OFFXP: "Installation Ended Prematurely" Error Message Relates to Registry Permissions

When you install Office XP, you may receive the following error message: If you turn on verbose logging for these operations, you may see text similar to the following in your log file:

This problem can occur if the permissions on the following registry key are incorrect:

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To resolve this problem, follow the steps appropriate for your computer's operating system:

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

1. Quit all Windows programs.
2. On the Start menu, click Run.
3. In the Open box, type Regedt32.exe and then click OK.
4. Select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on Local Machine window.
5. Locate and select the following key:
   \Software\Microsoft\Office
6. On the Security menu, click Permissions.
7. The following table lists the default registry permissions on this key.

    Name                            Permissions
    ----------------------------------------------
    Creator Owner                   Full Control
    Everyone                        Special Access
    <machine name>\Administrators   Full Control
    System                          Full Control
   						

   The permissions that you set for this key and its subkeys vary, according to your situation. At a minimum, change the permissions on the System account to Full Control. Change the permissions to Read for the other accounts.
   
   NOTE: Make sure that you select the Replace permission on existing subkeys check box.
8. Click OK in the Registry Permissions dialog box.
9. Click Yes to confirm that you are replacing permissions on existing subkeys.
10. On the Registry menu, click Exit. You should now be able to install Office.

Microsoft Windows 2000

1. Quit all Windows programs.
2. On the Start menu, click Run.
3. In the Open box, type Regedt32.exe and then click OK.
4. Select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on Local Machine window.
5. Locate and select the following key:
   \Software\Microsoft\Office
6. On the Security menu, click Permissions.
7. The following table lists the default registry permissions on this key.

      Name                            Permissions
      ----------------------------------------------
      
      Administrators                  Full Control
      Creator Owner                   Full Control
      Power Users                     Special
      System                          Full Control
      Users                           Read
   						

   The permissions that you set for this key and its subkeys vary, according to your situation. At a minimum, change the permissions on the System account to Full Control. Change the permissions to Read for the other accounts.
8. In the Permissions for Office dialog box, clear the Allow Inheritable permissions from parent to propagate to this object check box.
9. Select the System account, and then select the Full Control check box under Allow.
10. In the Permissions for Office dialog box, click Advanced.
11. For any object listed in the table in step 7 that does not have the Full Control permissions as stated earlier, you may also have to select the object, click View/Edit, and then select the missing permissions.
12. Select the Reset permissions on all child objects check box, and then clear the Allow Inheritable permissions from parent to propagate to this object check box.
13. Click OK, and then click Yes to the prompt to enable propagation of inheritable permissions.
14. Click OK in the Registry Permissions dialog box.
15. On the Registry menu, click Exit. You should now be able to install Office.

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: