Installing Various Programs

When i am trying to install various programs that i have downloaded or purchased. I am getting this error message

Windows cant access the specified device path or file you may not have the approriate rights permission to acces the item. I am running Windows Xp Pro with service pack 2. I am the only user for my system. Any help would be appreciated. I have a 80 gig drive which windows is installed on. I have 2 additional hard drives. I have tried installing it on all 3 drives and am getting same error message.

 

Start, run, services.msc.

Verify that your Windows Installer service can be started.

 

Okay when i do that 2 windows come up one under services then a 2nd window comes up and its blank and nothing is in it.I tried installing something today it worked fine its picky on what installs and works and what doesnt