Topic ERROR MSG: Error 1402 Could not Open Key...

 Applies_To askSam, SurfSaver

    Version All

Last_Update 10/08/2004

Question When I attempt to install askSam I get the following message:

Error 1402. Could not open key key name.

Verify that you have sufficient access to that key, or contact your support personnel.

Installation cannot proceed.

where key name is the name of a key that Setup is trying to write to the Windows registry.

Answer This behavior can occur when there is incorrect, invalid, or corrupted information in the Windows registry.

Resolution The following information come from the Microsoft website:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303089

To resolve this issue, run the Windows Registry Checker Tool (Scanreg.exe) to scan your registry for invalid entries. The Registry Checker scans, detects, and repairs damages in the system registry, and, if necessary, restores a backup of the registry. To run the Registry Checker, follow the steps appropriate for your operating system.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft (and askSam) cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Method 1: Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

1. Click Start menu, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.

2. On the Tools menu, click Registry Checker. You may receive the following error message:

Windows encountered an error accessing the system registry. Windows will restart the computer and repair the system registry for you. If you receive this error message, continue to step 3.

If you do not receive the error message, follow these steps to repair damage to the registry:

Quit all programs that are running.

Click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type the following and then click OK:

scanreg /fix

Click Yes to restart the computer.

3. Click OK to restart your computer.

4. Follow the remaining steps to restore a good copy of the registry.

5. Retry the askSam installation

Method 2: Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

1. Restart your computer. Press and hold down the CTRL key until the Windows 98 Startup menu appears, and then select Command prompt only.

2. At the command prompt, type scanreg /fix and then press ENTER.

3. After the Registry Checker tool completes repairing the registry, press ENTER.

4. At the command prompt, type scanreg /opt and then press ENTER.

NOTE: The /opt command-line switch causes the Registry Checker tool to optimize the registry by removing unused space.

5. Restart the computer.

6. Retry the askSam installation