Err Msg: NTVDM.EXE Has Encountered a System Error

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.

Additional query words: prodnt display

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