16 Bit Windows Subsytem error

[Guest]

I am trying to install a program off of a CD rom and I get this message that
says
{16 Bit Windows Subsystem: C:\\windows\system32\autoexec.nt. The system
file is not suitable for running MS-DOS & Microsoft windows applications.
Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.}

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Seems to be an epidemic lately....

This can be caused by a trojan/virus/worm.

Get rid of the trojan/virus/worm.

Update your antivirus software and run a full system scan.

Copy the autoexec.nt file from C:\Windows\Repair to C:\Windows\System32
And set Attributes for autoexec.nt to Read-only.

Or %systemroot%\Repair to %systemroot%\System32

Read-only
[[Specifies whether this file is read-only, which means that it cannot be
changed or accidentally deleted.]]

1. Right click the file.
2. Properties.
3. Select: Read-only.
4. Click: Apply.
5. Click: OK.

16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem error while installing or running a DOS application
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/16bit.htm

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

Error message when you install or start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based
program
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324767

"16 Bit MS-DOS Subsystem" Error Message When You Install a Program
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314452

Troubleshooting MS-DOS-based programs in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314106


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Jim Byrd]

Hi Slam - 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.

 

[Plato]

I am trying to install a program off of a CD rom and I get this message that
says
{16 Bit Windows Subsystem: C:\\windows\system32\autoexec.nt. The system
file is not suitable for running MS-DOS & Microsoft windows applications.
Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.}

http://www.bootdisk.com/xptop20.htm#12

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Windupdater is not the only baddie, can also be caused by these...
W32.Alcan.A, Win32.Alcan.A [Computer Associates], P2P-Worm.Win32.Alcan.a
[Kaspersky Lab], W32/Alcan.worm!p2p [McAfee], W32/Alcra-A [Sophos],
WORM_ALCAN.A [Trend Micro]

[[This worm drops the legitimate file compression DLL, BSZIP.DLL in the
Windows system folder. It does this so it can compress itself. It also drops
the following files in the Windows system folder:

CMD.COM
NETSTAT.COM
PING.COM
REGEDIT.COM
TASKKILL.COM
TASKLIST.COM
TRACERT.COM

These files contain the string MZ so that this worm can disable the
following Windows tool applications:

CMD.EXE
NETSTAT.EXE
PING.EXE
REGEDIT.EXE
TASKKILL.EXE
TASKLIST.EXE
TRACERT.EXE ]]
From...
WORM_ALCAN.A - Technical details
http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=WORM_ALCAN.A&VSect=T

Symantec Security Response - W32.Alcra.A
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.alcra.a.html

Seeing this quite a bit lately...

You have a virus. cmd.com is *NOT* an XP file.

You have a trojan/worm/virus. cmd.exe is not part of the 16 bit MS-DOS
Subsystem. autoexec.nt and config.nt have nothing to do with cmd.exe.

When you type cmd in the Start | Run box, XP finds cmd.com instead of
cmd.exe. When a command is typed without an extension, XP looks for the
..com extension first before it looks for the .exe extension, if it finds
cmd.com, it will not even look for cmd.exe. Because XP finds cmd.com XP
thinks that it needs autoexec.nt and config.nt to run cmd.com.

cmd.com is *NOT* an XP file, it's added by a trojan/worm/virus.

If you were to type cmd.exe in the Start | Run box, cmd.exe might open if
the trojan/worm/virus hasn't rendered it useless.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In