The JRE install causes a "referenced memory" error

Platform: windows 2000 sp3
j2se: 1.4.2_02

When one uninstalls and reinstalls the JRE multiple times using both the
SDK installer (which also installs the public version of the JRE) and the
JRE specific installer one observes the following message
[see the ErrorOnInstall.bmp attachment]:

       The instruction at '0x500bf974 referenced memory at
       "0x00000e7f". The memory could not be "read"
       
       Click on OK to terminate the program
       Click on CANCEL to debug the pfrogram
       
      The same error message also comes out when using web start,
which means this problem is very easily reproduced. Strangely, once you click
OK, web start actually works.... It should also be noted that the message is
exactly the same (same "memory reference", etc.) every time you attempt to
install, uninstall or use web start.