You receive an error when you run the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (891717)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

INTRODUCTION

After you run the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, you receive a message that states that errors were found during the scan, and you are directed to this article for more information.

Note Some of these errors are informational messages or minor issues and may not require additional action. Specifically, failures that are marked as a Warning in the log are less serious than those failures that are marked as an Error.

For general information about this tool, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

890830 The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool helps to remove specific, prevalent malicious software from computers that are running Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003



To determine why you received an error message, follow these steps:
  1. Locate and open the Malicious Software Removal Tool log file (Mrt.log). The log file is typically located in the %windir%\debug folder on your computer. %windir% refers to the location of your Windows folder. This log file is available only in English.
  2. After you open the file, find the most recent entry in the log file. This entry is typically the last entry in the log file. You may have to scroll down to the end of the log file to find this entry.
  3. Match the error in the log file with one of the errors that is listed in the table in the "More Information" section. Some of the error messages may include a Windows error code. For more information about these error codes, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

MORE INFORMATION

ErrorCauseResolution
Failed to enumerate memory processesThe tool cannot scan any processes. This error may occur because the computer is low on memory or has some other serious problem.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again
Failed to initialize memory scanningThe tool cannot scan any processes. This error may occur because the computer is low on memory or has some other serious problem.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again
Failed to get process image fileThe tool cannot scan a process. This error is typically caused by a process that was recently started or shut down.Run the tool again. Wait at least five minutes after you restart the computer and before you run any other programs.
Failed to scan processThe tool cannot scan a process because insufficient system resources are available.Close some programs, and then run the tool again.
Failed to suspend processThe tool cannot suspend a process that is identified as malicious software. This error occurs only if the computer is infected with some malicious software.Restart your computer, run the tool again, and then scan your system with an antivirus program.
Failed to kill processThe tool cannot remove a process that is identified as malicious software. This error occurs only if the computer is infected with some malicious software.Restart your computer, run the tool again, and then scan your system with an antivirus program.
Failed to open the service control managerThe tool cannot scan any services. This error may occur because the computer is low on memory or has some other serious problem.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to enumerate service statusThe tool cannot scan any services. This error may occur because the computer is low on memory or has some other serious problem.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to query configuration for serviceThe tool cannot scan a service. This error typically occurs because the service was recently created or deleted.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to query status for serviceThe tool cannot scan a service. This error typically occurs because the service was recently created or deleted.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to open serviceThe tool cannot scan a service. This error typically occurs because the service was recently created or deleted.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to delete serviceThe tool cannot delete a service that was identified as malicious software. This error occurs only if the computer is infected with some malicious software.Restart your computer, run the tool again, and then scan your system with an antivirus program.
Failed to query registry key informationThe tool cannot scan a registry key. This error is typically a minor issue.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to load registry keyThe tool cannot scan a registry key. This error is typically a minor issue.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to unload registry keyThe tool was unable to release access to a registry key. This error is typically a minor issue.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to open registry keyThe tool cannot scan a registry key. This error is typically a minor issue.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to enumerate registry keysThe tool cannot scan a registry key. This error is typically a minor issue.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to parse registry keysThe tool cannot scan a registry key. This error is typically a minor issue.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to enumerate registry valueThe tool cannot scan a registry value. This error is typically a minor issue.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failure to query registry valueThe tool cannot scan a registry value. This error is typically a minor issue.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to get snapshot of run keysThis error typically occurs because a computer has no entries in one or more of the registry run keys. You can safely ignore this error.
Failed to delete registry keyThe tool cannot delete a registry key associated with malicious software. This error occurs only if the computer is infected with some malicious software.Restart your computer, run the tool again, and then scan your system with an antivirus program.
Failed to delete registry valueThe tool cannot delete a registry value associated with malicious software. This error occurs only if the computer is infected with some malicious software.Restart your computer, run the tool again, and then scan your system with an antivirus program.
Failed to set registry valueThe tool cannot reset a registry value that is associated with malicious software. This error occurs only if the computer is infected with some malicious software.Restart your computer, run the tool again, and then scan your system with an antivirus program.
Failed to get logical drivesThe tool cannot enumerate the list of drives. Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to scan fileThe tool cannot scan a file because insufficient system resources are available.Close some programs, and then run the tool again.
Failed to find filesThe tool cannot scan some set of files.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to move fileThe tool cannot delete a file or mark it for deletion after the next restart. This error may occur because the file is located on a read-only network share. In this case, this error is expected.You can probably ignore this error. However, make sure that the error is expected by verifying the location of the file.
Failed to set file attributesThe tool cannot perform a removal operation. This error occurs only if the computer is infected with some malicious software.Scan your computer with an antivirus program.
Failed to copy fileThe tool cannot perform a removal operation. This error occurs only if the computer is infected with some malicious software.Scan your computer with an antivirus program.
Failed to create fileThe tool cannot perform a removal operation. This error occurs only if the computer is infected with some malicious software.Scan your computer with an antivirus program.
Failed to delete fileThe tool cannot perform a removal operation. This error occurs only if the computer is infected with some malicious software.Scan your computer with an antivirus program.
Failed to write to fileThe tool cannot perform a removal operation. This error occurs only if the computer is infected with some malicious software.Scan your computer with an antivirus program.
Failed to expand environment stringThe tool cannot expand an environment variable. This error is typically a minor issue.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again.
Failed to load user profilesThe tool cannot load a set of registry keys for scanning.Restart the computer, and then run the tool again. If the error persists, and you are using Windows 2000, you may have to increase the registry size.
Failed to allocate memoryThe tool does not have sufficient resources to complete an operation. This error occurs only if the computer is infected with some malicious software.Close some programs, and then run the tool again. If the error persists, restart the computer, and then scan the computer with an antivirus product.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:3/8/2005
Keywords:kbHOWTOmaster KB891717 kbAudEndUser kbAudGeneralUser kbAudKnowledgeWorker