Error Message: Regenv32 Has Caused an Error in Unknown. Regenv32 Will Be Shutdown (308906)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
This article was previously published under Q308906

SYMPTOMS

If you either run the Msconfig tool or you try to shut down the computer, you may receive the following error message:
Regenv32 has caused an error in Unknown. Regenv32 will be shutdown.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if your computer is infected with the PE_Weird virus. In this situation, one or more of the following files may be corrupted:
  • Autoexec.bat
  • Config.sys
  • Regenv32.exe

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use either of the methods that are described in this section.

Method One

Rename the Autoexec.bat file and Config.sys file in the root folder, and then create two new files:
  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
  2. Expand drive C.
  3. Right-click the Autoexec.bat file, and then click Rename.
  4. Rename the file to "Autoexec.old", and then press ENTER.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to rename the Config.sys file to "Config.old".
  6. Point to New on the File menu, and then click Text Document.
  7. Name the file "Autoexec.bat", press ENTER, and then click Yes when you are prompted to change the file name extension.
  8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 to create a file named "Config.sys".
  9. Restart the computer.

Method Two

Rename and extract the Regenv32.exe file:
  1. Click Start, point to Search, and then click For Files or Folders.
  2. Type regenv32.exe in the Search for files or folders named box, click Local Hard Drives in the Look in box, and then click Search Now.
  3. Right-click the regenv32.exe file, and then click Rename.
  4. Name the file "Regenv32.old", and then press ENTER.
  5. Close the Search Results window.
  6. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.
  7. Click Tools, and then click System Configuration Utility.
  8. If you receive a message about the environment variables, click OK.
  9. Click Extract File.
  10. Type regenv32.exe, and then click Start.
  11. Click C:\Windows\Options\Install in the Restore from box.
  12. Type c:\windows\system in the Save file in box, and then click OK.
  13. Click OK if you are prompted to back up the file.
  14. Click OK if you are prompted to create the backup folder.
  15. When you receive the message that states that the file has been successfully extracted, click OK.
  16. Click OK, and then click Yes.
NOTE: If Msconfig does not start when you try to extract the Regenv32.exe file, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

MORE INFORMATION

When you shut down the computer, Regenv32.exe transfers any new environment variable settings that may have been added to your Autoexec.bat file to the registry so that these settings are available the next time you start your computer.

Regenv32.exe parses the Autoexec.bat file and Config.sys file, and then places this information in the registry. If the Autoexec.bat file, the Config.sys file, or the Regenv32.exe file is corrupted, this process is not successful, and the information is not imported to the registry.

For additional information about Regenv32.exe, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

265835 Command Line Options for Regenv32.exe in Windows Me

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/14/2006
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB308906
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.