Missing COMMAND.COM Causes Hidden Console Error

ID: Q142271

The information in this article applies to:

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 application:

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

To correct this problem, do one of the following:

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

-or-

Expand COMMAND.CO_ from the Windows NT CD-ROM disc to %SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\COMMAND.COM.

-or-

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

For additional trouble-shooting steps on running 16-bit Windows applications, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

ARTICLE ID: Q103656
TITLE : Troubleshooting 16-Bit Windows Applications Under Windows NT

Additional query words: prodnt 4.0


Keywords          : nt16ap 
Version           : 3.50 3.51 4.00
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        :

Last Reviewed: February 4, 1999