Article ID: 282988
Article Last Modified on 4/21/2003
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Reader 1.5
This article was previously published under Q282988
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
SYMPTOMS
When you start Microsoft Reader, you may receive the following error message:
-or-
Microsoft Reader may not launch, instead, you may see an hourglass and hear hard drive activity. After a few moments the activity ceases and the hourglass disappears but Microsoft Reader does not start.
CAUSE
This issue can occur if one or more registry keys were not copied when you installed Microsoft Reader, or Internet Explorer is damaged.
RESOLUTION
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order in which they are presented.
Uninstall Microsoft Reader
To uninstall Microsoft Reader:
- Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
- Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
- Double-click Microsoft Reader.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to uninstall Microsoft Reader.
Delete the Microsoft Reader Registry Keys
To delete the Microsoft Reader registry keys:
- Click Start, and then click Run.
- In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
- Select the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\eBook
- Press the DELETE key.
When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes. - Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\eBook
- Press the DELETE key. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.
- Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{3B14 33E1-8355-456F-9FED-CC9DE9FCFE31}
- Press the DELETE key. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.
- Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.
Clean Boot the Computer
To clean boot the computer, use the appropriate method for your version of Microsoft Windows.
Microsoft Windows 98
- Click Start, and then click Run.
- In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.
- On the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then click to clear the following check boxes:
- Process Config.sys File
- Process Autoexec.bat File
- Process Winstart.bat File (if available)
- Process Win.ini File
- Load Startup Group Items
- Click OK. When you are prompted to restart the computer, do so.
For additional information about how to clean boot Windows 98, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
192926 How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98
NOTE: To restore your original Startup options, click Normal Startup on the General tab in System Configuration Utility.
Microsoft Windows 95
- Restart the computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then select Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
- At the command prompt, type win, and then press ENTER. Press and hold down the SHIFT key until the Windows startup sequence is complete.
- Disable any anti-virus or disk tool programs installed on the computer.
For information about how to disable these programs, see the printed or online documentation for the program.
- Quit all running programs except Explorer and Systray. To do this, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, click the program that you want to quit, and then click End Task.
If you receive a message that the program is busy or not responding, click End Task again.
Repeat this step to quit all programs except Explorer and Systray.
For additional information about how to clean boot Windows 95, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
177604 Multimedia: Troubleshooting Using Clean Boot of Windows 95
NOTE: To restore your original Startup options, restart the computer normally, and then enable any anti-virus or disk tool programs installed on the computer. For information about how to enable these programs, see the printed or online documentation for the program.
Download Microsoft Reader
The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Release Date: Aug-08-2000
For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services
Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file. After you download the Microsoft Reader setup, double-click the file to install Microsoft Reader.
Update the ContentDir value in the Registry
In some cases, after you reinstall Microsoft Reader, you may have to modify the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\eBook
If Microsoft Reader does not start after you reinstall it, follow these steps:
- Click Start, and then click Run.
- In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
- Open the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\eBook
- In the right pane, double-click ContentDir, and then set the value to the My Library folder on your computer. For example, if the My Library folder is located in the My Documents folder on the C: drive, set the path to C:\MyDocuments\MyLibrary\.
- Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.
Repair Internet Explorer
- Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
- Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
- On the Install/Uninstall tab, double-click Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.
xand Internet Tools. - Click Repair Internet Explorer.
- Click OK.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to repair Internet Explorer.
Additional query words: msreader
Keywords: kbprb KB282988
