Win 16 Subsystem Resource Problem

I am having difficulty locating a solution to a problem. When I try and install some programs in Windows XP, I receive a mysterious error. I quote it here:

"The Win 16 subsystem has insufficent resources to continue running. Click on OK, close your applications, and restart your machine. "

I assume that this means the programs I am trying to install are 16-bit, but I have not been able to determine how to prevent this from happening. I double checked my config.nt and autoexec.nt files, and they contain exactly what was originally installed.

Can anyone assist me in correcting this problem?

Thank you very much.

 

Yup. 16bit app.

XP is attempting to create a small environment in memory that looks like a 16bit system to the app and let it run there (VDM or Virtual DOS Machine).

Try looking in your help files. Search for compatibility mode and see if the information there will fix you up. If not, post back.

 

Win 16 Subsystem Resource Problem (again/still)



Well, it's taken a couple of weeks, but this problem has happened again. The lovely error message of: "The Win 16 subsystem has insufficent resources to continue running. Click on OK, close your applications, and restart your machine."

I have some additional information to report which may help someone figure out what I should to to fix this.

First I noticed that the window title of this error message says "Application: GLBSSTUB" - I don't know what this is, but it isn't the name of the program I am trying to run. (it's a SETUP.EXE file for a 16-bit program).

Second, I followed Newt's advise and looked up info on compatability mode. There isn't much to be found, but I did try running this program in various other modes, Win98 Win95 etc. No luck.

I know it will work if I reboot my computer, but I don't want to do that because I'm hoping somebody can give me something else to try on it to get it to work.

Thanks!

 

GLBSSTUB is, I think, asociated with the Wise installer. Not positive though.

Do I understand that you are having the problem at install time for the app?

May not help but couldn't hurt to take a look at HOW TO: Identify a 16-bit Program in Windows XP (Q320127) and then follow the link toward the end to How to Troubleshoot 16-Bit Windows Programs in Windows XP (Q314495).

 

Been there, done that.

Yes, this is a 16-bit program (actually, now I have 2 doing it), and yes, it's the installation file that I'm trying to run. I've had it happen several times and just followed the instructions on the error and re-booted. That works, and the program then installs as long as you do it as soon as you reboot. If you wait a while before trying to run the installation, you get the error. (I assume because now the "resources" the thing wants becomes tied up with other programs)

Actually, these are 16-bit PC Magazine utilities that I had on my old computer that I can't/don't want to live without. I upgraded all the ones that have been re-written in 32-bit, but not all of my favorite ones have been done yet.

So it's an annoying little bug that I want to figure out so I don't have to reboot everytime I want to install some little useful 16-bit program.

Any more suggestions, Newt? Or can anyone else help?
Thanks!

 

No direct help I'm afraid but if you will say which utilities (and briefly what they do) it is likely that someone on here can point you to a 32-bit app that will do the same sort of thing.

You wouldn't believe the huge number of interesting apps (many of them utilities and many of them free) that members here have running.

 

Replacing 16-bit programs with similar 32-bit ones

Hmmm. Okay, now THAT's a good idea, and definitely worth a shot. I'm trying to install:

TrayMin - a useful utility that makes any application minimize to the tray instead of the taskbar by simply right clicking on the minimize button.

DisplaySet - one of my favorites, gives you access to EVERY color on your system so you can change them to whatever you want. All the colors show at once in a nice list on the left of the screen so you can make nice color schemes that go well together. It also has a comprehensive preview on the right. It lets you set a LOT more colors than the Windows Display / Appearances tab does, and the preview shows more than Windows' does too. Does NOT remain in memory when you are done.

I have had trouble locating anything to replace the DisplaySet, and have tried one called ColourMe that was not even close. I'm sure with a little searching I could replace TrayMin with something else, but that right-click thing is just so darn handy!

Hope somebody can help!

Thank you VERY much!

 

I did a Google search for both TrayMin and DisplaySet and found several download sites. Here are the one at PC Mag.

TrayMin for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0: http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,,s=1478&a=9151,00.asp

Display Set for Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, and Windows NT 4.0: http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s%3D1478%26a%3D7388,00.asp

 

Yeah, I know, I HAVE those two programs, but at least the setup program is 16-bit, thus the problem.

 

Ginny - while you are waiting, take a look at This Thread from January where there are 3 pages of folks listing their favorite "can't live without" apps. I haven't been thru it for a while and forget all that is on there but lots of good reading and the odd thing you might want to get.