16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem

[mrs1945]

Every time I turn on my computer I get the following:

16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
The NTVDM CPU has encountered an illegal instruction.
CS:0576 IP:017b OP:ff ff 00 ff 00 Choose 'Close' to terminate the
application.


Does anyone know how to get rid of this message - other than selecting
'Ignore'?

Mary

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Every time I turn on my computer I get the following:

16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
The NTVDM CPU has encountered an illegal instruction.
CS:0576 IP:017b OP:ff ff 00 ff 00 Choose 'Close' to terminate the
application.


Does anyone know how to get rid of this message - other than selecting
'Ignore'?

Mary

You can try getting ahold of the hotfix from this KB article and see
if it helps: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/890067

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

This has shown up in the past in connection with at least NT4 and Windows
2000 and could be corrected in some cases by running the system file
checker. To run sfc (do not include the quotes):

Start>Run, and enter "command" + Enter.
Type, "sfc /scannow" + Enter

You may be requested to insert your XP cd.

If you upgraded over the years from Windows 95 then it may be caused by an
old command.com file.

 

[mrs1945]

I operate Windows XP Home Edition. I ran the command as you suggested. The
window opened showing the program being run. After a while, the window
simply closed. Was this supposed to happen?

Mary

 

[mrs1945]

I went to the site as instructed. I read all the info. I was definitely
confused. FYI, I operate Windows XP Home Addition. It came preloaded on my
computer. Can you please offer more help?

Mary

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I believe so. I don't know how long "a while" is but it sounds like it did
not find any corrupted files since that is normal behavior for sfc when all
files are OK. Otherwise you would have seen reference to one or more file
names that were being replaced.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

I went to the site as instructed. I read all the info. I was definitely

confused. FYI, I operate Windows XP Home Addition. It came preloaded on my
computer. Can you please offer more help?

Mary

Mary,

Not a problem. Basically, that is a patch file to address some odd
behaviors that occur with the 16-bit DOS ntvdm file. It's possible
that some file is trying to start up when the computer does and it's
from the old Windows days and isn't designed to work on Windows XP.
That's likely why you're seeing this error screen and you have to
cancel out of it just get rid of it. But if the aforementioned isn't
the case, the patch files at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/890067
could help get rid of this message. Basically do this.

1. Visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/890067

2. In the web page you'll see the link
http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451 below where it mentions
Windows XP. Click the link from within the web page, not this link.

3. It'll take you to a web form where you enter your country so do
that, next your product and version affected (Windows XP Home
Edition), platform would be 32-bit x86, language would be English, and
then enter a valid e-mail address.

4. Usually in 2-8 hours, Microsoft will send you an e-mail.

Microsoft will send you an e-mail with a link to a password-protected
file. The file will be the patch from KB890067. The password is in the
e-mail they send. In the e-mail, click the link to the file, download
and save to your desktop, double-click the file and enter the
password. It will then extract the file and you'll see
WindowsXP-KB890067-x86-ENU. Double-click this file and install the
patch. Reboot, see if it helps.

- Thee Chicago Wolf