"Unable to run 16 bit application"

I was running win2000PRO, installed my vinyl plotter software and all was good. A year later had to reformat the HD , reinstalled 2000PRO and now I can't install the software.

I did switch from FAT 32 to NTFS ??? Does NTFS not recognize 16 bit apps?

I keep getting a message that says:
"Unable to run 16 bit application "
"Insufficient memory, close windows programs and try again "

I have 128 MB RAM, I know whimpy, but previously seemed OK to run everything. I close everything I can and still keep getting this message.

At the same time that I reformatted my computer I also did the same to a spare I have. Both NTFS. The other computer has very few apps. installed, same RAM so I thought I'd try to install on that one. "Same message ".

This is driving me nuts, as the logic of how I was able to install the app. originally and can't now "does not compute ". LOL

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,
Jake

 

Hi tribalimage and welcome to the forum.

NTFS does recognize and allow 16bit apps.

First thing I'd try is doing the install in compatability mode. Create a desktop shortcut to the installer file (.exe, .com, .bat, whatever) and then open the shortcut and set it for the oldest version available. Win95 should be an option and that will be fine. Note that you will need the install files stored on your local hard drive somewhere for this to work.

If that doesn't work, please post back and include the contents of your autoexec.nt and config.nt files. I'm guessing that you have a couple of settings that are not allowing the older app to see the memory range it needs.

 

Hey Newt,

Thanks for the reply. I tried to copy all the install files to the HD without any luck. There were some file 2000 didn't want to accept. Oh Well. LOL

Her are the contents of the "autoexec.nt" file;

@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

Here are the contents of the "config.nt" file
REM Windows MS-DOS Startup File
REM
REM CONFIG.SYS vs CONFIG.NT
REM CONFIG.SYS is not used to initialize the MS-DOS environment.
REM CONFIG.NT is used to initialize the MS-DOS environment unless a
REM different startup file is specified in an application's PIF.
REM
REM ECHOCONFIG
REM By default, no information is displayed when the MS-DOS environment
REM is initialized. To display CONFIG.NT/AUTOEXEC.NT information, add
REM the command echoconfig to CONFIG.NT or other startup file.
REM
REM NTCMDPROMPT
REM When you return to the command prompt from a TSR or while running an
REM MS-DOS-based application, Windows runs COMMAND.COM. This allows the
REM TSR to remain active. To run CMD.EXE, the Windows command prompt,
REM rather than COMMAND.COM, add the command ntcmdprompt to CONFIG.NT or
REM other startup file.
REM
REM DOSONLY
REM By default, you can start any type of application when running
REM COMMAND.COM. If you start an application other than an MS-DOS-based
REM application, any running TSR may be disrupted. To ensure that only
REM MS-DOS-based applications can be started, add the command dosonly to
REM CONFIG.NT or other startup file.
REM
REM EMM
REM You can use EMM command line to configure EMM(Expanded Memory Manager).
REM The syntax is:
REM
REM EMM = [A=AltRegSets] [B=BaseSegment] [RAM]
REM
REM AltRegSets
REM specifies the total Alternative Mapping Register Sets you
REM want the system to support. 1 <= AltRegSets <= 255. The
REM default value is 8.
REM BaseSegment
REM specifies the starting segment address in the Dos conventional
REM memory you want the system to allocate for EMM page frames.
REM The value must be given in Hexdecimal.
REM 0x1000 <= BaseSegment <= 0x4000. The value is rounded down to
REM 16KB boundary. The default value is 0x4000
REM RAM
REM specifies that the system should only allocate 64Kb address
REM space from the Upper Memory Block(UMB) area for EMM page frames
REM and leave the rests(if available) to be used by DOS to support
REM loadhigh and devicehigh commands. The system, by default, would
REM allocate all possible and available UMB for page frames.
REM
REM The EMM size is determined by pif file(either the one associated
REM with your application or _default.pif). If the size from PIF file
REM is zero, EMM will be disabled and the EMM line will be ignored.
REM
dos=high, umb
device=%SystemRoot%\system32\himem.sys
files=40

You're right! I reformatted the HD on my other computer and re-installed 2000Pro as a standalone app., no other programs to mess things up. Same error message. What befuttles(s) me is that at one time I actually had the app. running on 2000 Pro. I guess I messed the install up so good/bad it got confused and decided to give up and accept it. LOL

It was so long ago, maybe I installed it over Win98 and 98 left some helpful files hanging around.

Thanks again for all the help,
Jake

 

My guess is that you had a PIF or something left over or created so long ago you don't remember it.

See attached screenshot, got to by rightclick->properties (you should do this against your plotter app). I would fiddle around with these settings. Try giving it EMS or XMS

 

Thanks Joe,

"Don't remember it ", Hell, I cant remember what I did yesterday. LOL

But I'm a little lost as to where to find the command.com "properties" drip down window to go try and tweek.

EDIT: OK found it, but give them "how much "? I gave both 16384 and will reboot and try install again.

EDIT: No Luck. :O(

Jake

 

My guess is with everything "REM'd" out nothing would work for what I'm trying do.

What say you?
Jake

 

"If that doesn't work, please post back "

Bump :O)

Jake

 

Dang Jake - that was a quick bump. I normally only get on the forums in the evenings and I think that is also the case with some others.

You said earlier - at the beginning of listing autoexec.nt/config.nt contents, "I tried to copy all the install files to the HD without any luck. There were some file 2000 didn't want to accept. " and that seems strange. Very possible that you couldn't run the install from the HD (programmers in the 16bit days did some strange things) but the files certainly should have copied there for you. Details please.

I'm guessing from a look at the autoexec.nt and config.nt files that you are missing some entries the app would normally write to autoexec.bat and config.sys. Hard to say exactly what though unless you can get to an older OS that also runs the app and get copies of those files. May be as simple as needing to add an entry or two to the path or may be something very specialized that we'd never guess.

Toward the bottom of the config.nt file after all the REM(ark) lines, you have some live lines. I'd suggest doing a couple of things there.

First swapping the order so that where you now have
dos=high, umb
device=%SystemRoot%\system32\himem.sys
you want
device=%SystemRoot%\system32\himem.sys
dos=high, umb
and then adding the following
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
STACKS=9,128

And note toward the bottom of the config.nt remarks that you must set up for EMM in the .pif file for the config.nt entry to be effective. Otherwise, you will have impossible problems with extended memory which is where I'm guessing your current problems lie.

If all else fails, zip the contents of the app install and email it to me with a note reminding me which thread and the circumstances and I'll play around to see if I can get it working and if I do, email you the install details. It will probably be a couple of weeks though since I'll have to work on it when I have some spare minutes at work - no 2K at home these days.

 

Hey Newt,

I reflecting on the problem I came to the conclusion that we could be chasing our tails on this one for some time. I think what I'll do is either find someone that is running Win98 or 98SE and see if things go smoother. If all works out, I'll be looking for a cheap full version of Win98 or 98SE. Unfortunately all I have are upgrades of both and no full versions.

If you hear of any cheap Win 98 or 98SE's "full versions" floating around, let me know.

AND

"Thanks for all your help ", I just don't want to waste a lot of your time on something that I can hopefully resolve by switching operating systems.

Jake