You may receive a "Error 29999" message when you try to install Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 on a computer that is running Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (891091)

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, you must stop the Virtual Server service and any third-party virtual machine services. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Use an account that has administrative permissions to log on to the computer that is running Windows XP SP2 and Virtual Server 2005.
2. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Administrative Tools.
3. In the Administrative Tools snap-in, click Services.
4. In the Services snap-in, right-click Virtual Server, and then click Stop.
   
   Note If any third-party virtual machine software, such as VMware, has been installed on the Windows XP-based computer, remove the third-party software before you continue to the next step.
5. Restart the Windows XP-based computer.
6. Re-install Virtual Server 2005.

If the installation of Virtual Server 2005 still fails with the error that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section, and VMware was previously installed on the computer, you must delete VMware network registry entries. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Use an account that has administrative permissions to log on to the computer that is running Windows XP SP2 and Virtual Server 2005.
2. Make sure that all Network Connection dialog boxes are closed.
3. Start Registry Editor.
4. Locate and then right-click the following registry subkey:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

5. For each GUID key under this subkey, verify that the PnPInstanceID value that is contained in the Connection registry entry does not contain a ROOT\VMWARE\nnnn value.
   
   Note nnnn is the device node number. This value references the VMware device and must be deleted after the VMware software is removed.
6. Right-click any PnPInstanceID value that references ROOT\VMWARE\nnnn, click Delete, and then click Yes.
7. Quit Registry Editor.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.