Microsoft KB Archive/937932

= Error message when you run a 16-bit program in Windows Server 2003: &quot;NTVDM has encountered a hard error&quot; =

Article ID: 937932

Article Last Modified on 10/11/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition for Itanium-Based Systems

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SYMPTOMS
On a computer that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, you may receive the following error message when you run a 16-bit program:

NTVDM has encountered a hard error

The 16-bit program stops responding. When this problem occurs, the following event is logged in the System log: Event Type: Information

Event Source: Application Popup

Event ID: 26

Description: Application popup: ntvdm.exe - System Error : NTVDM encountered a hard error.

Note Usually, this problem occurs when you print from the program.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because the Wow32.dll module does not convert the DEVMODE data structure from the 16-bit Windows 3.1 version to a 32-bit ANSI version. Therefore, the Ntvdm.exe process uses the wrong DEVMODE buffer size to transfer data to the printer spooler service.



Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites
You must have Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 installed to apply this hotfix.

Restart requirement
You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Itanium-based versions


STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
The DEVMODE data structure contains initialization information and environment information for a printer or for a display device. For more information about the DEVMODE data structure, visit the following Microsoft MSDN Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms535771.aspx

For more information about the terms that are used to describe software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Keywords: kbqfe kbexpertiseinter kbhotfixserver kbwinserv2003postsp2fix KB937932

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