16 BIT WINDOWS SUBSYSTEM ERROR 2

[3008n1]

Not sure why this happened. More than one 16 bit stand alone exe files (works on y other machines) gives the the following error:

C:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt
The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose close to terminate the application.

(the os is really XP HOME SP2)

Any ideas?
//suitable sounds like an opinion...
Tom

 

[NoobX]

Do this

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324767

 

[linney]

16 bit Windows Subsystem" problem
thread779-962442

 

[NoobX]

to make it easier on you do this
1. Insert the CD into the CD drive or DVD drive.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
4. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:


expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\config.nt_ c:\windows\system32\config.nt
expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\autoexec.nt_ c:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt
expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\command.co_ c:\windows\system32\command.com
exit

 

[3008n1]

Well, I want to thank all three of you for the very fast response. I don't really care how it happened (Windows Ahhh), but the fix worked.

Noobx, thanks for the extra effort. The cut and paste worked just fine.

Tom

 

[linney]

Who is the split personality "Linney" or "NoobX"?

 

[Pagat]

hi,
samo weeks ago i had the same problem.
i found a copy of autoexec.nt on c:\windows\repair.
i copied into c:\windows\system32 and works.
any comment?

 

[bcastner]

Pagat,

That is what I do as well. I also set the file to Read Only.

See:

http://www.amigaforever.com/kb/6-104.html

Two cautions:

. It is not the case that the file Autoexec.NT is always to blame. The Microsoft KB article linked by NoobX discusses this, as does Ramesh, MVP:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/16bit.htm

. There are several widely available malwares that will damage or remove any of three critical files necessary to initialize the 16-bit subsystem. A virus/malware scan is always suggested if you have a problem. See the Ramesh, MVP article above for a discussion.

 

[linney]

What is strange, I find, is that posts concerning this type of error have only become apparent in this forum during the last month or so? Now they are quite frequent.

 

[bcastner]

Which is why I did the Ramesh, MVP link. He believes it is malware and not SP2.

 

[linney]

The evidence would tend to suggest that, unless there is a rush of guilty people deciding to install SP2.

 

[bcastner]

It is curious. Toregeir Bakken, MS-MVP wrote:

"I would like to add that in my opinion this issue is not an Windows XP SP2 issue. As far as i can tell from the various post, for most people it's just a timing coincidence around their resent install/up of SP2
and the prolification of this trojan. Furthermore, from my part, I am looking further into whether this trojan arrived via my installation of the CorelDraw 12 SP1 with it's notoriously invasive & unremovable Update Manager program by InstallShield, since the timing is more correct for my issue and the fact that the Trojan ends up promoting various Warez Utilities."

 

[NoobX]

When i did a fresh install of xp i started jumping to manufacture websites getting drivers then behold i was infected with spyware. Thought i cleaned it up but a day later had the same problem.

 

[3008n1]

Wow. Thought at first no one would reply to this "simple" problem. Sorry for the delay--related to the Tsunami. I do NOT get any driver updates, and a really a “safe” surfer compared to what I hear.

XP site, PCCILLIN, Ghost Surf Pro, WIN Zip and Apple time. That’s about it. These are regular automatic updates.

Just a note. Is there more than ONE version or SP2 for XP. Using Explorer (Windows) it says:

Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158

This might help someone follow this.

Oh, A friend on mine thinks the virus people keep in business by writing their own viruses—you get it, and it “fixes” it. Guess this could apply to spy ware, and ad ware too. They you are happy you have the program.

bcastner my friend would agree with you....

 

[bcastner]

There were beta versions, and release candidate versions of SP2. Yours, Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158, is the correct final version of SP2.

 

[j0hnb0y]

This is a WONDERFUL site!! The first link to it solved most of my problems.....

 

[3008n1]

jOhnb0y
I started this thread. 3008n1. I too found this site to be most informative. It's a bit odd though. A few questions I had went completely unanswered. I do not know if they were to simple, or just bad timing, and no one had time to help.

I would like to caution you on one thing with this "fix." Making the files read only did cause a problem with Adobe Acrobat 6 Writer. It caused it not to see a file that it tried to create, and would not run. I do not know why, but if something stops working after this fix, you might not be able to make it read only.

Regards,

Tom

 

[linney]

jOhnb0y,

Thank you for your feedback about Adobe Acrobat 6 Writer.

Apologies (on behalf of the XP Forum) for not catching your original posting. If it should happen again that you think you have been overlooked you could always reply to your own post which would then "bump" it up to the first page of posts and give it a second chance of being noticed.