Game installing errors...

[chewie8008]

I'm getting an error when trying to install certain PC games. Here is the error it is giving me...

"16 bit Windows Subsystem

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" and I am then given a choice to close or ignore. Either way the game will not continue with installation. I am trying to install a very low tech game, Sim Themepark. It also gave me the same errors with 2 other very low tech games. I was able to install the SIMS which has higher requirements than a few of the games I have been unable to install.

I followed the above C:/WINDOWS path and was unable to find a file named "AUTOEXEC.NT" I haven't really messed with any sort of programs/files in a long time, so i'm not sure what may have caused this...other than maybe spyware, I dunno...?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Prot]

If it needs to run in 16 bit mode, you are probably going to be out of luck, unless you can find a Win 9x or Me system.

[redwudz]

You can try 'compatibility mode' in XP. But we have no idea what your OS is because you haven't bothered to fill out your computer profile............

But Prot is likely right. 16 bit games will rarely run properly in a 32 bit OS without some sort of emulation.

[guns1inger]

Actually, you need to replace a core windows files, including command.com, config.nt and autoexec.nt. There is a reference in the MS knowledgebase about this problem. I see it fairly regularly as a lot of educational software is still 16-bit. The KB article is here http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324767

You should have it fixed at step 4.

[thevoelk]

Gunslinger is right. The only problem is that the executable file may be the one that is corrupting autoexec.nt. So you may have to repeatedly do this. There's an application where at my job that constantly does this. It works well, but you will need a real Windows installation CD, the restore cd for your computer, if it's a Dell, HP, etc, may not work since it's probably an image.

[smearbrick1]

I tried this method when attempting to install MDK on my XP machine. It did nothing to correct the issue with the error message. I even tried installing it using a DOS emulator... no dice (works for Quake though). I finally changed the setup.exe file to run in compatibility mode for Windows 95. This worked perfectly. As far as I know, I'm not sure many people have ever installed MDK on a Windows XP system sucessfully. I could be wrong though.

PS. If you ever get a chance, try out MDK for the PC. Great game.

[chewie8008]

Shouldn't it work on Windows 95/98? I tried the auto.nt and config.nt file changing, it didn't work. It allowed me to play for about 10 mintues, then when I tried it again later, same errors.

Anyways, it doesn't work on Win 2000 or XP, tried it on both. I'm wondering since that's the required specs the games give(win 95/98) if it'll work on 95/98. If so, how hard would it be to switch the OS from 2000 to 98? Never done it before...