Re: Unable to run legacy programs

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

From: Wesley Vogel (123WVogel955_at_comcast.net)
Date: 01/08/05 

Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 18:44:12 -0700

Seems to be an epidemic lately....

This can be caused by a trojan.

Get rid of the trojan.

Update your antivirus software and run a full system scan.

Copy the autoexec.nt file from C:\Windows\Repair to C:\Windows\System32.
And set Attributes for autoexec.nt to Read-only.

Read-only
[[Specifies whether this file is read-only, which means that it cannot be
changed or accidentally deleted.]]

1. Right click the file.
2. Properties.
3. Select: Read-only.
4. Click: Apply.
5. Click: OK.

16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem error while installing or running a DOS application
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/16bit.htm

MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based program Error Message
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_m.htm#16bit

Error message when you install or start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based
program
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324767 

-- 
Hope this helps.  Let us know.
Wes
In news:38DE4384-DA4A-4E15-A65C-DB07B0C858C9@microsoft.com,
Dr E. Paul Reid <DrEPaulReid@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> I have a dual boot system with Win 98 and Win XP Home. I have been
> running one Win 3.1 program (Calendar) and three DOS programs in DOS
> windows on my computer in Win XP without problems. All of a sudden
> they will not run: I get the following error message with Calendar:
> “16 bit Window Subsystem
> D:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT. The system file is not suitable for
> running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose ‘Close’
> to terminate the application.”
>
> With the other programs I get the error:
> “16 bit MS-DOS Subsystem
> D:\DOCUME~1\DRE~1.PAU\Desktop\(program).pif
> D:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT. The system file is not suitable for
> running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose ‘Close’
> to terminate the application.”
>
> I don’t understand why this has suddenly happened on this computer.
> How do I go about troubleshooting it?

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Installshied WOWEXEC Error
    ... and you'd get an error message like... ... MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. ... InstallShield Search for ntvdm brings up one article ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Error
    ... This can be caused by a trojan. ... MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based program Error Message ... Error message when you install or start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based ... Troubleshooting MS-DOS-based programs in Windows XP ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: software install
    ... MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based program Error Message ... Error message when you install or start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based ... Troubleshooting MS-DOS-based programs in Windows XP ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: 16-bit Windows subsystem error message
    ... This can be caused by a trojan. ... MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based program Error Message ... Error message when you install or start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based ... MS-MVP Windows Shell/User ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Installation of programs
    ... suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows ... ignore the error message, either selection makes the ... To resolve this issue: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)