Can’t install any software or upgrades

What is the problem when upon trying to install any software [fresh out of the box] (everything from Basic Quicken to Mcafee Virus Scan) that when the software installation screen appears, the STOP[X] sign window appears saying “you have performed an illegal operation and this program will shut down…”??? This window’s menu bar always reads [INS 0432]. Everything freezes until I hit the enter key [close] which closes the X window any running programs. Is my hardrive screwed or what?