Author Topic: NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2  (Read 23740 times)

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tedsclub

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NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« on: August 29, 2004, 05:14:22 PM »
Dear all (esp. avast! support team)

I've installed Windows XP SP2 with Avast! Pro v4.1.

Before upgrade the Windows XP to SP2, everything work fine including command.com or any 16 bit program like FoxPro 2.6

However, after upgraded the Windows XP SP2. Most 16 bit program not work at all and show NTVDM encounter problem and need to close immediately. At first, I just wonder if it is the problem of WinXP SP2 only. However, after I've search around at Microsoft Knowledge Base. I find one solution.

It seems that some device driver at C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG.NT cause this problem.

I've checked my config.nt and find the following line which is added by avast! installation:

device=C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\aswmonds.sys

After I remark (rem) this line, save the config.nt file. All 16 bit program work fine again including my foxpro 2.6 and command.com etc.

So, I think maybe avast! need to work a patch or auto-update to tackle this issue due to the release of Windows XP SP2?

Thank you for your kind attention.

Offline Lisandro

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2004, 05:26:44 PM »
Before upgrade the Windows XP to SP2, everything work fine including command.com or any 16 bit program like FoxPro 2.6

Did you install avast before SP2?
Did avast work at that time?
Did you ever installed Norton in your system? Some Registry Key of Symantec could mess the config.nt file and the scanning of the 16bits programs...  :P

It seems that some device driver at C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG.NT cause this problem.
I've checked my config.nt and find the following line which is added by avast! installation:
device=C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\aswmonds.sys

After I remark (rem) this line, save the config.nt file. All 16 bit program work fine again including my foxpro 2.6 and command.com etc.

If you did so, you won't be protected... 16bits programs won't be scanned under XP  :'(
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Offline bob3160

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2004, 05:57:30 PM »
tedsclub
The following thread may have a solution for you:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=6943;start=0#msg54802
Hope this also solves your problem.
Please let us know if it does.
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BlitzenZeus

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2004, 12:32:31 AM »
As reported in the above thread, avast is the problem.  I edited the line from my config.nt, and it works now.  Please fix this Avast.

This was a clean install of XP Pro SP2.

Offline Lisandro

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2004, 01:15:13 AM »
As reported in the above thread, avast is the problem.  I edited the line from my config.nt, and it works now.  Please fix this Avast.

This was a clean install of XP Pro SP2.

NO, DEFINETIVELY NOT!
It`s not avast. It`s a Symantec problem.
Do not remove the line from config.nt file because you will be unprotected for 16bits applications (DOS under XP).

Please, see http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=6943  ;)
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BlitzenZeus

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2004, 03:53:21 AM »
How is this a symantec problem? I have never had any symantec software on my computer.  I installed Avast after a clean install of SP2, tell me exactly how this is a problem with software that was never installed on my computer?

Pick a thread were we can discuss this since there are two threads on the same subject.
« Last Edit: August 30, 2004, 04:00:13 AM by BlitzenZeus »

Offline Lisandro

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2004, 03:58:01 AM »
How is this a symantec problem? I have never had any symantec software on my computer.  I installed Avast after a clean install of SP2, tell me exactly how this is a problem with software that was never installed on my computer?

Sorry, I mismatch two threads.
In this one the user does have Norton before  :'(

Hello
I've resolved my problem, by searching "NTVDM" keyword in forum !!!
The problem is in
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers" key.
In my PC, this key contained, for variable LDD, several lines : one for Norton antivirus (uninstalled !!!) and several same lines relating to AVAST.
Solution : keep only one line AVAST and delete all other lines.
NTVDM becomes OK, and 16 bits applications can run OK.
With the bad key, NTVDM was excluded from task's list running on my PC, and NTVDM was blocked by AVAST. Thanks to the forum.


Can you post the contents of the following Registry keys?

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers
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BlitzenZeus

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2004, 04:09:36 AM »
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers]
"VDD"=hex(7):00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers]
"VDD"=hex(7):00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers]
"VDD"=hex(7):00,00

As it stands, the only thing that fixes this problem is removing the entry from the config.nt file currently.

Offline Lisandro

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2004, 04:21:27 AM »
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers]
"VDD"=hex(7):00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers]
"VDD"=hex(7):00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers]
"VDD"=hex(7):00,00

As it stands, the only thing that fixes this problem is removing the entry from the config.nt file currently.

Did you read my post about the 'two groups of zeros' in the Registry keys?
Well, some software added these groups of zeros into your Registry. I don't know which one... You mentioned a clean installation in SP2. Maybe avast!?!  ::)

The group of zeros change all you add after them into comments  :(
Do you have a program called Registrar Lite? It's a very good Registry Editor (free). There you can edit the keys in the format REG_MULTI_SZ:
« Last Edit: August 30, 2004, 04:21:52 AM by Technical »
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Offline Lisandro

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2004, 04:25:37 AM »
The fact that I blame into Norton comes from the previous installation of Norton SystemWorks into my system. I have all utilities except NAV. The Norton key have two groups os zeros and avast could not add the driver there. I just change the lines, avast before and Norton after.

Again, if you change config.nt files you won't be protected.
You can have problems to run 16bits applications (old pkzip for instance).
You can have (in theory) infections by applications running in DOS under XP.

I'm just trying to help not to make avast advertisement  8)
« Last Edit: August 30, 2004, 04:25:59 AM by Technical »
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BlitzenZeus

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2004, 05:20:55 AM »
Regedit works fine, its what I always use, and I finally added the full path of the file to those registry entries as I missed that information.  I was able to allow the device to load again, and 16 bit dos apps are working again with everything enabled.

As far as this install goes, it appears that Avast didn't write the registry entry for some reason, and I haven't been installing/uninstalling software either so if it wasn't avast, why would anything edit those entries when they don't use them?

Offline Lisandro

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2004, 06:02:12 AM »
Why would anything edit those entries when they don't use them?

Ask to the stupid application (Maybe avast!   ???) which add two groups of zeros in that key. Maybe Windows or SP2?  :(
« Last Edit: August 30, 2004, 03:07:02 PM by Technical »
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tedsclub

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #12 on: August 30, 2004, 11:28:00 PM »
Thank you for the discussion but I don't think we have the real solution for the moment.

And yes, my install procedure is:

1. Install Clean Windows XP SP2
2. Install Avast!
3. Try run command.com, and it failed.
4. after remove that line from config.nt, command.com work again.

Another case is:

1. Install Clean Windows XP SP1
2. Install Avast!
3. Try run command.com, and it work!

And in the above case I haven't install any Symantec/Norton related software.

If it is to edit the registry to solve the problem, I think it is not a good solution as I think WinXP SP2 already released and more and more people will use it.

Is it a problem of SP2 or Avast! now?

tedsclub

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #13 on: August 30, 2004, 11:39:47 PM »
One more point to add.

I've checked my registry also with RegEdit or Registar Lite.

I've no value inside even the group of zero that mention in the thread above.

Thanks.

tedsclub

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Re:NTVDM problem at Windows XP SP2
« Reply #14 on: August 30, 2004, 11:49:57 PM »
After I add the line:

C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\aswmonvd.dll

to the registry, yes, most 16 bits program work fine again!

So why the installation of Avast! haven't add this line to the registry?

Is it possibile a bug?! Avast is the first program I install after just finished install Windows XP SP2