NTVDM Error Message

Beginning about a week ago the following message has been popping up
several times a day at seemingly random times.

"16 bit Windows Subsystem

NTVDM has encountered a System Error
The system cannot find the file specified.
Choose 'Close' to terminate the application."

I don't know what 'file' they are referring to. I can either 'Close'
or 'Ignore' the message. I usually click 'Close.' The popup goes away
and nothing else seems to happen. It seems to be just a nuisance. But,
is something going on that I'm not aware of?

"Ranger_Rick" wrote:

> Beginning about a week ago the following message has been popping up
> several times a day at seemingly random times.
>
> "16 bit Windows Subsystem
>
> NTVDM has encountered a System Error
> The system cannot find the file specified.
> Choose 'Close' to terminate the application."
>
> I don't know what 'file' they are referring to. I can either 'Close'
> or 'Ignore' the message. I usually click 'Close.' The popup goes away
> and nothing else seems to happen. It seems to be just a nuisance. But,
> is something going on that I'm not aware of?

You looks like having a 16 bit program running in 32 bit environment or your
system is infected with viruses?.
Do you have Norton installed on your machine?.
Troubleshooting NTVDM and WOW Startup Errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q220155/

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156687

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/245184
Look in the event viewer for error messages and post them in your next post.
nass

On Mar 1, 12:56 pm, nass <n...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> "Ranger_Rick" wrote:
> > Beginning about a week ago the following message has been popping up
> > several times a day at seemingly random times.
>
> > "16 bit Windows Subsystem
>
> > NTVDM has encountered a System Error
> > The system cannot find the file specified.
> > Choose 'Close' to terminate the application."
>
> > I don't know what 'file' they are referring to. I can either 'Close'
> > or 'Ignore' the message. I usually click 'Close.' The popup goes away
> > and nothing else seems to happen. It seems to be just a nuisance. But,
> > is something going on that I'm not aware of?
>
> You looks like having a 16 bit program running in 32 bit environment or your
> system is infected with viruses?.
> Do you have Norton installed on your machine?.
> Troubleshooting NTVDM and WOW Startup Errorshttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/q220155/
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156687
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/245184
> Look in the event viewer for error messages and post them in your next post.
> nass

Thank you for your response. I have Norton SystemWorks 2005 on my
system. I checked the 3 links you mentioned. The first article seemed
to apply only to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition,
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition &
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition

I have Windows XP. I did run Sysedit.exe as they suggest and it ran
fine.

The second article refers to files Config.nt, Autoexec.nt &
Command.com. They all have the date of the original installation and
seem okay. One interesting item: Autoexec.nt contains a reference to
NTVDM. It has the following line:
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 P330 T3
and it says that that line is there to "enable Sound Blaster 2.0
support on NTVDM." and furthermore it says that "NTVDM supports Sound
Blaster 2.0 only." I don't know what that all means, but maybe
something is wrong with the SB drivers, or something? (I have
SoundBlaster Audigy 2.)

The 3rd article refers to an error message about "encountering an
illegal instruction." That doesn't match the message I got. Their
"solution" refers to Windows NT Workstation 4.0 or Windows NT Server
4.0, neither of which I have.

Here is a typical event viewer entry which I get frequently:

Event Type: Information
Event Source: Application Popup
Event Category: None
Event ID: 26
Date: 2/28/2007
Time: 3:12:49 PM
User: N/A
Computer: RICHARD
Description:
Application popup: 16 bit Windows Subsystem : NTVDM has encountered a
System Error
The system cannot find the file specified.
Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Here's another entry which I think I only got once:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Error
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1000
Date: 2/21/2007
Time: 9:59:57 PM
User: N/A
Computer: RICHARD
Description:
Faulting application ntvdm.exe, version 5.1.2600.2180, faulting module
ntvdm.exe, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x0000f557.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c ion Fail
0010: 75 72 65 20 20 6e 74 76 ure ntv
0018: 64 6d 2e 65 78 65 20 35 dm.exe 5
0020: 2e 31 2e 32 36 30 30 2e .1.2600.
0028: 32 31 38 30 20 69 6e 20 2180 in
0030: 6e 74 76 64 6d 2e 65 78 ntvdm.ex
0038: 65 20 35 2e 31 2e 32 36 e 5.1.26
0040: 30 30 2e 32 31 38 30 20 00.2180
0048: 61 74 20 6f 66 66 73 65 at offse
0050: 74 20 30 30 30 30 66 35 t 0000f5
0058: 35 37 0d 0a 57..

I don't know what to do with these.

Hi Richards,
Then try uninstall and reinstall your Sound card and also look for Firmware
updates for your sound card Specs.
HTH.
nass


"Ranger_Rick" wrote:

> On Mar 1, 12:56 pm, nass <n...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > "Ranger_Rick" wrote:
> > > Beginning about a week ago the following message has been popping up
> > > several times a day at seemingly random times.
> >
> > > "16 bit Windows Subsystem
> >
> > > NTVDM has encountered a System Error
> > > The system cannot find the file specified.
> > > Choose 'Close' to terminate the application."
> >
> > > I don't know what 'file' they are referring to. I can either 'Close'
> > > or 'Ignore' the message. I usually click 'Close.' The popup goes away
> > > and nothing else seems to happen. It seems to be just a nuisance. But,
> > > is something going on that I'm not aware of?
> >
> > You looks like having a 16 bit program running in 32 bit environment or your
> > system is infected with viruses?.
> > Do you have Norton installed on your machine?.
> > Troubleshooting NTVDM and WOW Startup Errorshttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/q220155/
> >
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156687
> >
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/245184
> > Look in the event viewer for error messages and post them in your next post.
> > nass
>
> Thank you for your response. I have Norton SystemWorks 2005 on my
> system. I checked the 3 links you mentioned. The first article seemed
> to apply only to:
>
> Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition,
> Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition &
> Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
>
> I have Windows XP. I did run Sysedit.exe as they suggest and it ran
> fine.
>
> The second article refers to files Config.nt, Autoexec.nt &
> Command.com. They all have the date of the original installation and
> seem okay. One interesting item: Autoexec.nt contains a reference to
> NTVDM. It has the following line:
> SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 P330 T3
> and it says that that line is there to "enable Sound Blaster 2.0
> support on NTVDM." and furthermore it says that "NTVDM supports Sound
> Blaster 2.0 only." I don't know what that all means, but maybe
> something is wrong with the SB drivers, or something? (I have
> SoundBlaster Audigy 2.)
>
> The 3rd article refers to an error message about "encountering an
> illegal instruction." That doesn't match the message I got. Their
> "solution" refers to Windows NT Workstation 4.0 or Windows NT Server
> 4.0, neither of which I have.
>
> Here is a typical event viewer entry which I get frequently:
>
> Event Type: Information
> Event Source: Application Popup
> Event Category: None
> Event ID: 26
> Date: 2/28/2007
> Time: 3:12:49 PM
> User: N/A
> Computer: RICHARD
> Description:
> Application popup: 16 bit Windows Subsystem : NTVDM has encountered a
> System Error
> The system cannot find the file specified.
> Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> Here's another entry which I think I only got once:
>
> Event Type: Error
> Event Source: Application Error
> Event Category: None
> Event ID: 1000
> Date: 2/21/2007
> Time: 9:59:57 PM
> User: N/A
> Computer: RICHARD
> Description:
> Faulting application ntvdm.exe, version 5.1.2600.2180, faulting module
> ntvdm.exe, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x0000f557.
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
> Data:
> 0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
> 0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c ion Fail
> 0010: 75 72 65 20 20 6e 74 76 ure ntv
> 0018: 64 6d 2e 65 78 65 20 35 dm.exe 5
> 0020: 2e 31 2e 32 36 30 30 2e .1.2600.
> 0028: 32 31 38 30 20 69 6e 20 2180 in
> 0030: 6e 74 76 64 6d 2e 65 78 ntvdm.ex
> 0038: 65 20 35 2e 31 2e 32 36 e 5.1.26
> 0040: 30 30 2e 32 31 38 30 20 00.2180
> 0048: 61 74 20 6f 66 66 73 65 at offse
> 0050: 74 20 30 30 30 30 66 35 t 0000f5
> 0058: 35 37 0d 0a 57..
>
> I don't know what to do with these.
>
>

