Microsoft KB Archive/173507

= Evaluation Period Expires on Non-Evaluation Copy of Windows NT =

Article ID: 173507

Article Last Modified on 8/15/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition

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This article was previously published under Q173507



SYMPTOMS
Although you did not use an evaluation copy of the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 CD-ROM to install Windows NT, you may receive the following message:

The evaluation period for this installation of Windows NT has expired. This system will shutdown in one hour. To restore access to this installation of Windows NT, please upgrade this installation using a licensed distribution of this product.

When this message is displayed, the following information is recorded in the system event log along with the message text:

Event ID: 26 Source: Application Popup Type: Information Category: None

One hour after you receive this message, your computer stops responding (hangs) and displays an error message on a blue screen similar to the following:


 * STOP 0x00000098 (0x647CDCB0,0x01BC9900,0x0002A300,0x00000000)

END_OF_NT_EVALUATION_PERIOD



CAUSE
The boot floppy disks used for your installation of Windows NT were created from a Windows NT 4.0 evaluation CD-ROM. When you use boot floppy disks from an evaluation copy of Windows NT the trial period for that installation of Windows NT is invoked. When the trial period has expired, Windows NT stops every hour.



RESOLUTION
NOTE: Please read this entire article before you proceed as there are different solutions based on which Service Pack you have installed.

To resolve this problem, upgrade the evaluation copy of Windows NT Server or Workstation with the full retail version, use one of the following methods:  Start Windows NT Setup and use the boot floppy disks supplied with the full retail version of Windows NT 4.0. If the boot floppy disks supplied with the full retail version are no longer available or may have been created or supplied with an Evaluation CD-ROM, you can create a new set from the full retail CD-ROM. For more information, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

131735 How to Create Windows NT Boot Floppy Disks

 Start Windows NT Setup directly from the full retail CD-ROM and use the Winnt.exe or Winnt32.exe command or bootable CD-ROM drive.

NOTE: When you upgrade your installation, it is not possible to use the upgrade version of Windows NT 4.0. The full retail version of Windows NT 4.0 must be used. For more information, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

154538 WinNT 4.0 Upgrade CD Will Not Upgrade WinNT 4.0 Installation

NOTE: Before you proceed with an upgrade of the operating system files please consult all software venders of any applications installed on this system to prevent any possible impact to the functionality of those applications. All Microsoft and non-Microsoft applications should be verified.

PROCEDURE 1
To resolve the Stop 0x00000098 error message with Windows NT 4.0 up to and including Service Pack 3, follow these steps:
 * 1) Complete a full backup of the affected system, and then create an Emergency Repair Diskette.
 * 2) Use a valid full retail Windows NT CD-ROM (and boot disks if required) and start the Setup process.
 * 3) At the Welcome to Setup screen, when prompted To Setup Windows NT Now, press ENTER.
 * 4) When prompted to Upgrade the current version of Windows NT, press ENTER.
 * 5) Restart your computer and re-apply the Service Pack, any required hotfixes, and OEM drivers (Compaq SSD).

NOTE: If you are using the Small Business Server 4.5 boot disk, you must rename the Winnt.sif file so that you can complete the upgrade process.

PROCEDURE 2
To resolve the Stop 0x00000098 error message with Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 or higher, follow these steps:  Complete a full backup of the affected system, and then create an Emergency Repair Diskette. Use a valid full retail Windows NT CD-ROM (and boot disks if required) and start the Setup process. At the Welcome to Setup screen, when prompted To Setup Windows NT Now, press ENTER.</li> When prompted to Upgrade the current version of Windows NT, press ENTER.</li> During the upgrade you are prompted to create an Emergency Repair Diskette. Click to select Yes, and then when prompted supply a new diskette.NOTE: This step is critical; this new Repair disk MUST be created.

</li> When the Upgrade is complete, start the Setup process again and at the Welcome to Setup screen, when prompted To Repair a Damaged Windows NT Installation, press R.</li> Use the emergency repair disk (ERD) which was created in Step 5 and select only "inspect registry files" on the first menu selection screen. On the second menu selection screen select ONLY "replace SYSTEM configuration." This will replace the damaged System registry hive in the %systemroot%\System32\Config directory with the System hive on the ERD. For additional information on the application of Service Packs and OEM drivers, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

139815 Windows NT Service Packs and OEM drivers

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NOTE: If you are using the Small Business Server 4.5 boot disk, you must rename the Winnt.sif file so that you can complete the upgrade process.

Additional query words: corporate desktop eval timebomb time bomb 0x98 test beta process notification

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb KB173507

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