Tech Tips: How to fix Microsoft Exchange Server setup cannot continue because a restart from a previous installation or update is pending

I faced the above mentioned problem when trying to install the Exchange 2010 Management Tool on a brand new Windows Server 2008 R2.

Having all the prerequisites installed and enabled, I wonder why the setup wizard still would not allowed me to proceed with the installation. It boils down to the following:

The Exchange Server Analyzer reads the following registry key to determine whether a system restart is required after installation or removal of a software update such as a security update, critical update, or hotfix.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\UpdateExeVolatile

The Exchange Analyzer also checks the following registry key to determine whether a previous software update installation was not completed and the system must be restarted to finish the installation.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\PendingFileRenameOperations

The Exchange Analyzer displays an error message if one of the following conditions is true:.

• The value of the UpdateExeVolatile registry key is anything other than 0.
• The PendingFileRenameOperations registry key has any value.

This error indicates that a restart from a previous install or update is pending and the system must be restarted before Exchange Setup can continue.

To resolve this issue, restart the system and then run Exchange setup again.

To remove an orphaned UpdateExeVolatile registry key value

1. Open a registry editor, such as Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe.
2. Navigate to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\
3. In the right navigation pane, double-click the UpdateExeVolatile key.
4. Configure the key with a value of 0
5. Close Registry Editor.

To delete the orphaned PendingFileRenameOperations registry key

1. Open a registry editor, such as Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe.
2. Navigate to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\
3. In the right navigation pane, right-click the PendingFileRenameOperations key and select Delete.
4. Close Registry Editor.

Before you edit the registry, and for information about how to edit the registry, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 256986,Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc164360(v=exchg.80).aspx