Err Msg: NTVDM.EXE Has Encountered a System Error

Last reviewed: April 14, 1995
Article ID: Q128930

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5

SUMMARY

When you start the first 16-bit application after installing Windows NT version 3.5 Service Pack 2, the following error message may appear:

   NTVDM.EXE has encountered a system error
   The handle is invalid.

   Choose Close to terminate the application or Ignore.

If you choose Ignore, the 16-bit application continues to run correctly. In addition, when you shut down Windows NT, the following message appears:

   NTVDM is Busy
   Choose end task or wait.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, expand VGA.SY_ and VIDEOPRT.SY_ from the Windows NT Server or Workstation version 3.5 installation media to the %systemroot%\SYSTEM32\DRIVERs subdirectory as VGA.SYS and VIDEOPRT.SYS.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.5. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

KBCategory: kbui kbbug3.50
KBSubcategory: nt16ap
Additional reference words: prodnt 3.50 display

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Last reviewed: April 14, 1995
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