Problem accessing Surface Area Configuration for Features

Hi guys,
I'm using SQL server 2005 express edition SP2
I'm trying to access surface area configuration to setup mail handling.  However i get an error :

TITLE: Surface Area Configuration
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An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch. (Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The EXECUTE permission was denied on the object 'xp_instance_regread', database 'mssqlsystemresource', schema 'sys'.
The EXECUTE permission was denied on the object 'xp_instance_regread', database 'mssqlsystemresource', schema 'sys'. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 229)

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An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch. (Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)

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Program Location:

   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ServerConnection.ExecuteReader(String sqlCommand)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.ExecuteSql.GetDataReader(String query)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.DataProvider.SetConnectionAndQuery(ExecuteSql execSql, String query)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.ExecuteSql.GetDataProvider(StringCollection query, Object con, StatementBuilder sb, RetriveMode rm)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.SqlObjectBase.FillData(ResultType resultType, StringCollection sql, Object connectionInfo, StatementBuilder sb)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.SqlObjectBase.FillDataWithUseFailure(SqlEnumResult sqlresult, ResultType resultType)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.SqlObjectBase.BuildResult(EnumResult result)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.SqlObjectBase.GetData(EnumResult erParent)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Environment.GetData()
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Environment.GetData(Request req, Object ci)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Enumerator.GetData(Object connectionInfo, Request request)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.ExecutionManager.GetEnumeratorDataReader(Request req)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.SqlSmoObject.GetInitDataReader(String[] fields, OrderBy[] orderby)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.SqlSmoObject.ImplInitialize(String[] fields, OrderBy[] orderby)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.SqlSmoObject.Initialize(Boolean allProperties)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.SqlSmoObject.OnPropertyMissing(String propname)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.PropertyCollection.RetrieveProperty(Int32 index)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.PropertyCollection.GetValueWithNullReplacement(String propertyName, Boolean throwOnNullValue)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Information.get_Edition()
   at Microsoft.SqlSac.MainPanel.FormFeatures.AddSSComponents(ETreeNode SSInstance)
   at Microsoft.SqlSac.MainPanel.FormFeatures.InitInstanceView(TreeView tree)
   at Microsoft.SqlSac.MainPanel.FormFeatures.ProcessClassConstructor()

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The EXECUTE permission was denied on the object 'xp_instance_regread', database 'mssqlsystemresource', schema 'sys'.
The EXECUTE permission was denied on the object 'xp_instance_regread', database 'mssqlsystemresource', schema 'sys'. (.Net SqlClient Data Provider)

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For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=09.00.4053&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=229&LinkId=20476

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Server Name: localhost\SPECTOR360
Error Number: 229
Severity: 14
State: 5
Procedure: xp_instance_regread
Line Number: 1


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Program Location:

   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.ThrowExceptionAndWarning(TdsParserStateObject stateObj)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.Run(RunBehavior runBehavior, SqlCommand cmdHandler, SqlDataReader dataStream, BulkCopySimpleResultSet bulkCopyHandler, TdsParserStateObject stateObj)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDataReader.ConsumeMetaData()
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDataReader.get_MetaData()
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.FinishExecuteReader(SqlDataReader ds, RunBehavior runBehavior, String resetOptionsString)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReaderTds(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, Boolean async)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReader(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, String method, DbAsyncResult result)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReader(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, String method)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior behavior, String method)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.ExecuteReader()
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ServerConnection.ExecuteReader(String sqlCommand)



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To give a little background on the server.  There are 2 off the shelf products installed, one which is refered to in the error localhost\SPECTOR360 I do not need to configure.  The other 'Personnel' I do.  I can only access the that through the management studio.
Is this some sort of protection that the SPECTOR360 manufacturer has put on to prevent viewing their database design but is interfering with me trying to view the Personnel one?

Perhaps connected, when I try to add new administrators through the Add new administrator option I get -
TITLE: .Net SqlClient Data Provider
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The EXECUTE permission was denied on the object 'sp_addsrvrolemember', database 'mssqlsystemresource', schema 'sys'.

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I can add just the personnel database but this doesn't seem to help me configure the features.

Any suggestions?