Solved 16bit Programs?

[JKnowles]

Hello!

I am working on my boss's new Windows 7 Pro 64-bit laptop. When attempting to access Outlook Web Access (we run Exchange 2003 as our mail server on a Windows SBS Server 2003 OS), Internet Explorer will freeze and shutdown whenever he attempts to send new mail or navigate to a new folder.

I did research on this issue and came across a solution. My research led me to installing an update for S/MIME control, which downloads as a small .exe file from OWA.

However, when I attempt to run the .exe (either as the local user or the administrator) I receive the following error:

"Too many other files are currently in use by 16-bit programs. Exit one or more 16-bit programs, or increase the value of the FILES command in your config.sys file."

This is very confusing, as there is no longer a Config.sys file in Windows 7. Also, from what I have read, a 64-bit OS cannot run a 16-bit program.

Really confused here, and have had no luck so far on my own. Any help will be more than appreciated!

Thank You

 

[Johnathan Lyman]

Hello!

I am working on my boss's new Windows 7 Pro 64-bit laptop. When attempting to access Outlook Web Access (we run Exchange 2003 as our mail server on a Windows SBS Server 2003 OS), Internet Explorer will freeze and shutdown whenever he attempts to send new mail or navigate to a new folder.

I did research on this issue and came across a solution. My research led me to installing an update for S/MIME control, which downloads as a small .exe file from OWA.

However, when I attempt to run the .exe (either as the local user or the administrator) I receive the following error:

"Too many other files are currently in use by 16-bit programs. Exit one or more 16-bit programs, or increase the value of the FILES command in your config.sys file."

This is very confusing, as there is no longer a Config.sys file in Windows 7. Also, from what I have read, a 64-bit OS cannot run a 16-bit program.

Really confused here, and have had no luck so far on my own. Any help will be more than appreciated!

Thank You

What IS the .exe file that tries to download?

Are you using IE8 or 9? IE 32-bit or 64-bit?

 

[cluberti]

Note if the installer for the S/MIME control is 16 bit (depending on what you downloaded, it may be), there is actually very limited 16bit installer support in x64 Windows. Technically, 16bit code cannot run natively at all when an x64 OS is running (the CPU cannot swap down to real mode from native mode), and Win7 x64 has some shims for a very few specific 16bit installers to run them in a 32bit wrapper under WOW emulation. If this is indeed a 16bit installer, you are most likely out of luck. I think it might be useful to figure out what the hang is specifically before throwing noodles at the wall hoping one sticks, so to speak.

 

[sygnus21]

Not sure what that program is or does, or if this is even appropriate but.... 64-bit versions of Windows do not support 16-bit components, 16-bit processes, or 16-bit applications

 

[JKnowles]

Just did some additional testing. It seems to be that whenever I attempt to run something as administrator and input the credentials in the pop up window, that is what is causing the hang. "Consent.exe" is the culprit apparently, as it is a new process that shows up in task manager when attempting to run these applications. The latest one I tested was the command prompt, so I know that works normally.

I was using 32 bit IE8 it seems, but I tried it with 64 bit IE8 and had the same issue.

The name of the file that is downloaded is setupmcl.exe

I havent searched for this similar issue yet, but it doesn't seem to be specific to the S/MIME update that I previously thought. Has anyone run into consent.exe hanging when entering admin credentials?

Thank You!

EDIT: Not sure why this was moved to the Software forum. It appears to me to be an issue with Windows 7, not software. Any chance this could be moved back to Crashes/Debugging? Or is there another spot it should go?

 

[Johnathan Lyman]

I'm not the most experienced when it comes to setups like this but I'll give it a stab.

STEUPMCL.EXE > In Exchange Server 2003 SP1, the S/MIME control setup program is a Microsoft Installer (MSI) file contained in a self-extracting executable file; this solution allows customers to deploy the S/MIME control to the desktop with enterprise software management systems. The previous version of Exchange 2003 used a different S/MIME control setup mechanism that was not compatible with enterprise management and deployment tools.

Now the fun part. Consent.exe is the UAC service and if it's hanging, it may not be getting the permissions it's expecting when you enter your credentials. The only way to find out what may be to dig into logs and I'm not completely sure beyond that point. My guess is a registry key or edit.

However after a little research, this may help. Application asking for Elevation hangs
One thing you could try is elevate the user's credentials and try to setup whatever you're setting up that way, then return credentials to normal.

 

[JKnowles]

Sorry for not posting sooner in this thread. This issue took a back seat to a few other things, but now it has come up once again.

Another employee was attempting to install HTC Sync on this windows 7 laptop. HTC Sync is a program that will allow him to sync his broken HTC Evo (phone) to the computer so that he can provision his new device without losing any of his data.

He called me asking what needed to be done to fix this. I asked him to log off just to see what would happen (all he had seen so far was the mouse pointer with the loading wheel spinning indefinitely). When he logged off, he said he saw an error message flash with something about 16 bit programs.

Is this an issue with Windows 7? Or is this potentially a virus or malware infecting the PC?

I have looked in quite a few places trying to figure this out, but the only thing I have come across was of no help.

If anyone has seen this, or has any clues where to start troubleshooting this, I would greatly appreciate the help.

Thank You!

 

[JKnowles]

I'm not sure if this issue is just that rare, or if it is something specific to this laptop. I can't find any additional information on this error message.

Any ideas out there?

 

[znacho]

Hey JKnowles i got the same problem trying to install a game called AVA ijji when i open the setup my desktop freezes and the only thing i can do is reboot. There is when the message error appears "Too many other files are currently in use by 16-bit programs" i think its a virus or something because its start happening when i erase all the downloads i´ve made a pop up window from nod32 antivirus came out and says that there was files with potential virus and then i eliminate them. Well at least thats what i think. I hope this helps you and if you know something to fix this issue tell me please thank you