Is it possible to run a 16-bit program on Windows 10 64-bit platform?

The only possible ways to run 16 bit in 64 is by using an emulator or by running a virtual machine in Hyper-v.

You could run a 32 bit win xp VM and run the apps in it.

It wont be pretty and it wont be fast but it MAY work

Only the 32 bit version of Windows 10 has a 16 bit sub system. For Windows 10 64 bit, you would have to run the application on a supported version of Windows in a virtual machine.

How to Enable 16-bit Application Support in Windows 10 - groovyPost

If you have a compatible version of Windows the application works with, see instructions how to setup a virtual machine:

How to: install the latest Windows 10 Build in Oracle VirtualBox (references Windows 10, same instructions work for setting up other versions of Windows).

How to setup a virtual machine using Hyper-V

It's not possible to run 16bit applications on 64bit Windows. The reason give by Microsoft is

Note that 64-bit Windows does not support running 16-bit Windows-based applications. The primary reason is that handles have 32 significant bits on 64-bit Windows. Therefore, handles cannot be truncated and passed to 16-bit applications without loss of data. Attempts to launch 16-bit applications fail with the following error: ERROR_BAD_EXE_FORMAT.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384249%28VS.85%29.aspx

Often, as appears to be the case here, only the installer is 16bit. If you can run the installer on a 32bit system, it's possible to record what files and Registry entries it produces and then transfer them to the 64bit system.

Aaron Margosis has published some Powershell scripts to do this:

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/aaron_margosis/2014/09/04/the-case-of-the-app-install-recorder/

The only possible ways to run 16 bit in 64 is by using an emulator or by running a virtual machine in Hyper-v.

You could run a 32 bit win xp VM and run the apps in it.

It wont be pretty and it wont be fast but it MAY work

Thank you for your quick response ZigZag.

I may just have to pry open my wallet and purchase a program thats compatible with Windows 10.

Used it back in my XP days and it worked beautifully converting my LPs to CD.

Cleaned them up quite nicely.

Thank you again Zig,

Douglas Ikeler

Hello Andy,

I tried the link above to enable 16-bit in Windows 10 with no luck.

I must have a watered down version of Windows 10 when I opted for the free upgrade from Windows 7.

I did not find 'NTVDM' when I expanded the Legacy Components.

I just stopped there.

No computer savy.

Thank you for your time Andy, it did help.

Douglas Ikeler

It's not possible to run 16bit applications on 64bit Windows. The reason give by Microsoft is

Note that 64-bit Windows does not support running 16-bit Windows-based applications. The primary reason is that handles have 32 significant bits on 64-bit Windows. Therefore, handles cannot be truncated and passed to 16-bit applications without loss of data. Attempts to launch 16-bit applications fail with the following error: ERROR_BAD_EXE_FORMAT.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384249%28VS.85%29.aspx

Often, as appears to be the case here, only the installer is 16bit. If you can run the installer on a 32bit system, it's possible to record what files and Registry entries it produces and then transfer them to the 64bit system.

Aaron Margosis has published some Powershell scripts to do this:

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/aaron_margosis/2014/09/04/the-case-of-the-app-install-recorder/

Thank you dax.

Just going to have to bite the bullet and try to find comparable programs to replace my relics.

Douglas Ikeler

Again, this is only available in 64 bit versions of Windows 10, not 32 bit Windows 10.

Press Windows key + X

Click System

Look under System Type.

If its not 32 bit, you will have to use the other solution.