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Error message when you start Windows Server 2003 for the first time after you install a service pack: "Windows could not be started as configured"

View products that this article applies to.

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure that you back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

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Symptoms

You install a service pack for Microsoft Windows Server 2003, and then you restart the computer. For example, you install Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2). When the computer restarts, you receive the following error message:
Service Control Manager: Windows could not be started as configured. A previous working configuration was used instead.
This problem occurs the first time that you try to restart the computer after you install the service pack. You may not receive the error message the next time that you restart the computer.

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Cause

This problem occurs because of a failed control set. When you restart the computer right after you install Service Pack,
you receive the error message if the following registry has a value other than 0. However, this message can be ignored since it has no effect on your system.   

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Select
Name: Failed
Type: REG_DWORD

When you restart the computer right after you install Windows Server 2003, Windows uses the Last Known Good configuration. The Windows Server 2003 service pack installation program sets the LastKnownGood subkey to equal the default setting and the current setting. Regardless of how you start Windows after the installation, you receive the previous configuration. When Windows Server 2003 start with LastKnownGood control set, it checks the "Failed" registry value. And then, you receive the error message if the value is set other than 0.
You do not receive the error message if the value is 0 because it means there is no failed control set.

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Resolution

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk. To resolve this problem, create a registry entry to disable the error message. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following subkey:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Windows
  3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD.
  4. Type NoPopUpsOnBoot to name the new entry, and then press ENTER.
  5. In the right pane, right-click NoPopUpsOnBoot, and then click Modify.
  6. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
  7. Exit Registry Editor.
Note These steps only prevent the message from appearing. This workaround affects not only the pop-up message described in this article but all other pop-up messages when the system starts.

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Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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More Information

For more information about the Service Control Manager, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms685150.aspx
For more information about the CurrentControlSet subkey, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/library/c0847a7a-ccf5-458e-9b53-6a3bfae36d3f1033.mspx

Steps to reproduce the problem

  1. Start the computer by using the Last Known Good Configuration feature. For more information about how to do this, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    307852 How to start your computer by using the Last Known Good Configuration feature in Windows XP

    Note Article 307852 applies to Microsoft Windows XP. However, the steps for Windows Server 2003 are the same.
  2. Install a service pack for Windows Server 2003.
  3. Restart the computer.

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Keywords: kbtshoot, kbserver, kbentirenet, kbprb, kb

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Article Info
Article ID : 924690
Revision : 1
Created on : 1/7/2017
Published on : 9/11/2011
Exists online : False
Views : 444