"An error occurred while trying to update your registry" message (249690)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
This article was previously published under Q249690

SYMPTOMS

When you start Windows 2000 System Preparation Tool version 1.1 by using an answer file, you may receive the following error message:
An error occurred while trying to update your registry.

Unable to continue.
When you click OK, the Windows 2000 System Preparation tool does not open.

CAUSE

This error message can occur while Sysprep.exe is parsing the [SysprepMassStorage] section of the Sysprep.inf answer file. There is most likely a mistake in the [SysprepMassStorage] section.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, check the [SysprepMassStorage] section to make sure the format is correct and that the .inf file name referenced is not misspelled.

MORE INFORMATION

A sample section of the Sysprep.inf file is included below: 

[SysprepMassStorage]
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1222 = "%windir%\inf\mshdc.inf"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1230 = "%windir%\inf\mshdc.inf"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_7010 = "%windir%\inf\mshdc.inf"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_7111 = "%windir%\inf\mshdc.inf" 
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2411 = "%windir%\inf\mshdc.inf"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2421 = "%windir%\inf\mshdc.inf"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_7199 = "%windir%\inf\mshdc.inf"
PCI\VEN_9004&DEV_8178 = "%windir%\inf\scsi.inf"
PCI\VEN_101E&DEV_9060 = "%windir%\inf\scsi.inf"

To troubleshoot this issue, check the following:
  1. Check the PnpIDs left of the equal sign (=) to make sure they match the PnpIDs listed right of the corresponding equal sign.
  2. Check the spelling of each corresponding .inf file right of the equal sign.
  3. If the controller is supplied by an OEM, make sure the path to the .inf file is correct, the description field matches what is included in the Txtsetup.oem file, and the disk tag and ID match.
A good method to identify the problem line of the [SysprepMassStorage] section is to comment out lines, and then run the Sysprep.exe program with the -noreboot switch until you no longer receive the error message.

NOTE: Sysprep.exe now has the ability to apply images to other computers even when the mass-storage device on the target computer does not match that of the master computer. This feature is included in Sysprep 1.1, which is not included with the Windows 2000 CD-ROM. You can obtain Sysprep version 1.1 from the Windows 2000 Resource Kit.
To determine the version you are using, run Sysprep.exe without any parameters and a summary page displays the version.

You can download Sysprep version 1.1 from the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/tools/sysprep/default.asp

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/6/2004
Keywords:kbenv kberrmsg kbprb KB249690
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