Setup Install Error when you try to install a program
If you try to install a program in Windows XP and get an error message that says “Error 112 Setup Installation Error: Setup is unable to decompress and copy all of the program files needed to proceed with the installation,” it may be because you don’t have enough disk space available in the temporary file folder. For instructions on how to manually delete files in the Temp folder to make room, see KB article 326678.
Programs crash due to storage medium errors
If you try to start a program in XP and it crashes with a message that says “[program name] has caused an error and must be closed,” it may be because XP cannot access a file due to a problem with the hard disk on which the file is stored, or a problem with the drivers for the storage medium. There is a workaround you can use; step-by-step instructions are outlined in KB article 884070. 
Don’t like the Secure Desktop? Here’s How to Turn it Off
One of the things beta testers have complained about most in Vista is the intrusiveness of some of the new security features. For example, if you try to install a program or perform other tasks that require elevated privileges, your screen goes dark and the rest of the desktop locks until you complete the dialog box asking you to enter admin credentials or, if you’re logged on as an administrator, asking if you want to continue. This is called the secure desktop, but if you don’t like it, you can get rid of it without getting rid of those dialog boxes themselves.
In the Administrative Tools menu, select Local Security Policy (you’ll get the security prompt). In the left pane of the console, expand Local Policies and click Security Options. Scroll down in the right pane to the item labeled “User Account Control: Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation” and double click. This policy is enabled by default; click Disable to turn the behavior off.
How to fix hyperlink problem in Vista RC1/Office 2007
I installed Vista RC1 on my computer and installed Office 2007 beta. For the first few days, everything worked fine, but now I can’t open links in Outlook email messages or in Word documents. When I click on a link, I get a message that says “The operation has been canceled due to restrictions on this computer. See your system administrator.” Of course, I am my system administrator (and yes, I was logged on with an admin account).
Based on recent mail, I’m not the only one who had this problem. It seems that sometime after those “first few days,” I installed Firefox. That’s when my links stopped working, and after much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, I found out the solution. Even if you have IE set as your default browser, installing Firefox changes your default program settings. You’d think you could just go into IE’s options and select it as your default browser, but that doesn’t work. Here’s what does:
- Click Start | Control Panel.
- If Control Panel is in Classic View, click Control Panel Home in the left pane to put it back in Vista default view.
- Click Programs | Default Programs
- Click Set Program Access and Computer Defaults
- Click Yes to continue or enter admin credentials when prompted.
- Click the little down arrow for Custom.
- Under “Choose a default web browser,” click Internet Explorer, and check “Enable access to this program.”
- Click OK.
You’ll have to reboot the computer to apply the change. Now your links in Outlook and Word should work again.
Deb Shinder, MVP