This means that for some odd reason, the program is saying you do not have the permissions required to write to the registry. This is a Windows issue, because Mac's and other OS's don't have the registry system that Windows does.
The registry is off limits to limited users. However, you are using an Administrator account, right? If you are unsure of this, go into Control Panel and then double click on User Accounts. When User Accounts opens, see if your account states Computer Administrator, and if other accounts on on the system, they too should be listed. If you have other accounts, and only your account shows in User Accounts applet, then you are using a Limited account.
If you are using a Limited Account, which I doubt very much, but I need to include this just in case, go into the System Administrator account and create an Computer Administrator account, then using that account install Quickbooks Pro.
If you are, in fact, using an Administrator account, you need to contact the Quickbooks support because they need to tell you how to proceed. There must be a method of allowing this issue to be resolved. Quickbooks is suppose to program their product to install in an Administrative context in order fot the proper registry keys to be created and proper permissions set for the program GUI itself.
If software does not install correctly in an Administrator account, the issue is with the programmer and company who creates the software program, not with Microsoft. All of these software vendors know and understand that creating software for a Windows based OS, must be properly programmed for installing using the registry.
There may be a patch, update, or manual method of working around what appears to be a major flaw in the Quickbooks installation process. It *has* to have proper programming to access the registry. You may have to go into the registry and make a few changes, but I honestly believe Quickbooks vendor needs to have a patch to allow the proper installation.
Contact Quickbooks technical assistance, and explain the error in detail. Tell then what OS version you are using, the acount type you are installing from, and other basic information on your system(s). Such as the processor, amount of physical RAM, and the status of your guest account and any other accounts on the system, if any.
Be firm with the technical department. Tell them that if they are unable to walk you through properly installing the version you have, that you want to exchange it for new media. I seriously doubt that every individual who has installed the newest version of Quickbooks has experienced this error. Otherwise there would have been a major recall of the media and replacement media would be issues to everyone who had purchased the flawed version.
This means that with different media you may successfully install Quickbooks onto your system. You have a warranty which guarantees for a certain number of days, such as 30 to 90 your media is without errors. Obviously, yours has errors and so you are entitled to a refund or exchange. Of course you don't want a refund, you simply want Quickbooks 2008 to install properly onto your system.
You could also skip the vendor, and go to the electronics store you made your purchase from, explain your issue, and do an exchange.
However, you do have a partial installation on your system. Don't be alarmed about that. When you install the new software off the new media, the installation process will overwrite the files currently installed on your system, creating a fresh installation.
With that said, if I were you, I would use a Restore Point and completely remove any of the software files that the failed installation process placed on my system. The Restore would wipe everything clean and give you a fresh start when you install the new files.
To use a Restore Point, do one of these to open System Restore, depending upon your OS version:
Windows XP: Start---All Programs--Accessories---System Tools---System Restore.
Windows Vista: Start---type System Restore, when it appears in the Programs Menu, right click on it and then click on Run as Administrator, enter any password if required.
When System Restore opens, click on the radial dial button in front of Restore my computer to an earlier time. Click Next.
On the next page, select the most recent date highlighted in the calendar. The highlighted dates are dates available for use with System Restore. Click Next, then follow through to the end, and which time your system will be automatically rebooted to make the changes.
After your system reboots and you log onto your account, you will be greeted with a message which states the success or failure of the restore. I doubt it will fail, but if it does, try a different date.
Please note that all configuration changes, software and updates made on your system between the restore date and the time you performed the restore, will be lost. All of your documents and changes to your documents will not be lost.
This is why it is important to perform a restore as soon as an issue comes up, not days later. Also, it is a very good idea to get into the habit of setting Manual Restore Points before you make changes to your system, including installation of software. When you create manual restore points you know for certain that you have a viable date and time right before the change was made. You can even have several restore points in one day, when you click on a date, your manual restore points will be in a list which you can choose from.
Creating manual restore points is quick and simple. All you do is open System Restore as outlined above, then click on the other option, "Create a manual restore point", then give it a meaningful name, such as, "Quickbooks 2008 installation", click Next, then on the confirmation page, click Finish.
It takes all of one minute to create a manual restore point, and that restore point can clean off any corrupt installation, or misconfigured settings you have on your system. This is how individuals with a lot of experience with systems make changes with confidence they can quickly and easily undo those changes if anything goes wrong.
I hope you get your Quickbooks installed properly as soon as possible. You have to decide what action you wish to take in resolving this issue, whether you contact the Quickbooks vendor technical support first, or if you simply want to take this media back and exchange it first.
Good luck and much success with your Quickbooks Pro. Please have a nice day.