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"The Win16 Subsystem was unable to enter Protected Mode" error in Windows NT Server or in Windows 2000

Article ID:103104
Last Review:February 20, 2007
Revision:5.2
This article was previously published under Q103104

SYMPTOMS

When the 16-bit Windows or Windows on Windows (WOW) subsystem starts, the following error message is displayed:

NOTE: The WOW subsystem may be started automatically when you start Windows NT or the first time you run a 16-bit Windows-based application.
The Win16 Subsystem was unable to enter Protected Mode, DOSX.EXE must be in your AUTOEXEC.NT and present in your PATH.

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CAUSE

One or more of the following conditions exists in Microsoft Windows NT or Windows NT Advanced Server:

HIMEM.SYS or DOSX.EXE is missing or corrupt in the SYSTEM32 directory.
HIMEM.SYS is not being loaded in the CONFIG.NT file.
DOSX.EXE is not being loaded in the AUTOEXEC.NT file.

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RESOLUTION

Make sure that the line, "device=%SystemRoot%\system32\himem.sys," exists in the CONFIG.NT file.

Make sure that the line, "lh %SystemRoot%\system32\dosx.exe," exists in the AUTOEXEC.NT file.

Expand HIMEM.SYS, DOSX.EXE, or both from the Windows NT setup disks or CD- ROM disc if either or both are missing from the SYSTEM32 directory.

For more information on DOSX.EXE, query on the following keywords in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   WOW and 16-BIT
				

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APPLIES TO
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51

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Keywords: 
KB103104

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