System Error

[Randy]

I had to uninstall and then reinstall some software
programs and my printer. I used the uninstall utility in
the control panel. I may have deleted some files while
doing this that it said were probably not needed anymore.

Now when I insert the Canon Digital Camera disk (also
other software install disks) to install the zoom browser
and other canon utilities I get a system error message as
follows:

The Win16 Subsystem was unable to enter Protected
Mode,DOSX.EXE must be in your AUTOEXEC.NT and present in
your PATH.

I can access everything else on the disk including
manuals. What do I have to repair to overcome this problem?

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Randy.

What kinds of software are involved here? How old is the Canon (for
example) software, especially the actual device drivers? Have you been to
the Canon website and checked for current WinXP-compatible drivers and
related software for your hardware?

The Win16 Subsystem was unable to enter Protected
Mode,DOSX.EXE must be in your AUTOEXEC.NT and present in
your PATH.

This sounds like something that was designed for pre-95 Windows is trying to
run under WinXP - and knows it. The Win16 Subsystem and Protected Mode are
to allow WinXP to run that old hardware. Config.nt and Autoexec.nt are used
only in WinXP and only to allow WinXP to configure the "DOS" window to
accommodate the old devices.

You could spend a lot of time and effort trying to get your old drivers to
work in WinXP, but you'll be much happier sooner if you get the proper WinXP
drivers. Then COMPLETELY delete all your hardware drivers and related
software. Unplug the hardware and reboot at least once to let WinXP "clear
its head" and forget that such hardware was ever installed. Then plug in
the hardware again and let WinXP detect it on reboot and install the right
support for it.

This is not to say that old hardware won't work in WinXP. Most of it will,
but WinXP is built on the NT architecture, which deals with hardware much
differently than Win9x/ME, which were built on MS-DOS. Win9x/ME drivers
almost certainly will not work in WinXP. Hardware makers know this; they
also know that it is their responsibility to write drivers to support their
hardware. The hardware maker's website is almost always the best source of
drivers and other software to use with WinXP.

If you find (or suspect) that you have deleted some WinXP operating system
files, run the System File Checker. At the Run prompt, type: sfc /scannow
SFC will compare each WinXP file with the "known good" copy held in your
on-disk cache and replace any missing or damaged ones. Have your WinXP
CD-ROM at hand; SFC probably will need to see that.

RC

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Randy.

Thanks for clarifying which programs you are trying to run. I'm not
familiar with those utilities, but someone here might recognize them and
give you specific advice.

After typing "sfc /scannow" (without the quotes, but including the space
before the "/"), just click OK or press the Enter key.

When I click Start | Help and Support, and then type "system file checker "
(with or without the quotes) into the Search box and press Enter (or click
the green arrow), I get a list of 10 hits. The bottom one is for SFC. This
screen explains that "You must be logged on as a member of the
Administrators group to run sfc", which I failed to mention.

Computers that come with WinXP pre-installed usually have OEM versions of
Windows that have been customized by the Original Equipment Manufacturer
(such as Dell or HP - or your local computer assembler). Your particular
model may have some method other than SFC to restore the operating system
files. If you tell us the make and model of your computer, someone here
might know about special procedures for that product.

I'm still very surprised to see any current version of software expecting to
run "the Win16 Subsystem", Protected Mode, and Autoexec. I still think that
you should be asking Canon - not Microsoft - about this.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP

To clear up my original message. I had used this Canon disk previously on

my system and all programs installed perfect so I know this did work with XP
previously. The programs that I want to put on are Canon utilities the
zoombrowzer and photo edit utilities not the WIA drivers from the camera. I
use a cardreader to download my pics therefore do not reqiure the camera
drivers. The camera is the A40 which is XP compatable.

A question regarding your info on the system file checker. I tried to

run this and it would not work. Do I click start then choose run then
enter: sfc / scannow ? I could not get this to run. Is this exactly how I
should have done this? I checked the windows help and could not find
anything regarding "System File Checker".