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Q134496: Error Message: SDMErr(80000003): Registry Access Failed

Article: Q134496
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): 95
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): win95
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows 95 
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IMPORTANT: This article contains information about the registry.
Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the
registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the
Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS
========

When Windows 95 is detecting the hardware in your computer, you may receive the
following error message:

  SDMErr(80000003): Registry access failed.

CAUSE
=====

The registry is damaged.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press
  the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup
  menu.

2. Type the following command at the MS-DOS prompt, and then press ENTER:

  " regedit /e reg.txt " (without the quotation marks)

  Ignore any message about missing data.

3. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

  " regedit /c reg.txt " (without the quotation marks)

  This command regenerates the internal registry data structures.

4. Restart the computer normally.

5. Run the operation that generated the error message in the first place.

======================================================================
Keywords          : win95 
Technology        : kbWin95search kbZNotKeyword3
Version           : 95
Issue type        : kbprb

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