Changing system administrator policies

I needed to install Microsoft WSE 3.0 Runtime so I could use Family Tree
Maker 2010. During installation of WSE I kept getting the message:
"Windows Installer. The system administrator has set policies to prevent
this installation."

I could not find anything in the Control Panel that would let me (as
administartor) change policies. I could get no answer from Microsoft
Support and gave up on them. After a lot of searching I found someone
who said they solved the problem by turning off User Account Control. I
did this and it worked.

Does anyone know a better way of modifying system administrator
policies? Does anyone know why there would be such a policy on WSE 3.0
Runtime?

(I am using Vista Home Premium 64 bit on an Acer computer.)

Thanks
Stan