Registry problem

From: Mike Twidale (mike.twidale_at_postoffice.co.uk)
Date: 09/24/04 

Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2004 02:16:41 -0700

I had a problem installing some games/programs on my
daughter's laptop over the weekend. Although two programs
installed without any problem, 2 others failed with the
following error message:

16 bit Windows subsystem

SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers.
VDD. Virtual Device Driver format in the registry is
invalid. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application

A search of Microsoft's KnowledgeBase identified an
article - 254914 - as follows:

SYMPTOMS
After you install some programs, one of the following
error messages may appear when you attempt to run 16-bit
programs:
16 bit MS-DOS Subsystem
drive:\program path
XXXX. An installable Virtual Device Driver failed DLL
initialization. Choose 'Close' to terminate the
application.
-or-

16 bit MS-DOS Subsystem
drive:\program path
SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers.
VDD. Virtual Device Driver format in the registry is
invalid. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.
In some cases, clicking Ignore allows the program to run
properly, but the error message continues to be displayed
when you start 16-bit programs.
CAUSE
This behavior can occur if the following registry value
has become corrupted:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Virtual
DeviceDrivers\VDD
This issue may occur after you install a 16-bit program,
or a program that uses a 16-bit installation program, that
is not Windows 2000 compliant.
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.
1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Locate and click the following value:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Virtual
DeviceDrivers\VDD
3. On the Edit menu, click Delete.
4. On the Edit menu, click Add Value.
5. Type VDD in the Value Name box, click REG_MULTI_SZ for
the Data Type, and then click OK.
6. The Multi-String editor appears. Leave this entry blank
and click OK.
7. Quit Registry Editor.
If the above steps do not work, or if you are unable to
create the VDD key, it may be necessary to also delete and
recreate the whole VirtualDeviceDrivers registry key.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
____________

However, I attempted last night to edit the registry, and
was able to locate the value
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Virtual
DeviceDrivers but could not locate the \VDD element to
delete. Clicking on the value and selecting Edit, Add
Value allowed me to enter VDD as Value Name and
REG_MULTI_SZ, but selecting OK and OK caused an error
message to the effect that the Value entry already
exists. However the 'Folder' (or whatever it is)
VirtualDeviceDriver' does not have the 'VDD' 'subfolder'
(i.e. there is no + sign in the icon)

Presumably as I couldn't create the VDD key, I need to
delete and recreate the whole VirtualDeviceDrivers key?
Unfortunately, the article above does not explain how to
do that.

Advice, anyone, please?

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Registry problem
    ... Virtual Device Driver Error Message in 16-Bit MS-DOS Subsystem ... | VDD. ... | can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.registry)
  • Re: ActiveSync3.8 stop working after 4.1 uninstallation
    ... As said run regedit and search for keys related to activesync. ... Use of the registry editor is not really a topic for this newsgroup- to find ... that is arguably better/easier than the Windows one, ... >> If you have everything currently uninstalled then try running the install ...
    (microsoft.public.pocketpc.activesync)
  • RE: Problems upgrading SQL MSDE for Sharepoint
    ... I used Registry Editor to delete PendingFileRenameOperations in the ... I restarted the Server and tried to install SQL ... Press Retry to continue installation or Cancel to exit setup. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: Remove Office 2000 Bus. Ed.
    ... tried again to install my legal copy It still would not let me. ... If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, ... On the Tools menu, click Folder Options (or, click Folder Options on ... MAPI components are installed to the following folder: ...
    (microsoft.public.office.setup)
  • Re: Getting VB off the system so I can start over
    ... I would run a Repair setup of XP, then install VB again. ... Use Registry Editor at your own risk. ... > How do I get VB off my system if its own uninstall program will not do it? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
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