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# 16-bit Windows-based Applications Fail w/o Scanner Attached

Article ID: 105025

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

APPLIES TO

- Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1

This article was previously published under Q105025

## SYMPTOMS

When you load the HPSCAN16.SYS scanner driver in CONFIG.NT but you do not have a Hewlett-Packard (HP) ScanJet IIc scanner attached, 16-bit Windows-based applications do not start. When you click the icon for an application such as Write, Microsoft Word for Windows, or Microsoft Excel, the hourglass pointer appears for about ten seconds, but the application does not start and the icon remains closed. If you open an MS-DOS command prompt from within Windows NT and attempt to start an MS-DOS application such as the MS-DOS Edit utility, the application fails to start. The cursor temporarily freezes, and then eventually begins blinking again at the command prompt.
When you attempt to start the application Introducing Windows NT, you will receive a temporarily blank screen.

## CAUSE

Loading the HPSCAN16.SYS scanner driver in CONFIG.NT without having the scanner connected to the computer adversely affects the WOW (16-bit application) subsystem in Windows NT. The exact nature of the problem is unknown at this time.

## RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, either deactivate the scanner driver in CONFIG.NT by editing the file in the MS-DOS environment outside of Windows NT, or turn the computer off, reconnect the scanner, and then start Windows NT again.

## STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.1 and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

## MORE INFORMATION

### Steps to Reproduce Problem

The Windows NT Setup program installs the necessary files HPSCAN16.SYS and HPSCAN32.DLL in the %SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS subdirectory at setup.

1. Load the scanner driver in Windows NT by adding the following line to your CONFIG.NT file:

   `DEVICE=%SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\HPSCAN16.SYS`

2. Save the changes to CONFIG.NT, and restart the computer.
3. Try to open a 16-bit Windows-based application such as Write, MS Word, Excel, or Introducing Windows NT.

Additional query words: prodnt Intel Ethernet Xpress stop

Keywords: kbnetwork KB105025