Error Message: A Previous Installation Has Pending Work Requiring a Reboot (312444)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you upgrade to Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 on a Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following one:

A previous installation has pending work requiring a reboot. You need to restart your computer to complete that installation before running Internet Explorer Setup.

You may receive this message when you run Internet Explorer Setup even after you restart your computer.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if you do not restart your computer after you install or update files that are in use by Windows.

For example, certain programs need to update or to replace files that are currently in use by Windows. These files cannot be updated when Windows is running; therefore, you must restart your computer for these files to be updated. As a result, when you run Internet Explorer Setup, Setup detects that these operations are pending and you cannot install Internet Explorer until these operations are completed.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior:

Restart your computer, and then run Internet Explorer Setup.

If restarting your computer does not resolve the issue, go to step 2. WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager
Locate and delete any PendingFileRenameOperations values in the key.
Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.
Quit Registry Editor.
Run Internet Explorer 6 Setup.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to troubleshoot a similar error message in Internet Explorer, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

221863 Error Message: A Previous Program Installation Was Never Completed