Problem installing Visual Studio

[Lee]

I'm trying to install VS.NET on a (fairly) clean install of XP. About all
I've installed prior to this since I installed XP is Office 2003. I'm
getting "IExpress has encountered a problem and needs to close." while
installing the .NET Framework right in the beginning of the install (it's
installing Windows Componants". I've tried manually removing the
Microsoft.Net folders in the Program Files and Windows folders, removing all
references to files in those directories from the registry.... Still won't
install.