NTVDM errors on Win2000 Server

[gb2299]

Can you help??

I have a Compaq ML370, 1ghz, 1gb RAM running Win 2000 sp3 but am unable to run command.com!
CMD works but commands like 'edit' or 'sysedit' fail with the same error message
I get an error like..."Error running 16 bit subsystem, please check config.nt"
I have read through and carried out instructions in q191690, q165214, q196453. One of the articles mentions "if all solutions fail, parallel install windows and copy the system32 directory to the 'rogue' server" - A bit drastic I think!
I have tried expanding config.nt + autoexec.nt + command.com from the CD.
I have purposefully modifed HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\currentcontrolset\control\cmdline and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\currentcontrolset\control\wowcmdline
and I get the correct error message I was expecting when trying to run command.com
My next step is to expand win.ini + system.ini off the W2K cd.
This did happen with SP2 installed and I hoped that SP3 cured it.
I have proved without a doubt that it is NTVDM failing to start.
Any suggestions as to what next??

Thanks
Graham