When trying to install Office 2010 on a machine that is completely messed. In the event viewer under application, under the errors, it will say "Error 1402. Setup cannot open the registry key UNKNOWN\Component\... Vertify that you have sufficient permissions...
Go to each key under, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components
Right click the main key of each component, under permissions, check replace all child object permissions with inheritable permissions from this object, apply. under owner, replace owner on subcontainers and objects, apply. and then back under permissions, check replace all child object permissions with inheritable permissions from this object, apply. now you should be able to open the subkey without errors.
OR Cheat: Do this on "Components", change owner to administrators, do this at your own risk.
Reference: http://www.okino.com/conv/changing_windows_registry_permissions.htm
