Error Message: SDMErr(80000003): Registry Access Failed

• Microsoft Windows 95

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

When Windows 95 is detecting the hardware in your computer, you may receive the following error message:

   SDMErr(80000003): Registry access failed.

CAUSE

The registry is damaged.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.

2. Type the following command at the MS-DOS prompt, and then press ENTER:

         regedit /e reg.txt
   

   Ignore any message about missing data.

3. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

         regedit /c reg.txt
   

   This command regenerates the internal registry data structures.

4. Restart the computer normally.

5. Run the operation that generated the error message in the first place.