Setup Error: File xxx.xxx Open/Creation Access Denied

 Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q84940
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

Microsoft Windows or Windows for Workgroups Setup displays the following error message when you reinstall Windows or Windows for Workgroups 

   File <xxx.xxx> open/creation access denied. This file may be in use
   by another application or is in use by the operating system.
where <xxx.xxx> is TIMER.DRV, MMSYSTEM.DLL, or Screen Font files (*.FONs).

CAUSE

This message appears when all the files have been deleted from the Windows directory but not from the Windows SYSTEM subdirectory.

If you choose Retry after receiving this error message, the same message is displayed again. If you choose Skip, the files are not be copied to the Windows SYSTEM subdirectory. However, this should not affect the Windows installation because the files are already present in the Windows SYSTEM subdirectory.

KBCategory: kbsetup kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: wfw win31 wfwg
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.11 setup error access denied file copy

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Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
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