PC NTMMTA: Err Msg: Error OS/2 Error Code 38

• Microsoft Mail Multitasking MTA for Windows NT, version 3.5

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Microsoft Windows NT Multitasking MTA (NT MMTA), and you create and start a service, you will get the following error when you try to monitor the instance:

   ERROR OS/2 ERROR CODE 38

CAUSE

This error occurs because the Windows NT OS/2 subsystem is trying to launch the MS-DOS or native OS/2 version of EXTERNAL.EXE or DISPATCH.EXE as a service.

RESOLUTION

In the Microsoft Mail Service Manager, Edit Service dialog box, ensure that the Executable Path parameter displays the correct path to the EXTERNAL.EXE or DISPATCH.EXE file that was included with the NT MMTA. These files are normally located under the \MAILEXE\EXTERNAL.NT or \MAILEXE\DIRSYNC.NT subdirectory.

MORE INFORMATION

The MS-DOS version of EXTERNAL.EXE and DISPATCH.EXE are not bound applications. This means full functionality is available only under their native environment, and somewhat limited functionality in other environments, such as the Windows NT OS/2 subsystem. As a result, the Mail External program and Dispatch will not operate as a service under the Windows NT OS/2 subsystem.

For additional information about the supported options of the Mail External program under Windows NT, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q118620
   TITLE     : Support of EXTERNAL.EXE under Windows NT