"Loading System Policies" Message Appears in Windows 98

ID: Q194094

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 98
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing 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 you log on to the network using a Windows 98-based computer, you may briefly see a "loading system policies" message even if system policies are not implemented on the network.


CAUSE

This behavior occurs because both Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows 98 are configured to automatically download a policy file if one exists on the network. Windows 98 displays the "loading system policies" message while it is searching the network for a policy file.


RESOLUTION

You can edit the registry using System Policy Editor (Poledit.exe) or Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Check with your network administrator before you make any changes to the registry.

To resolve this issue, use System Policy Editor to disable the update policy. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Install System Policy Editor if it is not already installed. For information about how to do so, follow the instructions in the Poledit.txt file located in the Tools\Reskit\Netadmin\Poledit folder on the Windows 98 CD-ROM.


  2. Click Start, click Run, type "poledit" (without quotation marks), and then click OK.


  3. On the File menu, click Open Registry.


  4. Double-click Local Computer, double-click Windows 98 Network, and then double-click Update.


  5. Click the Remote Update check box to clear it, and then click OK.


  6. On the File menu, click Save, and then click Exit on the File menu.


  7. Restart your computer.



STATUS

This behavior is by design.

Keywords : kbenv kbnetwork win98
Version : WINDOWS:98
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: January 29, 1999
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