Microsoft KB Archive/890067

= MS-DOS-based programs do not run as expected on a computer that is running Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000 =

Article ID: 890067

Article Last Modified on 11/4/2007

-

APPLIES TO

 Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86) Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86) Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86) Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4</li> Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3</li> Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server</li> Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1, when used with: <ul> Microsoft Windows XP Professional</li></ul>

<ul> Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition</li></ul> </li> Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, when used with: <ul> Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition</li></ul>

<ul> Microsoft Windows XP Professional</li></ul> </li></ul>

-

<div class="notice_section">

Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

<div class="symptoms_section">

SYMPTOMS
You try to run a MS-DOS-based program on a computer that is running one of the following operating systems:
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003
 * Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 1 (SP1)
 * Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2)
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 with Service Pack 3 (SP3)
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 (SP4)

However, the program does not run as expected.

<div class="cause_section">

CAUSE
This problem occurs if you run a 16-bit MS-DOS-based program at a command prompt, and you do not include a space between the .exe file name extension and the parameter switch (/). A space is always added between the .exe file name extension and the parameter switch when a MS-DOS-based program is run from a command line.

For example, your MS-DOS-based program may try to run the command as .exe/. Even though a space is not specified in the command, the command is run as .exe /.

<div class="resolution_section">

Service pack information
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

889100 How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003

Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next P1 that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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

Prerequisites
You must have Windows Server 2003 service pack 1 installed to apply this hotfix.

Restart requirement
You must restart your 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 tool in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003
<pre class="fixed_text">  Date         Time   Version            Size    File name --  08-Sep-2005  01:17  5.2.3790.405      420,864  Ntvdm.exe 08-Sep-2005 02:10  5.2.3790.2525     443,392  Ntvdm.exe 08-Sep-2005 02:12  5.2.3790.2525      32,256  Arpidfix.exe

Windows XP
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows XP that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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

Prerequisites
You must have Windows XP service pack 2 installed to apply this hotfix.

Restart requirement
You must restart your 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 tool in Control Panel.

Windows XP with SP1 or with SP2
<pre class="fixed_text">  Date         Time   Version            Size    File name --  06-Jul-2005  22:59  3.10.0.103         92,224  Krnl386.exe 06-Jul-2005 22:56                     33,840  Ntio.sys 06-Jul-2005 22:56                     34,560  Ntio404.sys 06-Jul-2005 22:56                     35,648  Ntio411.sys 06-Jul-2005 22:56                     35,424  Ntio412.sys 06-Jul-2005 22:56                     34,560  Ntio804.sys 06-Jul-2005 23:49  5.1.2600.1715     397,312  Ntvdm.exe 04-Jun-2004 00:43  5.1.2600.1562     245,760  Wow32.dll 06-Jul-2005 23:38  5.1.2600.2715     420,864  Ntvdm.exe 06-Jul-2005 23:41  5.1.2600.2715      30,720  Arpidfix.exe

Windows 2000
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only 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 2000 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 2000 service pack 3 installed to apply this hotfix.

Restart requirement
You must restart your 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 tool in Control Panel.

Windows 2000 with SP3 or with SP4
<pre class="fixed_text">  Date         Time   Version            Size    File name --  19-Jun-2003  20:05  3.10.0.103         92,032  Krnl386.exe 19-Jun-2003 20:05                     33,824  Ntio.sys 19-Jun-2003 20:05                     34,544  Ntio404.sys 19-Jun-2003 20:05                     35,648  Ntio411.sys 19-Jun-2003 20:05                     35,408  Ntio412.sys 19-Jun-2003 20:05                     34,544  Ntio804.sys 15-Dec-2004 19:24  5.0.2195.7011     398,608  Ntvdm.exe 16-Dec-2004 05:02  5.0.2195.7009     239,888  Wow32.dll

Hotfix installation information
Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

After you apply this hotfix, you must add the following entry to the registry:

To do this, follow these steps: <ol> Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.</li> Locate and then right-click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WOW

</li> Right-click WOW, point to New, and then click Key.</li> Type CmdLine, and then press ENTER to name the new subkey.</li> Right-click CmdLine, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.</li> Type NoSpace, and then press ENTER to name the new value.</li> Right-click NoSpace, and then click Modify.</li> In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.</li> <li>Quit Registry Editor.</li></ol>

<div class="status_section">

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section. This problem was first corrected in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.

<div class="moreinformation_section">

MORE INFORMATION
For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

816915 New file naming schema for Microsoft Windows software update packages

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

Keywords: kbwinserv2003sp2fix kbbug kbfix kbwin2000presp5fix kbhotfixserver kbqfe KB890067

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.