Setting Registry Quota Before the First Reboot of Unattended Installation

ID: Q180926

The information in this article applies to:
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information on how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" online Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" online Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

During an unattended installation of Windows NT 4.0 when using Sysdiff to install additional software, the following error may occur:

System Process - Low on Registry Quota
Your system is running low on registry quota. Start the System option in
the Control Panel and choose the Virtual Memory button to increase the
registry quota.


Because the error occurs after the first reboot during unattended installation, there is no way to access the System tool in Control Panel to change the registry quota size.


RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, and allow setup to complete while using unattended installation, follow these steps:

  1. From the I386 installation folder, expand the SYSTEM._ file and call it System. Place it in any directory on the hard drive.

    NOTE: Depending on which product you are installing (that is, Enterprise Server, Windows NT Server, Small Business Server) the System file may not be compressed, in which case it is not necessary to use the EXPAND command to uncompress the file.


  2. Run Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).

    WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

    For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" online Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.


  3. Go to the HKey_Local_Machine key, and then, from the Registry menu, click Load Hive.


  4. Open the System hive from the directory copied to in Step 1.


  5. When prompted, give the System hive a unique Key Name. (that is, a name other than an existing hive name, such as Test).


  6. Expand the loaded System file (that is, Test) and select the ControlSet001\Control key.


  7. From the Edit menu, click Add Value and type the following:

    Value Name: RegistrySizeLimit
    Data Type : REG_DWORD
    Data : <the size you would normally put in via Control Panel>

    NOTE: Remember that through Control Panel the option is displayed in decimal form. Ensure that you select the correct Radix to match the number you specify, and then select OK.


  8. Select the loaded System key (that is, Test), and then, from the Registry menu, click Unload Hive.

    NOTE: This exports the System hive back to the location you saved it in originally in Step 1.


  9. Exit Registry Editor.


  10. Rename the System hive back to "System._" (only if the System hive was compressed to begin with), without the quotation marks.


  11. Copy the System._ (or System) file back in the I386 installation folder.


  12. Rerun the installation.


Additional query words: registry alter additional 


Keywords          : NTSrvWkst 
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 2, 1999