Ranger_Rick wrote:
> Beginning about a week ago the following message has been popping up
> several times a day at seemingly random times.
>
> "16 bit Windows Subsystem
>
> NTVDM has encountered a System Error
> The system cannot find the file specified.
> Choose 'Close' to terminate the application."
>
> I don't know what 'file' they are referring to. I can either 'Close'
> or 'Ignore' the message. I usually click 'Close.' The popup goes away
> and nothing else seems to happen. It seems to be just a nuisance. But,
> is something going on that I'm not aware of?

Author: Microsoft Corp.
Part Of: Windows

Description:
ntvdm.exe is process that belongs to the Windows 16-bit Virtual Machine. It
provides an environment for a 16-bit process to execute on a 32-bit
platform. This program is important for the stable and secure running of
your computer and should not be terminated

IT loads at boot whether you need it or not.

Event Viewer will likely have an errormessage somewhere in its list, tellin
gyou in the error's properties what file it's looking for.

Pop`

> IT loads at boot whether you need it or not.

ntvdm.exe does NOT load at boot on my machine. It may on machines that have
16-bit programs set to run at boot or on machines that are infested with
malware.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:%23x9V0vOXHHA.1200@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl,
Poprivet <poprivet@devnull.spamcop.net> hunted and pecked:
> Ranger_Rick wrote:
>> Beginning about a week ago the following message has been popping up
>> several times a day at seemingly random times.
>>
>> "16 bit Windows Subsystem
>>
>> NTVDM has encountered a System Error
>> The system cannot find the file specified.
>> Choose 'Close' to terminate the application."
>>
>> I don't know what 'file' they are referring to. I can either 'Close'
>> or 'Ignore' the message. I usually click 'Close.' The popup goes away
>> and nothing else seems to happen. It seems to be just a nuisance. But,
>> is something going on that I'm not aware of?
>
> Author: Microsoft Corp.
> Part Of: Windows
>
> Description:
> ntvdm.exe is process that belongs to the Windows 16-bit Virtual Machine.
> It provides an environment for a 16-bit process to execute on a 32-bit
> platform. This program is important for the stable and secure running of
> your computer and should not be terminated
>
> IT loads at boot whether you need it or not.
>
> Event Viewer will likely have an errormessage somewhere in its list,
> tellin gyou in the error's properties what file it's looking for.
>
> Pop`

On Mar 3, 10:22 am, "Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel...@comcast.net> wrote:
> > IT loads at boot whether you need it or not.
>
> ntvdm.exe does NOT load at boot on my machine. It may on machines that have
> 16-bit programs set to run at boot or on machines that are infested with
> malware.
>
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>
> Wes
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>
> Innews:%23x9V0vOXHHA.1200@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl,
> Poprivet <popri...@devnull.spamcop.net> hunted and pecked:
>
>
>
> > Ranger_Rick wrote:
> >> Beginning about a week ago the following message has been popping up
> >> several times a day at seemingly random times.
>
> >> "16 bit Windows Subsystem
>
> >> NTVDM has encountered a System Error
> >> The system cannot find the file specified.
> >> Choose 'Close' to terminate the application."
>
> >> I don't know what 'file' they are referring to. I can either 'Close'
> >> or 'Ignore' the message. I usually click 'Close.' The popup goes away
> >> and nothing else seems to happen. It seems to be just a nuisance. But,
> >> is something going on that I'm not aware of?
>
> > Author: Microsoft Corp.
> > Part Of: Windows
>
> > Description:
> > ntvdm.exe is process that belongs to the Windows 16-bit Virtual Machine.
> > It provides an environment for a 16-bit process to execute on a 32-bit
> > platform. This program is important for the stable and secure running of
> > your computer and should not be terminated
>
> > IT loads at boot whether you need it or not.
>
> > Event Viewer will likely have an errormessage somewhere in its list,
> > tellin gyou in the error's properties what file it's looking for.
>
> > Pop`- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I rebooted a couple of times and the problem seems to have gone away.
Thanks to all of you for your help. Sorry for the late response. I've
been away.