Unable to run DOS programs

[Trent]

I can open the prompt only by clicking on run and
typing "cmd" but if I try to execute a .exe file from
that prompt OR try to open the prompt by clicking
on"command.com" then I get the following message: On the
very top of the message box it says "16 bit Windows
Subsystem" And the actual message is "config.nt. The
system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and
Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'close' to
terminate the application" And I have two buttons, one
labeled "close" and one labeled "ignore" and no matter
which one I select, the prompt closes and I am back where
I started in Windows. I also get this same message from
clicking on an EXE file from a CD which came with my
college textbook which contains a digital circuit program
which I really need to study and learn how to use! Any
help will be VERY VERY appreciated, thanks! -Trent

 

[Alex Nichol]

I can open the prompt only by clicking on run and
typing "cmd" but if I try to execute a .exe file from
that prompt OR try to open the prompt by clicking
on"command.com" then I get the following message: On the
very top of the message box it says "16 bit Windows
Subsystem" And the actual message is "config.nt. The
system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and
Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'close' to
terminate the application"

Note that cmd.exe and command.com are different command interpreters -
command.com is a genuine old SO 5, which does not understand long file
names.

Check out the windows\system32\config.nt and autoexec.nt files with
Notepad. Something has got into one of them that does not belong

Have (apart from the large number of REM lines) just
EMM = B=4000 RAM
(note the exact spaces - either side of the first = and before RAM,
none next to the second =) and

dos=high, umb
device=%SystemRoot%\system32\himem.sys
files=40
(or higher files= if needed)

and in autoexec.nt have

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

with other earlier lh lines REM ed out, and then any SET or PATH lines
that may already be present at the end.