Printer error/program crash - ntvdm.exe 1

[RBH]

I hadn't made any effort to print anything from a program called WinFin (ver 4.74 & 16 bit) but it ran fine under Windows 2000. Today I did try to print something, but unsuccessfuly. My default printer is the HPLJIII. I tried 4 times to print the result screen, but the program crashed every time, stating that "ntvdm.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows", which it did. The program doesn't offer any other printer choices, it just sends to the default printer. I have not tried any of the other 3 printers I have on line.

I did a search for ntvdm.exe, and it's located in the Windows system and system32 folders. The copy that I have in both is dated 7/26/2000, and is version 5.0.2180.1. I don't know what this file does, but apparently WinFin does issue a call to it, either directly or indirectly, and they don't get along.

I'm running Win2K SP1, on a fairly new machine with an AMD Athlon 1.1 GHz processor.

I found an article on the MS database that discusses this problem with a 2 chip system, but I'm running a single CPU.

Anyone have any ideas?

Ron Hirsch

 

[techshoot]

That is the Virtual Dos Manager so you are printing from a DOS application. Make sure that the printer is setup to print DOS apps by capturing a printer port. Also make sure you have the latest service pack (2) as it fixed a few DOS compatability problems that I had experienced.

http://www.ktech-usa.com

 

[RBH]

Thanks for the info. I had since learned this is the virtual DOS manager.

But the program which caused this printing problem is definitely a 16 bit shareware Windows app that I have used for years. Also, on the task bar, when this program runs is an indication that an item called "Graphics Server" is running. It produced the following info when I right clicked on it, and asked for the info

Graphics Server for Windows 3
Version 2.51 2/11/94

I've never come across this situation before. And, I don't know why the server
is invoked.

Under Win 95, the same program was able to print properly to my HPLJIII.

I do have SP2, but I have not installed it, as I've had no real problems with SP1, and I'm always a bit "shy" about fixing things when they aren't "broke."

Ron Hirsch

 

[techshoot]

Graphics server is a MS applet and you are looking at the 16 bit version info, good chance your app was written with VB. The current applet (Graph9.exe) is version 9 and I probably got it with MSOffice and is 32-bit. I have been runnis SP2 for a while now and it helped with one program I use frequently that would not run and I had to use my laptop with Win98 until I installed the service pack.

http://www.ktech-usa.com