16 Bit Subsystem Error

G

Guest

Hi,
Been reviewing other posts that have 16 bit subsystem problems and have yet
to find a post with my message. Here it is in a the box that pops up
entitled "Windows 16 bit Subsystem"

C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\. A temporary file needed for initialization
could not be created or could not be written to. Make sure that the
directory path exists, and disk space is available. Choose 'Close' to
terminate the application.

Can't run or install any older programs, which is doubly painful since I
have an older printer that won't run now. Appreciate any help/suggestions.
 
D

David H. Lipman

Open a Command Prompt and type...

set >c:\set.txt

Open c:\set.txt in Notepad and copy the contents to the Clipboard.

Please paste the information in your reply.

--
Dave




| Hi,
| Been reviewing other posts that have 16 bit subsystem problems and have yet
| to find a post with my message. Here it is in a the box that pops up
| entitled "Windows 16 bit Subsystem"
|
| C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\. A temporary file needed for initialization
| could not be created or could not be written to. Make sure that the
| directory path exists, and disk space is available. Choose 'Close' to
| terminate the application.
|
| Can't run or install any older programs, which is doubly painful since I
| have an older printer that won't run now. Appreciate any help/suggestions.
| --
| Paul
 
G

Guest

Thanks for the info, but my error message doesn't make any reference to the
autoexec file. Windows warns me not to mess with the System 32 area, so I'm
a bit leary of replacing the file, especially since I've never backed up this
computer. I've got to do that somehow, does Windows have a back-up utility?
I want to do that before I mess with the operating system. Thanks.

Paul
 
G

Guest

I typed it in "set >c:\set.txt" exactly as you said and nothing happened. I
got the same command prompt line "C:\Documents and Setting\Owner>" right
after hitting enter. Thanks.
 
G

Guest

Thanks Mr Byte,
I'm one of the unfortunate ones who have XP preloaded onto their systems at
purchase. I've seen that page you linked to in dozens of other posts, now if
Microsoft would only publish a page for the CD-less XP users. The CD-less
ones apparently have to move files from some Repair area and overwrite
existing ones in the System 32 area. That's alittle scary without a good
back-up and who can figure out this restore point stuff or if that would even
help. All I have is set of restore CD's I made from Compaq. I'm going have
to back-up my computer somehow before messing with my computer too much.
Thanks for the advice.

Paul
 
D

David H. Lipman

Look in the root of drive "C:" for the file SET.TXT !

--
Dave




| I typed it in "set >c:\set.txt" exactly as you said and nothing happened. I
| got the same command prompt line "C:\Documents and Setting\Owner>" right
| after hitting enter. Thanks.
|
|
| "David H. Lipman" wrote:
|
| > Open a Command Prompt and type...
| >
| > set >c:\set.txt
| >
| > Open c:\set.txt in Notepad and copy the contents to the Clipboard.
| >
| > Please paste the information in your reply.
| >
| > --
| > Dave
| >
| >
| >
| >
| > | > | Hi,
| > | Been reviewing other posts that have 16 bit subsystem problems and have yet
| > | to find a post with my message. Here it is in a the box that pops up
| > | entitled "Windows 16 bit Subsystem"
| > |
| > | C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\. A temporary file needed for initialization
| > | could not be created or could not be written to. Make sure that the
| > | directory path exists, and disk space is available. Choose 'Close' to
| > | terminate the application.
| > |
| > | Can't run or install any older programs, which is doubly painful since I
| > | have an older printer that won't run now. Appreciate any help/suggestions.
| > | --
| > | Paul
| >
| >
| >
 
G

Guest

Oh, easier than I thought.....

ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
APPDATA=C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application Data
CLIENTNAME=Console
COLLECTIONID=COL5123
CommonProgramFiles=C:\Program Files\Common Files
COMPUTERNAME=YOUR-XB2X7J77GN
ComSpec=C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
FP_NO_HOST_CHECK=NO
HMSERVER=https://h30083.www3.hp.com/wuss/servlet/WUSSServlet
HOMEDRIVE=C:
HOMEPATH=\Documents and Settings\Owner
ITEMID=dj-17724-8
LANG=1033
LOGONSERVER=\\YOUR-XB2X7J77GN
NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=1
OS=Windows_NT
OSVER=winXP
Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;c:\Python22;C:\Program Files\PC-Doctor for Windows\services
PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH
PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 0, AuthenticAMD
PROCESSOR_LEVEL=6
PROCESSOR_REVISION=0a00
ProgramFiles=C:\Program Files
PROMPT=$P$G
SESSIONID=1089242138233wuws04-l19ec4ed:fdcb9f9f95:540f
SESSIONNAME=Console
SWUTVER=1.0.22.20030804
SystemDrive=C:
SystemRoot=C:\WINDOWS
TEMP=C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
TIMEOUT=0
TMP=C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
TOOLPATH=/c:\Program%20Files\HP\HP%20Software%20Update\install.htm
UPDATEDIR=C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\radF7038.tmp
USERDOMAIN=YOUR-XB2X7J77GN
USERNAME=Owner
USERPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\Owner
Veo_532_INF_PATH=C:\WINDOWS\INF\oem103.inf
Veo_532_INSTALL_DIR=C:\Program Files\Veo Connect\Driver
Veo_532_PNF_PATH=C:\WINDOWS\INF\oem103.pnf
Veo_532_PRODUCT_VER=1.1.0.0
VERSION=3.0.1
windir=C:\WINDOWS
__COMPAT_LAYER=EnableNXShowUI
 
D

David H. Lipman

The TEMP variables point to...
TEMP=C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
TMP=C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp

And it shows you are logged on as user; owner.

I am wary about the following...
TOOLPATH=/c:\Program%20Files\HP\HP%20Software%20Update\install.htm
UPDATEDIR=C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\radF7038.tmp

I don't understand why the TOOLPATH doesn't point to a path but to a HTML file and UPDATEDIR
points to the file 'radF7038.tmp' rather than a directory.


I really don't know :-(

When did all this start happening ?

--
Dave




| Oh, easier than I thought.....
|
| ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
| APPDATA=C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application Data
| CLIENTNAME=Console
| COLLECTIONID=COL5123
| CommonProgramFiles=C:\Program Files\Common Files
| COMPUTERNAME=YOUR-XB2X7J77GN
| ComSpec=C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
| FP_NO_HOST_CHECK=NO
| HMSERVER=https://h30083.www3.hp.com/wuss/servlet/WUSSServlet
| HOMEDRIVE=C:
| HOMEPATH=\Documents and Settings\Owner
| ITEMID=dj-17724-8
| LANG=1033
| LOGONSERVER=\\YOUR-XB2X7J77GN
| NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=1
| OS=Windows_NT
| OSVER=winXPH
| Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;c:\Python22;C:\Program
Files\PC-Doctor for Windows\services
| PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH
| PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
| PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 0, AuthenticAMD
| PROCESSOR_LEVEL=6
| PROCESSOR_REVISION=0a00
| ProgramFiles=C:\Program Files
| PROMPT=$P$G
| SESSIONID=1089242138233wuws04-l19ec4ed:fdcb9f9f95:540f
| SESSIONNAME=Console
| SWUTVER=1.0.22.20030804
| SystemDrive=C:
| SystemRoot=C:\WINDOWS
| TEMP=C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
| TIMEOUT=0
| TMP=C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
| TOOLPATH=/c:\Program%20Files\HP\HP%20Software%20Update\install.htm
| UPDATEDIR=C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\radF7038.tmp
| USERDOMAIN=YOUR-XB2X7J77GN
| USERNAME=Owner
| USERPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\Owner
| Veo_532_INF_PATH=C:\WINDOWS\INF\oem103.inf
| Veo_532_INSTALL_DIR=C:\Program Files\Veo Connect\Driver
| Veo_532_PNF_PATH=C:\WINDOWS\INF\oem103.pnf
| Veo_532_PRODUCT_VER=1.1.0.0
| VERSION=3.0.1
| windir=C:\WINDOWS
| __COMPAT_LAYER=EnableNXShowUI
|
|
| "David H. Lipman" wrote:
|
| > Look in the root of drive "C:" for the file SET.TXT !
| >
| > --
| > Dave
| >
| >
| >
| >
| > | > | I typed it in "set >c:\set.txt" exactly as you said and nothing happened. I
| > | got the same command prompt line "C:\Documents and Setting\Owner>" right
| > | after hitting enter. Thanks.
| > |
| > |
| > | "David H. Lipman" wrote:
| > |
| > | > Open a Command Prompt and type...
| > | >
| > | > set >c:\set.txt
| > | >
| > | > Open c:\set.txt in Notepad and copy the contents to the Clipboard.
| > | >
| > | > Please paste the information in your reply.
| > | >
| > | > --
| > | > Dave
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > | > | > | Hi,
| > | > | Been reviewing other posts that have 16 bit subsystem problems and have yet
| > | > | to find a post with my message. Here it is in a the box that pops up
| > | > | entitled "Windows 16 bit Subsystem"
| > | > |
| > | > | C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\. A temporary file needed for initialization
| > | > | could not be created or could not be written to. Make sure that the
| > | > | directory path exists, and disk space is available. Choose 'Close' to
| > | > | terminate the application.
| > | > |
| > | > | Can't run or install any older programs, which is doubly painful since I
| > | > | have an older printer that won't run now. Appreciate any help/suggestions.
| > | > | --
| > | > | Paul
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| >
| >
| >
 
G

Guest

End of last month, I had just signed up for CA EZ Anti-Virus because it comes
with SBCYahoo's internet. It made me delete the Symantec program that came
with my PC. The EZ Anti-Virus found some virus's because I didn't buy
Symantec's live update program, so the Symantec wasn't catching all the
latest virus's. Had Pop-Up problems too, but Microsoft's New Beta
Anti-Spyware program zapped them away real well. Was running Adaware before
and I kind of suspected that they had caused this 16-bit issue and tried
unquarantining a bunch of scans of theirs, but it did no good. I suspected
this Python22 program and was tempted to delete it, but can't figure out what
it does, so I left it alone. Thanks for looking at that list of set stuff,
maybe there's something I can delete in my LocalSettings/Temp folder I can
delete. There's alot of useless stuff in there...image files and such. But
I don't want to make things worse

Paul
 
J

Jim Byrd

Hi Paul - Try this fix, courtesy of MVP Kelly Theiriot:


"This installaton program will reinstall the missing or corrupt Windows XP
system files command.com, autoexec.nt and config.nt. The absence or
corruption of one or more of these files causes a "16 Bit Subsystem" error.

XP_Fix.EXE by TRF Systems, Inc.
http://www.visualtour.com/downloads/xp_fix.exe

More info here:

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


Then, courtesy of flrman1, here:
http://forums.techguy.org/archive/index.php/t-280212.html

"First in safe mode click on My Computer then click Tools > Folder Options.
In Folder options click on the View tab. Under Files and Folders tick "Show
hidden files and folders" then uncheck "Hide file extensions for known file
types" and uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)".
Now click "Like current folder" then "Apply" and "OK"

Now find and delete these files:

C:\WINNT\system\windupdate.exe (added by JB: note the spelling - the
added 'd')
C:\WINNT\system.css

Delete this folder:

c:\freescan

Also in safe mode navigate to the C:\Windows\Temp folder. Open the Temp
folder and go to Edit > Select All then Edit > Delete to delete the entire
contents of the Temp folder.

Go to Start > Run and type %temp% in the Run box. The Temp folder will open.
Click Edit > Select All then Edit > Delete to delete the entire contents of
the Temp folder.

Finally go to Control Panel > Internet Options. On the General tab under
"Temporary Internet Files" Click "Delete Files". Put a check by "Delete
Offline Content" and click OK. Click on the Programs tab then click the
"Reset Web Settings" button. Click Apply then OK.


Empty the Recycle Bin"


Run the fix file again after you're done w/the above.

