This article was previously published under Q292294
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you
modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore
the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the
registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/EN-US/) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
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SYMPTOMS
When you install Office XP, you may receive the following error message:
Installation ended prematurely because of an error.
If you turn on verbose logging for these operations, you may see text similar to the following in your log file:
RegisterProductID: Unable to create HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Registration\{90280409-60
00-11D3-8CFE-0050048383C9}. Hence ProductID, PIDKEY, & DigitalProductID
keys will not be Registered
Action ended 13:16:04: InstallExecute. Return value 3.
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:
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.
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.
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