Cannot Complete Setup After Receiving Scanreg Error Message

ID: Q183091

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to install Windows 98, you may receive the following error message from Registry Checker (Scanreg.exe):

Windows found an error in your system files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to free up disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will need to install Windows to a new directory.

However, if you attempt to install Windows 98 in a different folder, you may receive the same error message and Setup may not finish.

CAUSE

This problem can occur if you have a damaged registry.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods, and then run Setup again:

Rename the Windows folder.

Rename the registry files.

WARNING: Using any of these methods causes Windows to lose information about third-party drivers, customized features, installed programs, and e-mail and Internet settings. After you use either of these methods, you must reconfigure all settings and reinstall all programs.

NOTE: Before you run Windows 98 Setup, you may want to back up all your data using an MS-DOS-based backup program, or by copying your data files to floppy disks.

We recommend that you perform these steps after restarting your computer and choosing Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu. To do so in Microsoft Windows 95, 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. For Windows 98, restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key until you see the Windows 98 Startup menu, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only.

For more information about how to use the Startup menu in Windows 98, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q178548
TITLE : No "Starting Windows 98" Message at Startup

Rename the Windows Folder

Type the following line, and then press ENTER

ren c:\<windows> c:\oldwin

where <windows> is the name of your Windows folder.

Rename the Registry Files

Type each of the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line

cd\<windows>
attrib -h -r -s system.dat
attrib -h -r -s user.dat
ren system.dat system.old
ren user.dat user.old

where <windows> is the name of your Windows folder.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows 98.

MORE INFORMATION

Registry Checker is a Windows 98 tool to check the registry and attempt to repair it (if it is damaged). Registry Checker is run as a normal part of Windows 98 Setup. Each time Windows 98 starts after Setup is complete, Registry Checker scans the registry for corruption and creates a backup of the registry if one has not been made for that date. Registry Checker restores a backup of the registry if it cannot repair a damaged registry, or it attempts to repair the registry if no valid backup is available. For more information about Registry Checker, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q182841
TITLE : Registry Backup Not Listed in Registry Checker Tool

Additional query words: stops

Keywords : kberrmsg kbsetup win98
Version : WINDOWS:
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb