ArcGIS 9.2 and Windows Vista

The original ArcGIS 9.2 distribution— including the one at UCLA Software Central— is not properly compatible with Windows Vista.

Per ESRI:
http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=knowledgebase.techarticles.articleShow&d=34020

You will need to follow the instructions posted here:
http://downloads.esri.com/support/TechArticles/Installing_ArcInfo_Workstation_92_on_Vista.zip

This includes “Update Microsoft System Files” built into the installation DVD of ArcInfo Workstation 9.2 to run under Windows Vista.

However, upgrading to ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack 4 or later is required for proper (albeit flawed) Windows Vista support.

After installing ArcGIS Desktop 9.2, you should download SP5 from here, via the ArcInfo Desktop link, then the ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack 5 link:
http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.patchesServicePacks.gateway

(direct link below; may not work:
http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.patchesServicePacks.viewPatch&PID=15&MetaID=1377 )

And install the elements you need. Most basic installations will need:

• ArcGIS Desktop (ArcInfo, ArcEditor, ArcView)
  ArcGISDesktop92sp5.msp 178 MB
• ArcGIS Desktop Help updates
  ArcGISDesktopHelp92sp5.msp 383 MB
• ArcGIS Tutorial Data (not updated since SP4)
  Tutorial92sp4.msp 4 MB

Flaws known with ArcGIS 9.2SP4 and Vista:
http://downloads.esri.com/support/TechArticles/DT92sp4andWindowsVista.zip