Cannot run 16-bit programs

[Tom Doyle]

I cannot run any 16-bit Windows programs. I have tried the compatibility
mode settings to no avail. Whenever I run a 16-bit program (this can be a
Window program, not DOS), I get the following error message: "The Win16
Subsystem was unable to enter Protected Mode, DOSX.EXE must be in your
AUTOEXEC.NT and present in your PATH." How do I fix this?

 

[Mark Mandell]

-----Original Message-----
I cannot run any 16-bit Windows programs. I have tried the compatibility
mode settings to no avail. Whenever I run a 16-bit program (this can be a
Window program, not DOS), I get the following error message: "The Win16
Subsystem was unable to enter Protected Mode, DOSX.EXE must be in your
AUTOEXEC.NT and present in your PATH." How do I fix this?

.

A way to around this:

1)Create a shortcut to the program, right click the
shortcut icon, and then choose properties.
2)On the Shortcut tab, click the Advanced button.
3)Select the Run in Separate Memory space check box.
4)Click OK and then close all open dialog boxes to apply
the change.

 

[Tom Doyle]

That does not seem to work. The monitor goes to black (attempting a DOS
full-screen, I assume) and then goes by to Windows with no result. Odd thing
is, I used to be able to run 16-bit programs fine in XP a while back.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I cannot run any 16-bit Windows programs. I have tried the compatibility
mode settings to no avail. Whenever I run a 16-bit program (this can be a
Window program, not DOS), I get the following error message: "The Win16
Subsystem was unable to enter Protected Mode, DOSX.EXE must be in your
AUTOEXEC.NT and present in your PATH."

First check the windows\system32\autoexec.nt file with Notepad

It should include a pair of lines

REM Install DPMI support
lh %SystemRoot%\system32\dosx

With NO REM on the second; and check windows\system32\config.nt
which should include (at the end)

dos=high, umb
device=%SystemRoot%\system32\himem.sys
files=40

If either file is missing, make one, to include those lines

And in any shortcut to a DOS program that still gives trouble, r-click
Properties, on the Program page click Advanced, and make sure that the
two lines for autoexec and config point correctly to those files - eg
%SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT