Windows 8 Comes with Built-in Option to Turn On/Off 16-Bit Application Support

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1. Not being able to run 16-bit code under a 64-bit operating system isn’t a Windows limitation, it’s a CPU architecture limitation.

   You can run 16-bit code under 32 bit emulation under a 64- bit OS though 🙂 So on 64-bit Windows the solution is to use a virtualized copy of MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, or 32-bit Windows. You can download “XP Mode” from Microsoft on the business Windows editions of Win 7 and Win 8, which runs under Virtual PC. It’s decent. There are other similar solutions.

2. I have an special 16-bit application which has also 32-bit parts. It runs now under Windows 8, but not under Windows 7. The file dialogs locks the application on Windows 7.

3. give some updates to solve the 16 bit app defects in win7…!
   and include the win xp mode in upcoming service packs of win7.

4. can u able to locate were will i find the 16-bt applicate turn on or off

5. can u able to tell me the location in windows8 16-bit application

6. The solutions here are just perfect!! You great guys.. Thanks for sharing

7. Go to “Control Panel”, Search for “16-bit Application Support”. you will see the link and you will be able to enable 16-bit Applications.

8. I have a 64-bit Windows 8 laptop and want to play these 16-bit games I have. Is there an emulator or something that I can use?

9. There is no 16 bit application support applet in control panel of win 8 pro 32 bit. I don’t know from where Basel come up with this …No body noticed that except him you should verify this and remove his announcement it waste the time of others

10. I withdraw my previous comment. Yes the 16 bit applet exist but not within the control panel croup. You have to search control panel for the expression “16 bit application support” after that you will find it on the upper right corner under heading ” programs and features”. Click on 16 -bit application ” you get the applet. But don’t click on programs and features you will not find it there. Sorry Basel I apologize from you.

11. I have searched for “16 bit application support” in control panel and get nothing. Using Windows 8, 32 bit.
    Please advise. Thanks.

12. i am running windows 8 pro, it came with 16bit app support and i enabled it, and currently i began programming some assembly using nasm and nasmIDE, it assembles fine but when you run the program, it crashes and says ntvdm.exe is incompatible.

    here is a detailed error message:

    Log Name:
    Source:
    Date:
    Event ID:
    Application
    Application Error
    18/01/2014 19:39:32
    1000
    Task Category: (100)
    Level:
    Keywords:
    User:
    Computer:
    Description:
    Faulting application name: ntvdm.exe, version: 6.2.9200.16384, time stamp: 0x5010a5c1
    Faulting module name: unknown, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x00000000
    Exception code: 0xc0000005
    Fault offset: 0x00000118
    Faulting process ID: 0x1f80
    Faulting application start time: 0x01cf14743883adf7
    Faulting application path: C:\Windows\system32\ntvdm.exe
    Faulting module path: unknown
    Report ID: 7c918498-8067-11e3-aff9-74de2b51f5e7
    Faulting package full name:
    Faulting package-relative application ID:
    Event Xml:

    1000
    2
    Error
    Classic
    N/A
    coxy-man-HP
    100
    0x80000000000000

    233451
    Application
    coxy-man-HP

    ntvdm.exe
    6.2.9200.16384
    5010a5c1
    unknown
    0.0.0.0
    00000000
    c0000005
    00000118
    1f80
    01cf14743883adf7
    C:\Windows\system32\ntvdm.exe
    unknown
    7c918498-8067-11e3-aff9-74de2b51f5e7

13. @b
    “Not being able to run 16-bit code under a 64-bit operating system isn’t a Windows limitation, it’s a CPU architecture limitation.”

    Actually it isn’t. The WINE project has no such limitation when running 16bit Windows programs on a 64bit Linux based OS. Windows has a limitation because Microsoft chooses to not enhance* its NTVDM to work on 64bit OSs.

    WINE uses protected mode for executing 16bit code, winehq.org/docs/winedev-guide/architecture –see the table. Microsoft’s NTVDM uses virtual mode for executing 16bit code, support.microsoft.com/kb/817901 –see More Information. A 64bit OS can have the CPU enter the 16 bit compatibility mode, which is similar to protected mode with the major exception being that it cannot then proceed to enter a virtual mode. WINE isn’t affected by this limitation whereas NTVDM is.

    *: Actually, this might already exist. In the above linked support page, there is mention of code that does not use virtual mode; however, it is untested as of Windows 2000.

14. One can enable NTVDM going to Control Panel -> Turn Windows feature On/Off -> Legacy Component -> Check mark NTVDM
    msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn323745%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

15. Please tell in detail that in which tab or which side?
    Thank you

16. Interesting find while trying to run Charlie the Duck.

17. “…. enable NTVDM going to Control Panel -> Turn Windows feature On/Off -> Legacy Component -> Check mark NTVDM”

    Sorry, there’s no NTVDM option in my Win 8.1u1 (x64). (OS came pre-installed in new PC.)

    FWIW, losing 16-bit driver support has meant junking a heap of gadgets such as compact digital camera interfaces, a snaky web-cam, a tripod-mountable web-cam etc etc. Back in XP, I just fired up IrfanView, selected the relevant TWAIN source and slurped data. At least IV still works !!!

18. A/A,
    For Dennis and Dawood, go to the control panel of Windows 8 or 8.1, and write only 16 in its search box….. You will find the 16-Bit Application Support in Programs and Features…….

19. You could downgrade to Windows 8.1 32-bit, or just buy a copy of Windows 32-bit and virtualize it if you need to support web-cams, etc.

20. Actually it isn’t. The WINE project has no such limitation when running 16bit Windows programs on a 64bit Linux based OS. Windows has a limitation because Microsoft chooses to not enhance* its NTVDM to work on 64bit OSs.

    Well…. wine WAS broken by 3.14 was it? Which was caused by Intel basically saying “you know, we aren’t REALLY supporting 16-bit anymore… just pretending to… and we have lots of bugs in protected mode because we’re not expecting people to use it… so if you could go ahead and block 16-bit programs that would be great”

    Yes, later editions fixed it; but the point about cpu manufactures “Being absurdly lazy to implement the TINY 8080 instruction set correctly” is correct.

21. my asus desktop windows 8.1, on windows features, there is no ntvdm section because of my 64bit pc! I think..
    So to solve this issue, I have created 25GB virtual drive on my hard disk and installed win 7 32-bit and run the dos -based 16 bit application no trouble at all.
    I would have prepared to run it without going into virtual drive. it looks 64-bit machine does not allow it..

22. when i open 16 bit application in control panel it shows some errors like
    foumd.exe/——-
    please help me friend

23. writing a letter in search box restarts explorer. windows 8 64.