--
Please respond in the same thread.
Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP



In
 
G

Guest

Thanks Jim,
Ran the fix and installed the 3 files with the .bak extensions right next to
the current ones. Had no effect, but appreciate the suggestion.

Paul
 
J

Jim Byrd

Hi Paul - OK, then. Did you verify that you don't have that
C:\WINNT\system\windupdate.exe there or anywhere else? When this error
occurs from malware, this file is normally the proximate cause.

--
Please respond in the same thread.
Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP



In
 
D

David H. Lipman

If it is malware as Jim suspects, the following can be used to check/clean the system.

1) Download the following three items...

Trend Sysclean Package
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp

Latest Trend Pattern File.
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp

Adaware SE (free personal version v1.05)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Create a directory.
On drive "C:\"
(e.g., "c:\New Folder")
or the desktop
(e.g., "C:\Documents and Settings\lipman\Desktop\New Folder")

Download Sysclean.com and place it in that directory.
Download the Trend Pattern File by obtaining the ZIP file.
For example; lpt416.zip

Extract the contents of the ZIP file and place the contents in the same directory as
sysclean.com.

2) Update Adaware with the latest definitions.
3) Disable System Restore
http://vil.nai.com/vil/SystemHelpDocs/DisableSysRestore.htm
4) Reboot your PC into Safe Mode and shutdown as many applications as possible
5) Using both the Trend Sysclean utility and Adaware, perform a Full Scan of your
platform and clean/delete any infectors/parasites found.
(a few cycles may be needed)
6) Restart your PC and perform a "final" Full Scan of your platform using both the
Trend Sysclean utility and Adaware
7) Re-enable System Restore and re-apply any System Restore preferences,
(e.g. HD space to use suggested 400 ~ 600MB),
8) Reboot your PC.
9) Create a new Restore point


* * * Please report your results ! * * *


--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html







| Hi Paul - OK, then. Did you verify that you don't have that
| C:\WINNT\system\windupdate.exe there or anywhere else? When this error
| occurs from malware, this file is normally the proximate cause.
|
| --
| Please respond in the same thread.
| Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP
|
 
G

Guest

Yes, that's verified. Unhid the folders, unchecked the boxes and had a look,
no WINNT and no freescan in the C drive area. Ran MS Beta
Anti-Spyware...system was clean. Updated Adaware, ran that and all it did
was "bake some cookies" (Adaware classifies cookies as Spyware, go figure).
I think my system is clean as can be. Use to have issues with PeopleOnPage
continuing to come back after running Adaware constantly, but Microsoft's
Spyware did away with them.

Deleted everything I could (it would let me) from the C:\documents and
settings\Owner\LocalSettings\Temp folder in the hopes that would
help...didn't change anything. This is a real bad issue. Another person
posted about the identical issue last October and got no responses. Thanks
again Jim.

Paul
 
G

Guest

Hi, David,
I think I'm clean. Ran multiple SpyScans and my checks and came up clean.
Microsoft has a terrific Spyscanner in Beta format that really does a number
on things. My 16-bit programs just can't write the file they need to write
to function. There's nothing wrong with my directory that I know of.
There's a file in there that's been created just today. Why these 16-bit
programs can't write into it is a real mystery to me. I may have to buy a
new printer, it's really bad not having one when you need it. My old one
works really well, maybe someone on Ebay will get a good deal. Thanks.

Paul
 
J

Jim Byrd

Hi Paul - OK, then. Going back to your original post - I've assumed that
you get this error message in conjunction with trying to use your older
printer. Is that correct? If so and I didn't just miss it, have you tried
uninstalling and then reinstalling the printer (assuming you have the
install media available, of course)?

--
Please respond in the same thread.
Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP



In
 
G

Guest

Yes, both ways...tried using the CD that came with the printer and
redownloaded the updated printer software from HP off of their website. In
both cases, up pops the dialog box. Also tried to install an old copy of
Monopoly on CD, up came the box. It's a real stubborn thing. All of my
16-bit programs are not functioning. Thanks.

Paul
 

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