Error Message: The Installation/Removal of a Previous Program Was Not Completed

ID: Q214643

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you are installing a program that uses the InstallShield Wizard, you may receive the following error message:

The installation/removal of a previous program was not completed. Setup must restart your computer before proceeding with Installation. After windows has been restarted, please run setup again to complete installation

If you restart the computer as suggested and then try to install the program again, you receive the same error message.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if there are pending file rename or delete operations.

RESOLUTION

Windows 95/Windows 98

To resolve this issue, rename the Wininit.ini file:

Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.

In the Named box, type wininit.ini.

In the Look in box, click Local hard drives, and then click Find Now.

Right-click the Wininit.ini file, click Rename, type wininit.xxx, and then click OK.

NOTE: The file should be located in the Windows folder.

Close the Find Files window.

Windows NT

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To resolve this issue, remove the "PendingFileRenameOperations" value from the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager

Additional query words:

Keywords : kberrmsg kbsetup win95 win98 winnt
Version : WINDOWS:95; winnt:4.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbprb