My home pc (vista home premium) has recently started having trouble with 16
bit dos exe files. everytime i boot the computer i get 20 or so error
messages saying things like
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\*******.exe. The system file is not suitable for running
MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the
application.
i have read many discussion boards but all references to this problem are
about windows XP.
Can someone please enlighten me on how to fix this problem
"Spildoop" <Spildoop@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:795B9C5D-1E13-4159-A55B-9FC12063A461@microsoft.com...
> My home pc (vista home premium) has recently started having trouble with
> 16
> bit dos exe files. everytime i boot the computer i get 20 or so error
> messages saying things like
> C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\*******.exe. The system file is not suitable for
> running
> MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the
> application.
>
> i have read many discussion boards but all references to this problem are
> about windows XP.
>
> Can someone please enlighten me on how to fix this problem
>
> Thanks Heaps
No 16-bit files should be loading at boot, and the system files are all
32-bit. You need to isolate what process is trying to launch these files.
Run msconfig from the start/search line and check the startup tab, uncheck
anything other than AV and system processes.
"Spildoop" <Spildoop@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:795B9C5D-1E13-4159-A55B-9FC12063A461@microsoft.com...
> My home pc (vista home premium) has recently started having trouble with
> 16
> bit dos exe files. everytime i boot the computer i get 20 or so error
> messages saying things like
> C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\*******.exe. The system file is not suitable for
> running
> MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the
> application.
>
> i have read many discussion boards but all references to this problem are
> about windows XP.
>
> Can someone please enlighten me on how to fix this problem
>
> Thanks Heaps
"Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@email.com> wrote ...
> Vista does not support older, 16-bit programs. You should run these in a
> virtual machine for proper support.
With respect, Richard, that is not correct.
32-bit Vista can run 16-bit DOS and Win 3.x applications in the NTVDM.EXE,
exactly the same as XP, Windows 2000, NT 4.0 and NT 3.x. This is fully
supported by Microsoft.
Specific 16-bit applications might encounter compatibility problems, if they
try to improperly access the hardware or call forbidden interrupts; but as a
general principal, 16-bit aps should run fine on 32-bit Vista.
For 16 -bit applications which do encounter compatibility problems, then
your advice is correct: a Virtual Machine environment like Virtual PC is the
best solution.
However, the error which Slipdoop is reporting does not suggest that this is
a compatibility problem. It sounds more like a variation on the same problem
which can be seen on XP.
Slipdoop, the XP articles which you saw are also applicable to Vista. In
particular, look at these KB articles:
Obviously, you cannot run 16-bit applications on 64-bit Vista; they just
can't run. However in this case, you would see a different and pretty clear
error message, to that effect.
Hope it helps, let us know how you get on.
--
Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au
16-bit dos error 
Linear Mode
