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General discussion

16 bit Windows Subsystem

Feb 3, 2005 6:29AM PST

Hi, I hope someone can help me.

Recently, everytime I boot up, I get the following msg box :-

"C:\windows\system32\autoexec.NT. The System file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and MS-Windows applications. Choose "Close" to terminate the application"

The choices are "Close" or "Ignore".

When I come to load a program from my STARTUP menu, this appears again. I don't know what I've installed (or uninstalled) has given this, but does any1 know how I track this down and delelte the message?

Many Many Thks,

rgds,

chandwpl

Discussion is locked

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Re: 16 bit Windows Subsystem
Feb 3, 2005 7:17AM PST

You may want to go to the link below and download "XP_Fix.EXE".
"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.

We recommend that you download this file and save it to your desktop or to another location where you can find it. Double click on the file to run it once it's downloaded. If problem reoccurs in the future, simply re-run this program".

http://www.visualtour.com/downloads/

The Microsoft link below explains that error message.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324767

The link below explains what may possibly be causing the problem.

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a448971496ce38b5

Tufenuf

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Re: 16 bit Windows Subsystem
Feb 4, 2005 5:22AM PST

Thanks Tufenuf!! This worked a treat. Many Thks again,

rgds,

chandwpl

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Thank you!
Feb 4, 2005 7:54PM PST

The XP_Fix worked like a charm! Thank you so much!

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(NT) (NT) Glad it worked & Glad to help.
Feb 4, 2005 9:15PM PST
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HELP HELP..same error as above except for windows 2000
Mar 4, 2005 3:58AM PST

Ok I got the same message as the person who started this thread except im using windows 2000 NT is there a quick fix for this...

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Same fix but manually
Mar 4, 2005 4:08AM PST

At a DOS prompt
expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\autoexec.nt_ c:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt
This is assuming you have the Windows cd.
The goal is to get a fresh copy of the autoexec.nt into the c:\windows\system32 folder.

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thank you
Mar 4, 2005 4:19AM PST

Thanks I was hoping for an easier fix like the first one..lol

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it was easier than I thought
Mar 4, 2005 4:58AM PST

Im on a network..so I went into the c drive of one of the computers that had the good file and I replaced it in the computer with the bad file and it worked like a charm... I didn't need the cd..thanks for your help..

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ok the fix worked but......
Mar 7, 2005 2:01AM PST

I replaced the bad file and it did work..the question I have is.. and it might sound dumb..but on the network everyone is windows NT but the one with the 16 bit error is windows 2000.. I replaced the file with the autoexec.NT from a windows NT OS in to the windows 2000 computer...Im having a problem with MYOB on that computer now..it opens and able to work on it, but anything you do on that computer(ie invoices) it dosen't record it ..you can't find it on any of the other computers.. like when he does an invoice i go into myob from my computer and look up that invoice number and its not there like it has never been done...hope this makes sense, but would it have anything to do with replacing the autoexec with the autoexec.NT

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2 things.
Mar 7, 2005 2:05AM PST

Is this MYOB a network version? Some try to use a single user software over a network and see such ills. Try this. Make the change, exit the program. Start the program on the other machine and see if its there. Not there? Call MYOB to see if you are using their product properly.

The second item is the cause of this file disappearing is a pest. This pest has been spyware, trojan and virus. Did you find the cause?

Bob

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ok
Mar 7, 2005 2:26AM PST

oh yeah I found the pest it was a virus...32.randex..it has been taken out ..and the MYOB is not a network version it is installed individually on our computers..we have been using the product for a few yrs without problem..its just been since this virus..and took out the autoexec..it was working fine one day and the next had a 16 bit error.. thats when i replaced the autoexec file with mine..but like i said mine is windows NT and his is windows 2000..ok I tried the first part to...it didn't work..he puts in an invoice and he is the only one who sees it...he can't see anything we do either... like i said we been using this system for yrs..and just since i replaced his plus9 file(holds myob program) and the autoexec..file that its doing this...
thanks

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The NT clue.
Mar 7, 2005 2:51AM PST

NT 4? has an issue. Changes like that require you reapply the latest SP since SPs ... are not sticky like they are in Windows 2000.

Bob