that is the message that pops up for certain programs ive downloaded when i try to initialize them. it also says

"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"

the icon for the program is just a window not a MS-DOS icon so why it is trying to run it in dos i dont know.could anyone else help please?

Hi stid

Try this, Micosoft KB Article 324767

yea thanks that sounds good but i dont actually know what CD its talking about. I have the original disk for the computer somewhere but other than that i don't think ive got anything. any chance of downloading the missing file(s)?

Is is happening to ALL applications or just some?

If only a few, please could you list them here. Thanks.

it happend to jedi academy and paint shop pro 8 recently but it has happend many times before and i cant remember what the programs were. ive noticed that on the properties option on the programs .exe file, there is an MS DOS slidebar is there no way to tell the computer to run it without DOS from here?

This is the important bit. I think (and you're right it isn't clear) that the CD they are referring to is the Windows XP install CD. I think you will have to get hold of an XP disc to fully fix this problem. I guess you could scour the net for these files but you will be running a bit of a risk....good luck with that. Your original install disk might do the job too - try that first