"The system is not fully installed" error message after you run Sysprep and restart (320279)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
This article was previously published under Q320279
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 run the System Preparation tool (Sysprep) on a computer that is running Windows XP or Windows 2000, you may receive the following error message after you restart the computer:
Windows Message:
The system is not fully installed.
Please run setup again.

CAUSE

The registry setting in Registry Editor that Sysprep uses to mark progress is not set correctly.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, you can use the Parallel Install Recovery option that is described in the "Steps to Reproduce the Behavior" portion of the "More Information" section.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

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.
  1. To use the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console option, start the computer with the Windows XP installation CD-ROM in Recovery Console.
  2. In Recovery Console, log on to the computer, locate the %SystemRoot%\system32\Config folder, and then rename the System file to System.mini.
  3. Copy the %SystemRoot%\repair\System file to the %SystemRoot%\System32\Config folder.
  4. Exit Recovery Console and then restart to the original operating system. Use the previous system hive, which is a temporary system hive and does not have to have any installed programs or services. You use this system hive to make the computer bootable so that you can make the following changes:
    1. Click Start, click Run, type Regedt32.exe, and then click OK.
    2. Click the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE node.
    3. On the Registry menu click File, click Load Hive, open the %SystemRoot%\System32\Config\System.mini registry file, and then type Test.NOTE: You can use any name for the hive you load except System.

    4. Type a name for the key, and then click OK.
    5. Double-click the name from the previous step.
    6. Double-click the Setup key.
    7. Double-click the SystemSetupInProgress value in the right pane.
    8. Change the data value from 1 to 0, and then click OK.
    9. Click the Setup key name, and then click Unload Hive on the Registry menu.
  5. Close Registry Editor, and then restart Recovery Console.
  6. Locate the %SystemRoot%\system32\Config folder, rename the System file to System.erd, and then rename the System.mini file to System.
  7. Close Recovery Console, and then restart to the original operating system.
To work around this issue, you can use the Parallel Install Recovery option to install a parallel installation of Windows XP or Windows 2000 in a different partition and then use Registry Editor to change the data value of the SystemSetupInProgress value from 1 to 0.
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. On the Windows menu, click the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE node.
  3. On the Registry menu, click Load Hive.
  4. Click the %SystemRoot%\System32\Config\System file, and then click Open.
  5. Type a name for the key, and then click OK.
  6. Double-click the key name from the previous step.
  7. Double-click the Setup key.
  8. Double-click the SystemSetupInProgress value in the right pane.
  9. Change the data value from 1 to 0, and then click OK.
  10. Click the key name, and then click Unload Hive on the Registry menu.
  11. Close Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/19/2005
Keywords:kbpending kbprb KB320279 kbAudDeveloper
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