Missing COMMAND.COM Causes Hidden Console Error

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This article was previously published under Q142271

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SYMPTOMS

If you remove or rename %SystemRoot%\System32\Command.com, the following error message appears when you start a 16-bit Windows or MS-DOS program:

16 bit MS-DOS Subsystem: config.nt. The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows Applications.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, use one of the following methods:

Run the Windows Emergency Repair process and verify system files. Restart Windows and run the program again.

-or-
Expand Command.co_ from the Windows CD-ROM to %SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\Command.com.

-or-
Expand Autoexec.nt_ and Config.nt_ from the Windows CD-ROM disc to %SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\Autoexec.nt and Config.nt, respectively.

For additional information about trouble-shooting steps for running 16-bit Windows programs, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

103656 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/103656/EN-US/ ) Troubleshooting 16-Bit Windows Applications Under Windows