Article ID: 305521 - Last Review: December 3, 2007 - Revision: 8.4

"16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem" error message when you run an MS-DOS or 16-Bit Windows program in Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server

View products that this article applies to.
System TipThis article applies to a different operating system than the one you are using. Article content that may not be relevant to you is disabled.
This article was previously published under Q305521
For a Microsoft Windows XP version of this article, see 324767  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324767/ ) .
Expand all | Collapse all

SYMPTOMS

If you try to run an MS-DOS-based or a 16-bit Windows-based command on a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based or a Microsoft Windows 2000 Server-based computer, you may receive one of the following error messages:
16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem
path to the program you are trying to start or install
C:\WINNT\system32\config.nt The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.
16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem
path to the program you are trying to run
config.nt The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.
16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem
path to the program you are trying to run
C:\WINNT\system32\autoexec.nt The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.
You may be prompted either to quit the program or to ignore the error message, but the program quits after either option.
Back to the top

CAUSE

This issue can occur if any one of the following files are missing, damaged, or not located in the %systemroot%\System32 folder:
  • Autoexec.nt
  • Command.com
  • Config.nt
Back to the top

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
  1. Insert the Windows Server 2003 CD or the Windows 2000 Server CD into the CD drive.
  2. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
  3. Type the following commands, and press ENTER after each command:
    expand D:\i386\config.nt_ %systemroot%\system32\config.nt

    expand D:\i386\autoexec.nt_ %systemroot%\system32\autoexec.nt

    expand D:\i386\command.co_ %systemroot%\system32\command.com

    exit
    Note The description of this procedure assumes that your CD drive letter is D. If your CD drive letter is not D, substitute the correct drive letter.
  4. Start or install the program. If the issue is resolved, do not complete the remaining steps. If the issue is not resolved, go to the next step.
  5. Start Notepad, and then type the following commands.

    Note The Command.com file is not edited or created in the following process. Because of this, you may have to expand the file from your CD-ROM. See step 16 for instructions on how to do this.

    dos=high, umb
device=%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\himem.sys
files=40
  6. On the File menu, click Save As.
  7. In the File Name box, type Config.nt, and then click Save. Close the Config.nt file.
  8. On the File menu, click New.
  9. In the new blank document, type the following entries. 

    @echo off
    lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\mscdexnt.exe
    lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\redir
    lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\dosx
    SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 P330 T3
  10. On the File menu, click Save As.
  11. In the File Name box, type Autoexec.nt, and then click Save. Close the Autoexec.nt file.
  12. Start Windows Explorer. Locate the Config.nt file, right-click the Config.nt file, and then click Copy.
  13. Right-click the %systemroot%\System32 folder, and then click Paste.
  14. Locate the Autoexec.nt file, right-click the Autoexec.nt file, and then click Copy.
  15. Right-click the %systemroot%\System32 folder, and then click Paste.
  16. Expand the Command.com file from the Windows Server 2003 or the Windows 2000 Server CD-ROM. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
    2. expand cd-rom:\i386\command.co_ drive_letter:\system_root\system32\command.com 

exit
  17. Verify the existence of the folder to which the TEMP and TMP user environment variables are mapped. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.
    2. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab, and then click Environment Variables.
    3. In the User variables for UserName section, locate the TEMP and TMP variables. They are listed in the Variable column.
    4. For the TEMP and TMP variables, note the corresponding folder that is listed in the Value column.
    5. Start Windows Explorer. To do this, click Start, click Run, type explorer in the Open box, and then click OK.
    6. Locate the folder that is specified for the TEMP and TMP variables. Make sure that this folder exists.

      Note To locate the folder, you may have to turn on the feature that shows hidden files and folders. To do this, follow these steps:
      1. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab.
      2. Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click OK.
  18. Restart your computer.
Back to the top
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Standard Edition
Back to the top
Keywords: 
kberrmsg kbprb KB305521
Back to the top