Knowledge Base

Err Msg: NTVDM.EXE Has Encountered a System Error

Article ID: 128930

Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q128930

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

Keywords: KB128930


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