Starting Microsoft Backup Hangs Computer

When you start Microsoft Backup, your computer may stop responding (hang). Or, you may receive the following error message:

When you start Backup, it attempts to detect whether the computer contains a tape drive. If Backup incorrectly determines that there is a tape drive when there is not, the computer may hang.

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 correct this problem, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer.
2. Change the value for the TapeDriveDetected key from 1 to 0 in the following registry key:

         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ 
         Applets\Backup
   						

NOTE: If you have never run Backup successfully, the Backup key may not exist in the registry. To create this key, restart your computer in Safe mode, run Backup, quit Backup, and then restart your computer normally. You can then follow the steps above.

For additional information about Troubleshooting Windows 95 Backup, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: