16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem

edited December 2005 in Science & Tech
Everytime I try and load a cd into my ROM drive, I get this message:

16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem
path to the program that you are trying to start or install
C:\Windows\System32\Autoexec.nt The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.

I can 'Close' or 'Ignore'. Both close the autorun.

I've been directed to the Microsoft help site, but that doesn't seem to be helping me at all.

The directions are somewhat confusing and they seem to assume that we know more than we might.

Comments

  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited October 2005
    what OS are you running?
  • edited October 2005
    xp
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited October 2005
    Does this happen with every CD, or just some of them?

    You didn't by chance load the DOS drivers for your cdrom drive from the floppy they (usually) include, did you?

    Check the root of your C:\ drive and see what file size is reported for the following files:

    CONFIG.SYS
    AUTOEXEC.BAT
    IO.SYS
    MSDOS.SYS

    These are legacy files used for DOS compatibility and are rarely needed these days (don't delete them, though). If any of them are larger than zero bytes you may have a stray entry trying to force your cdrom drive into DOS mode.
  • edited November 2005
    profdlp wrote:
    Does this happen with every CD, or just some of them?

    You didn't by chance load the DOS drivers for your cdrom drive from the floppy they (usually) include, did you?

    Check the root of your C:\ drive and see what file size is reported for the following files:

    CONFIG.SYS
    AUTOEXEC.BAT
    IO.SYS
    MSDOS.SYS

    These are legacy files used for DOS compatibility and are rarely needed these days (don't delete them, though). If any of them are larger than zero bytes you may have a stray entry trying to force your cdrom drive into DOS mode.

    It happens with only a few CDs that I run and I have one program on my CPU that it happens with.

    I did not upload any of these programs with a floppy. I never use floppies unless I have to transfer some files.

    I don't know what you mean by checking the root for the file sizes.

    Also, I never got an email telling me about your reply, so that's why it's taken nearly 2 months to reply.
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited November 2005
    Check the file it mentions and make sure it matches:

    [php]@echo off

    REM AUTOEXEC.BAT is not used to initialize the MS-DOS environment.
    REM AUTOEXEC.NT is used to initialize the MS-DOS environment unless a
    REM different startup file is specified in an application's PIF.

    REM Install CD ROM extensions
    lh %SystemRoot%\system32\mscdexnt.exe

    REM Install network redirector (load before dosx.exe)
    lh %SystemRoot%\system32\redir

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

    REM The following line enables Sound Blaster 2.0 support on NTVDM.
    REM The command for setting the BLASTER environment is as follows:
    REM SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 P330
    REM where:
    REM A specifies the sound blaster's base I/O port
    REM I specifies the interrupt request line
    REM D specifies the 8-bit DMA channel
    REM P specifies the MPU-401 base I/O port
    REM T specifies the type of sound blaster card
    REM 1 - Sound Blaster 1.5
    REM 2 - Sound Blaster Pro I
    REM 3 - Sound Blaster 2.0
    REM 4 - Sound Blaster Pro II
    REM 6 - SOund Blaster 16/AWE 32/32/64
    REM
    REM The default value is A220 I5 D1 T3 and P330. If any of the switches is
    REM left unspecified, the default value will be used. (NOTE, since all the
    REM ports are virtualized, the information provided here does not have to
    REM match the real hardware setting.) NTVDM supports Sound Blaster 2.0 only.
    REM The T switch must be set to 3, if specified.
    SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 P330 T3

    REM To disable the sound blaster 2.0 support on NTVDM, specify an invalid
    REM SB base I/O port address. For example:
    REM SET BLASTER=A0
    if NOT "" == "%Kali%" LH %Kali%KALINT.EXE %Kali%DLL\KALIVDD.DLL
    [/php]
  • edited November 2005
    Yeah, mine doesn't have all that.

    The Microsoft help site said to create a new text file with the following text:

    @echo off
    lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\mscdexnt.exe
    lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\redir
    lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\dosx
    SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 P330 T3

    and that's all. Save As ... autoexec.nt

    What's with the different colors?
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited November 2005
    It happens with only a few CDs that I run and I have one program on my CPU that it happens with.
    Name the programs. If they are old they may be looking for legacy cdrom drivers.
    I did not upload any of these programs with a floppy. I never use floppies unless I have to transfer some files.
    I should have included CD's in that comment. Either way, if you haven't mistakenly loaded cdrom drivers for DOS or Win3.x it shouldn't be a problem. It was more troublesome a few years back, but many people installed legacy drivers for their brand new drive, then had compatibility and/or performance issues afterwards.
    I don't know what you mean by checking the root for the file sizes.
    Open Windows Explorer and click on the C: drive on the left-hand side. Make sure you go to Tools>>>Folder Options>>>View and enable viewing of Hidden and System files. You should see some old DOS-based files like MSDOS.SYS, IO.SYS, and CONFIG.SYS. If any of them are larger than zero bytes it might be worth a shot to investigate them further. Unless you have some really old hardware or software requiring DOS-mode drivers or settings, any entries there are more likely than not to cause problems.
    Also, I never got an email telling me about your reply, so that's why it's taken nearly 2 months to reply.
    Go to your User CP here at Short-Media and make sure email notification is turned on. :)
  • edited November 2005
    Just in the C: drive, I do not see any of the files you mentioned. I know the config, autoexec.nt files are in my WINDOWS/system32 folder. They are 63 and 159 bytes, respectively.

    I had problems primarily with a game disc of mine, Vampire: The Masquerade. Also, I downloaded a super old version of battle chess that was originally on a 3.5 disk and that gave me the same error.

    I did get an email to this last reply, but the previous ones I did not, though in the past I had always received emails from the forums.

    Hmm.
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited November 2005
    ...I had problems primarily with a game disc of mine, Vampire: The Masquerade. Also, I downloaded a super old version of battle chess that was originally on a 3.5 disk and that gave me the same error...
    It sounds like you may need to run the programs you're having trouble with in Compatibilty Mode. If you right-click the shortcut for the program, then go to the Compatibility tab you'll see a bunch of options. If you can determine the OS which the program was written for you should be able to adjust things accordingly.
  • edited November 2005
    I set up one of the .exe for it's original platform [win95] but I still get the same message.

    The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited November 2005
    Make a new folder somewhere, copy the contents of the disc (or floppy disk) to it, set the installation program for compatibility mode for DOS, then try again. If that's a no-go, try Win3.x or Win95. You might also try fiddling with the display settings in compatibility mode, too.
  • GobblesGobbles Ventura California
    edited November 2005
    What by chance are the titles you are trying to load that are causing this issue.
  • edited December 2005
    Gobbles wrote:
    What by chance are the titles you are trying to load that are causing this issue.

    Primarily, I'm having troubles with my printer software. I have a Lexmark Z25/35 and whenever I try to re-install my software, I get the AUTOEXEC.NT error. I click on the setup program, it opens up the installation window, but then when I click on Install, I get the error.

    I just need to get this solved and I don't seem to be getting any results.
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    I'd go to the Lexmark site and download the latest version of the drivers from there and see if those work, at least then you'll know you have the latest version of the software too.
  • lemonlimelemonlime Canada Member
    edited December 2005
    Check your C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder for a file called AUTOEXEC.NT. If it does not exist, do a search on your hard drive for it. My brother's PC had a similar issue, and I found the file in his 'repair' folder. I simply copied it back to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 and all was well. If you have another PC in the house, copy the file from it (so long as the OS is the same version).. Also, you could ask a friend to copy it for you..
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    lemonlime wrote:
    Check your C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder for a file called AUTOEXEC.NT. If it does not exist, do a search on your hard drive for it. My brother's PC had a similar issue, and I found the file in his 'repair' folder. I simply copied it back to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 and all was well. If you have another PC in the house, copy the file from it (so long as the OS is the same version).. Also, you could ask a friend to copy it for you..

    He's already got it, hence what he posted about 10 posts back, he just needs to save that, but I'm not sure if he already did...
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