Ok, I need HALP

[KarthXLR]

Here' my situation:

For the last couple days, you all have been hearing me complain about TF2. Somewhere in the madness, someone recommended I look at my processes. I found a process called NTVDM.exe located in system32 literally absorbing 100% of my processor. This would explain why TF2 was running so poorly lately, but I don't know if it's ok to end the process without screwing up my operating system.

Is there a safe way to keep NTVDM.exe from absorbing so my power?

[Dave]

Windows errors related to ntvdm.exe?

ntvdm.exe is process that belongs to the Windows 16-bit Virtual Machine. It provides an environment for a 16-bit process to execute on a 32-bit platform. This program is important for the stable and secure running of your computer and should not be terminated.


http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ntvdm.exe

[KarthXLR]

Windows errors related to ntvdm.exe?

ntvdm.exe is process that belongs to the Windows 16-bit Virtual Machine. It provides an environment for a 16-bit process to execute on a 32-bit platform. This program is important for the stable and secure running of your computer and should not be terminated.


http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ntvdm.exe

do you think I would've posted here if I had figured out what to do? I've already tried googling it and haven't found anything I can use.

[Dave]

[quote author=Dave link=topic=3505.msg108137#msg108137 date=1250962049]
Windows errors related to ntvdm.exe?

ntvdm.exe is process that belongs to the Windows 16-bit Virtual Machine. It provides an environment for a 16-bit process to execute on a 32-bit platform. This program is important for the stable and secure running of your computer and should not be terminated.


http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ntvdm.exe

do you think I would've posted here if I had figured out what to do? I've already tried googling it and haven't found anything I can use.
[/quote]

first google result i found.

[KarthXLR]

[quote author=Karth is Ego Tripping link=topic=3505.msg108139#msg108139 date=1250962249]
[quote author=Dave link=topic=3505.msg108137#msg108137 date=1250962049]
Windows errors related to ntvdm.exe?

ntvdm.exe is process that belongs to the Windows 16-bit Virtual Machine. It provides an environment for a 16-bit process to execute on a 32-bit platform. This program is important for the stable and secure running of your computer and should not be terminated.


http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ntvdm.exe

do you think I would've posted here if I had figured out what to do? I've already tried googling it and haven't found anything I can use.
[/quote]

first google result i found.
[/quote]
Doesn't solve my problem. It's still using WAY too much CPU for no reason.

[Dave]

well from seeing what it does im guessing its not the ntvdm thats the problem, its whatever process it is enabling to run.

[Mission Difficult]

but I don't know if it's ok to end the process without screwing up my operating system.

[quote author=Dave link=topic=3505.msg108137#msg108137 date=1250962049]
Windows errors related to ntvdm.exe?

ntvdm.exe is process that belongs to the Windows 16-bit Virtual Machine. It provides an environment for a 16-bit process to execute on a 32-bit platform. This program is important for the stable and secure running of your computer and should not be terminated.


http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ntvdm.exe

do you think I would've posted here if I had figured out what to do? I've already tried googling it and haven't found anything I can use.
[/quote]

Anyway, it looks like it's a virtual machine for running 16 bit apps in a 32 bit OS. I don't have it running on my machine, so I don't think it would do too much harm ending it or even disabling it in startup. Unless you happen to have some 16 bit app running.

[KarthXLR]

[quote author=Karth is Ego Tripping link=topic=3505.msg108131#msg108131 date=1250960491]
but I don't know if it's ok to end the process without screwing up my operating system.

[quote author=Dave link=topic=3505.msg108137#msg108137 date=1250962049]
Windows errors related to ntvdm.exe?

ntvdm.exe is process that belongs to the Windows 16-bit Virtual Machine. It provides an environment for a 16-bit process to execute on a 32-bit platform. This program is important for the stable and secure running of your computer and should not be terminated.


http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ntvdm.exe

do you think I would've posted here if I had figured out what to do? I've already tried googling it and haven't found anything I can use.
[/quote]

Anyway, it looks like it's a virtual machine for running 16 bit apps in a 32 bit OS. I don't have it running on my machine, so I don't think it would do too much harm ending it or even disabling it in startup. Unless you happen to have some 16 bit app running.
[/quote]
Is steam 16 bit?

I know I read about this after googling it, but how can I tell what's a 16-bit application and what's not?

[HeK]

Now that we know what the process is, the next question is to ask is why your computer is running ntvdm.exe

To answer that, we will have to look to see what process spawned ntvdm.exe.
Lets start by downloading Process Explorer: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/sysin...96653.aspx

Process Explorer (PEx) is like a beefed up version of the Windows Taskmangler. The advantage of PEx is that will show your process tree, and extended details of each application.

Please either post up the process tree to ntvdm.exe or a screen shot and we can go from there.


Alternatively, you can kill ntvdm.exe from the Windows Taskmanager and see what stops working.

[KarthXLR]

Alternatively, you can kill ntvdm.exe from the Windows Taskmanager and see what stops working.

When I first saw that it was, I assumed it was some sort of virus and ended it. But I've done so 3 or 4 times now, but everything's still fine.

I'll check out the process tree the next time I restart my computer.

[zaneyard]

yeah you're prolly not gonna end up screwing up your OS if you kill a process. I'm pretty sure if it's system vital they wont let you kill it.
im willing to bet that everything you are running on your computer is 32-bit, i don't even remember 16 bit software.

[KarthXLR]

Checked out the process tree.


I don't see what's causing it to activate.  :-\

[Negate]

Checked out the process tree.


I don't see what's causing it to activate.  :-\

there's a reason hek asked you to post it.

[Duck, Duck, Goose]

Somewhere in the madness, someone recommended I look at my processes.

You're welcome. ;D

"NTVDM" can run at start up. Windows NT Virtual DOS Machine (NTVDM) for running 16-bit tasks on the 32-bit OS's (Windows NT, 2K and XP). Required if hardware on a machine with these OS's needs 16-bit DOS drivers.

Now, how would Karth be able to check what hardware driver is 16-bit?