I am running XP Home on a Dell computer a few months old. Recently,
after installing a small freeware program (but perhaps not related to
it), I found that some (or possibly all) small .exe files would no
longer execute. I get this message:

?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.?

This is happening, for example, with the game Pipes.exe which I
believe comes with Windows. I tried compatibility mode 95 as suggested
by a friend, but I got the same message. I have tried going back to a
restore point in XP, but every attempt gets me a comment that there
have been no changes since then.

I can no longer run or update many, or possibly all, of the applets
that I need to do my work. What can I do?

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Request for Question Clarification by cynthia-ga on 19 Apr 2005 07:19 PDT

Try following the instructions Microsoft gives to correct this error message:

Error message when you install or start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based program
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324767
..."
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.

Although you may be prompted to quit the program or ignore the error
message, either selection makes the program quit.

CAUSE
This issue may occur if one or more of the following files are missing or damaged:
?  Config.nt
?  Autoexec.nt
?  Command.com
..."

CLICK THE LINK FOR THE RESOLUTION INSTRUCTIONS

Let me know if this works...

~~Cynthia

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Clarification of Question by gojohns-ga on 20 Apr 2005 06:48 PDT

Cynthia...

thanks so much; this is a solution to my problem. Another person
responded 17 minutes earlier, so if I can figure out how to do it, I
will have to give the money to him/her. Also, the other responder
pointed me to a site with a .exe file that, when executed, installs
the missing/corrupted files immediately. It solved my problem!  THanks
again.   Gordon.

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Request for Question Clarification by cynthia-ga on 20 Apr 2005 09:46 PDT

I am pleased your problem is solved. As far as payment for the earlier
Comment, that is not possible. "leesgritt" is not an official Google
Answers Researcher, so s/he cannot post in the Answer area.

In the future, you can always tell a GA Researcher by our "blue linked
and underlined" name. There are many many instances where a Commenter
provides an Answer, and these are free. You will only be charged the
50 cent listing fee. If you like, you can go back to your page with
the list of your Asked Questions, and "close" this one.

Thanks for bringing your question to us! 

~~Cynthia

http://uktsupport.ipbhost.com/index.php?act=ST&f=13&t=5737

This is a common problem it seems, the above website lists a fix which
I can confirm does work.

To Leesgritt-ga, 

Your response came first and was perfect: my problem is solved. Given
that you have only added a comment, and not answered my question
officially, how can I give you the money?  Perhaps you need to post an
actual answer?

Gordon.