16-bit program problem on cmd.

[tofran]

Hi,

I used to be running a 16-bit program on a Win XP SP2 via cmd without
problem. But suddenly it has begun not to run at all. I have checked
out with other programs on the XP, some run without problem and some
does not. It seems to be a problem running 16-bit programs in general.

The following program does not run and those are old programs from DOS,
so they reflect what make my program does:

debug.exe
command.com

When I run one of the program first time I start cmd.exe following
error occurs (if command.com):

The system cannot find the file C:\WINDOWS\system32\command.com.

(Even when the files in fact is there, so obviously it finds the
program by the PATH routes, but cannot execute it. I the results is the
same if I go straight to ...system32 to run the program)

When I run it again (in the same cmd) the program just hang and cannot
be interrupted without killing the cmd-process.

It seems like something is blocking for running of 16-bit programs as
other programs is running normally like calc, ftp etc.

But how can this be done suddenly, could it be a hidden virus. But I
have alread run a viruscheck (no virus found), but my spyware check
revealed some spyware, but they where removed, but the problem is still
there.

Any help will be appriciated.

Best regards
Tom

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

You mentioned you had a spyware infection recently. Spyware/malware can be very tricky to remove.
Make very sure you removed all traces of the pest.
See The Parasite Fight Quick Fix Protocol at <http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm>

As to your DOS programs: XP has 2 command interpreters. 1 you can get by Start menu, RUN, then CMD.
The other ( which is more likely suited for old, old dos programs) is Command. To get that, use Start menu, select RUN, and then type in
COMMAND

 

[tofran]

The DOS-program was only meant to be a example of why 16-bit programs
did not run under CMD.exe

But the problem can be connected with the recently dicovered spyware.
As the problem of why I could not run some 16-bit programs were due to
NTVDM.exe has disappeared from the system32 folder. After I got a copy
back from my backup it all works again.

/Tom

Maurice N ~ MVP skrev: