Message 'NTVDM has encountered a hard error'

I've put up with this error since Vista Beta came out and would like to sort
it out before Vista 'proper'. I reported it to Microsoft ages ago but
haven't had a reply.

I'm trying to run a 1986 DOS system named 'Smart', I think Innovative first
wrote it but someone else took it over and introduced a Windows version.

Here's the sequence of events :-
1. Type cmd, type D: (for partition D), type CD\smart, type smart s (for the
spreadsheet)

2. Then the screen goes blank with no HDD activity. Press Ctrl, Alt, Del,
select Task Manager and the error appears.

3. I click Ignore, close TM then select the minimised CMD and everything
behaves perfectly.

Any help gratefully received but don't tell me to rewrite the programs, it's
too labour-intensive.

Thank you.

I should have said that I'm currently running RC1 not the first 2 betas.

Sorry, but if your software doesn't work under Vista a re-write of your
process is the only possible solution. Not all old software (especially DOS
mode software!) is going to run under Vista, and no one's really going to be
interested in fixing Vista to run incompatible software.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"BurrWalnut" <BurrWalnut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1187038D-C04C-4067-AE62-634EABF0864E@microsoft.com...
> I've put up with this error since Vista Beta came out and would like to
> sort
> it out before Vista 'proper'. I reported it to Microsoft ages ago but
> haven't had a reply.
>
> I'm trying to run a 1986 DOS system named 'Smart', I think Innovative
> first
> wrote it but someone else took it over and introduced a Windows version.
>
> Here's the sequence of events :-
> 1. Type cmd, type D: (for partition D), type CD\smart, type smart s (for
> the
> spreadsheet)
>
> 2. Then the screen goes blank with no HDD activity. Press Ctrl, Alt, Del,
> select Task Manager and the error appears.
>
> 3. I click Ignore, close TM then select the minimised CMD and everything
> behaves perfectly.
>
> Any help gratefully received but don't tell me to rewrite the programs,
> it's
> too labour-intensive.
>
> Thank you.

"BurrWalnut" <BurrWalnut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1187038D-C04C-4067-AE62-634EABF0864E@microsoft.com...
> 2. Then the screen goes blank with no HDD activity. Press Ctrl, Alt, Del,
> select Task Manager and the error appears.

It could be that the program is trying to start in full screen mode, which
is not supported under Vista. Try making a shortcut icon to the program,
and in the shortcut settings tell it to run in a window instead of full
screen.

Mike

In message <#yEe8GOPHHA.856@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl> "Richard G. Harper"
<rgharper@email.com> wrote:

>Sorry, but if your software doesn't work under Vista a re-write of your
>process is the only possible solution. Not all old software (especially DOS
>mode software!) is going to run under Vista, and no one's really going to be
>interested in fixing Vista to run incompatible software.

A re-write isn't the only option, DOSBOX and/or a virtualization package
are both likely to be functional.

--
Americans couldn't be any more self-absorbed if they were made from equal
parts water and papertowel.
-- Dennis Miller

Mike

Thank you for a sensible reply.

I am trying to run in full screen mode but the same error appears when it
runs in a window.

In the betas, it wasn't possible to get a 'full screen' but in RC1 it is. I
remember posting about the lack of full screen in the betas and, I think,
Jimmy Brush (amongst others) replied. There were suggestions of key
combinations to get the full screen but nothing worked.

Perhaps the RTM version of Vista will run properly, i.e. full screen with no
errors.

BurrWalnut wrote:
> Mike
>
> Thank you for a sensible reply.
>
> I am trying to run in full screen mode but the same error appears when it
> runs in a window.
>
> In the betas, it wasn't possible to get a 'full screen' but in RC1 it is. I
> remember posting about the lack of full screen in the betas and, I think,
> Jimmy Brush (amongst others) replied. There were suggestions of key
> combinations to get the full screen but nothing worked.
>
> Perhaps the RTM version of Vista will run properly, i.e. full screen with no
> errors.

I very much doubt that anything will be different for you in RTM. The
hard truth is that not every program written for an old operating system
will work in a new operating system. The best solution for you is to use
virtual software like Virtual PC or VMWare to create a virtual DOS
machine and run your program there. The only other alternative is to
keep an older machine around running the operating system that supports
your program, or dual-boot. Dual-booting can be tricksy with older
operating systems because of the drivers. Virtual machines are a better
way to go.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Malke

These applications are both running happily on Win98 and WinXP PCs at
present. In fact my test PC is triple booting XP, Vista and Ubuntu.

It's not catastrophic if I have to go through the Vista error message
routine I outlined above. It's just that I had hoped there was a simple
solution. So far there obviously isn't one.

Unless anyone has a solution, I think we'll consider this thread as closed.

My thanks to everyone who replied.

We run DOS apps to. I had the same error in RC1 but not RC2 and later
pre-RTM builds. It works fine in RTM. Make sure and run the app in a
window...not full screen.

DOS apps work fine in Vista RTM!

jjw
ND

"BurrWalnut" wrote:

> Malke
>
> These applications are both running happily on Win98 and WinXP PCs at
> present. In fact my test PC is triple booting XP, Vista and Ubuntu.
>
> It's not catastrophic if I have to go through the Vista error message
> routine I outlined above. It's just that I had hoped there was a simple
> solution. So far there obviously isn't one.
>
> Unless anyone has a solution, I think we'll consider this thread as closed.
>
> My thanks to everyone who replied.

JJW_ND

You obviously haven't read the previous posts. The applications work but
it's the FULL SCREEN I want.