328p
board328p.build.f_cpu=16000000L
board328p.build.core=arduino
##Add this to the bottom of the programmers.txt file.
avrispv2.name=AVR ISP v2
avrispv2.communication=serial
avrispv2.protocol=avrispv2
and tell the arduino ide to write to com3 (Pololu usb AVR Programming Port) in hardware manager.
Still no joy in Ubuntu. Tried linking the ttyACM0 to ttyS0 that the ide is looking for but I am pretty sure that is a one way link and I will have to play with that; just gives me errors. I am a few steps further than I was a day ago. Thanks for taking the time to help.