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Q142026: Err: "Hidden Console of WOW VDM" Running 16-bit or MS-DOS App

Article: Q142026
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:3.5,3.51,4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv kbWinNT400sp4fix
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When running a 16-bit Windows application or an MS-DOS application, you may
receive one of the following error messages:

  Hidden console of WOWVDM NT VDM has encountered a system error. The handle is
  invalid. Choose Close to terminate the application.

  Hidden console of WOW VDM 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.

  Hidden Console of WOW VDM 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.

  Hidden Console of WOW VDM error while setting up environment for the
  application. Choose Close to terminate the application.

  Config.nt The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft
  Windows Applications.

CAUSE
=====

The symptoms above may occur for one or more of the following reasons:

- One or all of the following files are corrupt or missing from the
  %Systemroot\System32 folder:

  Autoexec.nt
  Config.nt
  Command.com

- Windows NT is installed on a removable drive such as Bernoulli, IOMEGA, or
  SyQuest drive.

- You attempt to install another version of Windows NT on a removable drive.

- Pagefile.sys resides on a removable drive.

RESOLUTION
==========

To correct this problem, perform one or more of the following:

- Run the emergency repair disk (ERD) to replace the missing or corrupt
  file(s). The ERD also verifies the integrity of Windows NT system files in
  general.

- Manually expand the Autoexec.nt, Config.nt, and Command.com files off the
  Windows NT CD-ROM.

- Move the paging file to a permanent physical drive.


To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or
Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information,
please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack


STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT
Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows
NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
Service Pack 4.


MORE INFORMATION
================


For more information on troubleshooting MS-DOS applications, please see the
following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

  ARTICLE-ID: Q165214
  TITLE : Troubleshooting MS-DOS-Based Programs in Windows NT 4.0


Additional query words: WOWVDM config.nt autoexec.nt console app hidden apps msdos application dos virtual memory page file

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Keywords          : kbenv kbWinNT400sp4fix 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search
Version           : winnt:3.5,3.51,4.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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