16 Bit Subsystem - Per Profile?

[Guest]

My organization has a 16 bit app that nearly everyone uses and most of the
Windows machines are Win XP. On one of the machines, this app will not run
for one particular user. When logged on as her, the WowExec process, ntvdm,
etc. do not start when she tries to start the program. It works for every
other user.

I notice at least one post below where someone has started having problems
with the 16 bit subsystem and I have seen that problem here. This is where
for some reason, autoexec.nt or other 16 bit OS files are missing. That
problem is pretty straight forward (though I don't know why it seems to be
happening a lot.)

The problem I'm having with this user is clearly a different one. I need to
know what exists in a user profile that affects 16 bit apps. I'm guessing
there must be something because this problem clearly affects only this user.
I have confirmed that the problem isn't her shortcut.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Ron Martell]

My organization has a 16 bit app that nearly everyone uses and most of the
Windows machines are Win XP. On one of the machines, this app will not run
for one particular user. When logged on as her, the WowExec process, ntvdm,
etc. do not start when she tries to start the program. It works for every
other user.

I notice at least one post below where someone has started having problems
with the 16 bit subsystem and I have seen that problem here. This is where
for some reason, autoexec.nt or other 16 bit OS files are missing. That
problem is pretty straight forward (though I don't know why it seems to be
happening a lot.)

The problem I'm having with this user is clearly a different one. I need to
know what exists in a user profile that affects 16 bit apps. I'm guessing
there must be something because this problem clearly affects only this user.
I have confirmed that the problem isn't her shortcut.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Try creating a new user account for her and see if that resolves the
issue.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Guest]

Oh, I have no doubt that creating a new profile would solve the problem,
which amounts to the same thing. As I said, it was fine for other users, so
I essentially have already done that.

Anyway, I got a longer look at the machine today and it may be virus
related. The Windows Update service and the McAfee Framework Service get
disabled on boot up and some other things just don't look right.

It turns out that there was another user in the organization that had the
same problem with the 16 bit subsystem and it was one of the Bagel Virus
varaints that caused the problem, for some reason.

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

I turns out that this machine was infected with a Bagle variant. I can't
explain why that would kill the 16 bit subsystem for one user, but it
probably had something to do with the machine getting infected while she was
logged on.

 

[Ron Martell]

I turns out that this machine was infected with a Bagle variant. I can't
explain why that would kill the 16 bit subsystem for one user, but it
probably had something to do with the machine getting infected while she was
logged on.

Thanks for posting the solution back here.

It is unusual for a virus infestation to affect only a single user on
a machine.

Is that computer rebooted when the user is switched, or do they use
"fast user switching"?

If the machine is rebooted when switching users and if the virus was
in the user files for that one user then this could account for the
situation.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm