"Error 2908. Could not register component [2]" error message when you install Office 2000

When you try to install one of the products listed in the "Applies To" section, you may receive an error message that is similar to one of the following:

To resolve this problem, try the following methods in the order in which they appear.

Method 1: Clean boot and scan the system registry for errors

Use the method appropriate for your operating system.

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

1. Click Start and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type MSCONFIG and then click OK.
3. Click Selective startup.
4. Click to clear each check box on the Startup selection menu, and then click OK.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Click Start and then click Run.
7. In the Open box, type SCANREG /FIX and then click OK.
8. When the process has finished, your computer automatically restarts.
9. Insert the Office 2000 CD-ROM.
10. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
11. Double-click Add/Remove Programs, and then click Install.
12. Repeat steps 1 and 2.
13. On the Selective startup menu, click Normal Startup - load all device drivers and software, and then click OK.

Microsoft Windows 98

1. Click Start and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type MSCONFIG and then click OK.
3. Click Selective startup.
4. Click to clear each check box on the Startup selection menu, and then click OK.
5. Restart your computer in MS-DOS mode.
6. At the command prompt, type SCANREG /FIX and then press ENTER.
7. When the process is complete, the following or similar message appears:
   Windows successfully fixed your registry.
8. Press ENTER to close the message.
9. Restart your computer in Windows 98.
10. Insert the Office 2000 CD-ROM.
11. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
12. Double-click Add/Remove Programs, and then click Install.
13. When the Office installation is complete, click Start and then click Run.
14. In the Open box, type MSCONFIG and then click OK.
15. On the Selective startup menu, click Normal Startup - load all device drivers and software, and then click OK.

Method 2: Run Setup under a different profile

If the profile under which you are logged on is damaged (corrupted), you may be able to run Setup under a different user profile. If you log on under a different profile, and you are able to install Office, you may need to delete and recreate the problematic profile. Otherwise, you may encounter the same problem when you try to install Office when you are logged back on under that profile.

For more information about removing an existing user profile, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Note If you have profiles turned on and a per-user Start menu, each user who has an existing profile on Windows 95 or Windows 98 must run Setup for Office. The only users who do not have to run Setup are those who do not have an existing profile on the computer; when they log on for the first time, the default user profile is copied into their profile. This default user profile includes all of the registry information and shortcuts necessary to start Office programs.

For more information about installing Office 2000 with user profiles turned on, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: If this method does not resolve the problem, try the steps outlined in method 3.

Method 3: Turn off user profiles before running Setup

1. On the Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click the Passwords Control Panel.
2. Click the User Profiles tab. Click All users of this computer use the same preferences and desktop settings.
3. Click OK. Restart the computer if prompted to do so.
4. Install Office 2000.