please help me!! i don't know how this has happened but i don't seem to be able to run a certain amount of .exe files, including a driver that i need to install. when i hit it i get this error message "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT. The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate application" and then obviously nothing from there. how did this happen?? not just this program, has been happeneing for a couple of weeks but i thought it could have been an anomaly with the other programs? i also have another problem which could be related...periodically my computer without prompting will bring up a 'searching for' dialog box (with the sweeping flashlight) and attempt to search for a file called 'AUTOPLAY'????happens generally at random, but occurs roughly every 30 minutes? please can somone help me?? P.S. i searched for the quoted file in the SYSTEM32 folder, and there is no such file there.....is that my problem, and if so, how do i replace it? many thanks guys.

First thing you need to do is make sure your system is clean of any malware and junk. I use these and are all free and safe to use: crap cleaner download here spywareblaster download here spybot s&d download here adawareSE download here Download them and update them as needed then run them 1 after the other. then download: regscrubXP download here and run it. It should take care of that problem with the files and really speed up your computer also. Don't be surprised to see it find hundreds of errors. just select them all and let it fix them. IN THE MATTERS OF STYLE, swim with the current; in matters of principle, STAND LIKE A ROCK

Hi smoolio, The classic problem is that the autoexec.nt or config.nt or both go missing. I guess no one has figured out why. But you can put them back 'by hand' or get the xp_fix.exe here: http://www.visualtour.com/downloads/ The second issue you have may be a little harder. But fix this first and see how it goes. M2 If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

I guess no one has figured out why. I've seen malware do it first hand (and you can probably found other references out there blaming malware as well). Buggering up the 16 bit apps will prevent a lot of installs from running (even if they're installs for 32 bit apps), so I'm assuming the tactic is to prevent people from installing removal programs. I've also seen people try to blame it on SP2, but never saw anything backing that up.

HiJinx, I'll buy that 'block removal' theory. I never knew the *.NTs were there until a couple years ago. Says something about the likelihood of them going missing on their own. M2 If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

thats excellent guys!!! thanks a lot!! i really appreciate the swift resonse. the xp_fix sorted the problem. still have the autoplay search box though....any thoughts on what it might be looking for?