Topic Last Modified: 2008-01-16

Microsoft Exchange Server setup cannot continue because a restart from a previous installation or update is pending.

The Exchange Server Analyzer reads the following registry key to determine whether a system restart is required after installation or removal of a software update such as a security update, critical update, or hotfix.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\UpdateExeVolatile

The Exchange Analyzer also checks the following registry key to determine whether a previous software update installation was not completed and the system must be restarted to finish the installation.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\PendingFileRenameOperations

The Exchange Analyzer displays an error message if one of the following conditions is true:.

This error indicates that a restart from a previous install or update is pending and the system must be restarted before Exchange Setup can continue.

To resolve this issue, restart the system and then run Exchange setup again.

If the Exchange Analyzer is still reporting this error after a system restart, the registry keys may contain orphaned values that must be removed. Possible values for these keys are listed below.

Value of UpdateExeVolatile Value of PendingFileRenameOperations Results

3

Not Applicable

Both a software update installation and a software update removal are awaiting a system restart. If the incomplete update is a security update, then the system may be at risk until it is restarted.

2

Not Applicable

A software update installation is awaiting a system restart. If the incomplete update is a security update, then the system may be at risk until it is restarted.

1

Not Applicable

A software update removal is awaiting a system restart. If the incomplete update is a security update, then the system may be at risk until it is restarted.

0 or missing

Not Applicable

A system restart is currently not required.

Greater than 3

Not Applicable

An invalid value was returned for the setting used to determine whether a system restart is required after a software update installation.

0 or missing

Exists and contains value

A previous software update installation was not completed. The system must be restarted to finish the installation. If the incomplete installation was a security update, then the system may be at risk until it is restarted.
Important:
This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to restore the registry, view the "Restore the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe.
To remove an orphaned UpdateExeVolatile registry key value

  1. Open a registry editor, such as Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe.

  2. Navigate to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\

  3. In the right navigation pane, double-click the UpdateExeVolatile key.

  4. Configure the key with a value of 0

  5. Close Registry Editor.

To delete the orphaned PendingFileRenameOperations registry key

  1. Open a registry editor, such as Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe.

  2. Navigate to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\

  3. In the right navigation pane, right-click the PendingFileRenameOperations key and select Delete.

  4. Close Registry Editor.

Before you edit the registry, and for information about how to edit the registry, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 256986, Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry.