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16-bit Windows subsystem error

Symptom:
- Trying to install a program.
- Error message: '16-bit Windows subsystem. C:\Windows\System32\AUTOEXEC.NT. The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.'

Explanation:
This error means that one or more of your Windows system configuration files are missing or corrupt.

Fix:
  1. Go to the c:\windows\system32 folder on your computer.
  2. Are the following files in this folder?
    • autoexec.nt
    • config.nt
    • command.com
  3. If the one or more of these files are not present, then you would need to copy these into this folder. You can usually find these files in one of the two following folders:
    • c:\windows\repair
    • c:\windows\i386

Note: The file name in the error message may also be C:\WinNT\System32\AUTOEXEC.NT. In this case, you would still follow the instructions above, but you would go to the WinNT folder instead of the Windows folder.