Install error. "Windows Installer cannot update... protected files

Hi. I am running Office 2007 and XP Service Pack 3. I recently reformatted my
PC and prior to the reformat my Office installed perfectly fine.

At the moment when I try to install I enter my Product Key which is verified
and I am taken to the install screen. Then about 1/5 of the way through the
install I get an error message every time which reads: "Microsoft Office Home
and Student 2007 encountered an error during setup. The Windows Installer
service cannot update one or more protected Windows files."

Need help!!!! :D

[adrian11]

office 2007 :The windows installer service cannot update one or more protected windows

read through this post, i just did it and it worked for me and as you'll see, for many other people

[dkbholusaria]

Thank your very much. This indeed helped a lot !

[swapnil.don]

Its really a shame of microsoft.
but thanks to u.
The solution worked for me.