Help - I can't install new software (Windows XP)

[colin]

Before going into the registry try using System Restore to
restore your registry to a date before the uninstall
attempt of your spyware software. If you can successfully
do this, then try the deinstall again.
If this doesn't work then see if you can find a restore
point which predates your initial installation of spyware.
This should work but be wary of the fact that you may have
installed other software since then.
Failing all this bite the bit and ask your savvy teenagers
for help!:->

>-----Original Message-----
>We're using Windows XP Home as our OS.
>
>As a parent, I had a commercial "spyware" program running
on our
>computer - SpyPC 7.0 from Xelerate. One of the features
of SpyPC 7.0
>is that you can click a button called "No new software"
and another
>button "Disable Registry Editor." Both buttons were
safety features
>to help prevent defeat of the spyware by my savvy
teenagers.
>
>Because of some odd behavior by the computer, I wanted to
do an
>un-install, and a clean re-install of SpyPC.
Unfortunately, the
>un-install froze before completion, and I cancelled out
as best I
>could. This apparently left behind some features of
SpyPC - including
>the "No new software" effect!
>
>Now, I can't install any new software - including I can't
re-install
>SpyPC to try to clean this up. A familiar dialogue box
("You do not
>have administrator rights ...") pops up - which is what
popped up when
>SpyPC was fully operational and there was an unauthorized
attempt to
>install new software.
>
>I'm prepared to go into Regedit or elsewhere to fix this!
>
>Is there some recognized place(s) that can be looked at
to see where
>SpyPC left behind this restriction when it failed to
fully uninstall?
>
>PS: I am attempting to do all of this as an Adminstrator
user (not a
>"Limited" user). Oh, and SpyPC "tech support" is not
responding to
>repeating emails describing the situation ...
>
>HELP!
>.
>