How to remove an ntvdm error

The free file information forum can help you determine if ntvdm.exe is a virus, trojan, spyware, or adware that you can remove, or a file belonging to a Windows system or an application you can trust.

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Ntvdm.exe file information

The process belongs to software Microsoft Windows Operating System or OIN or MediaTickets by OIN by Microsoft (www.microsoft.com).

Description: The file ntvdm.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows\System32. Known file sizes on Windows 7/XP are 526,848 bytes (53% of all occurrences), 520,704 bytes or 520,192 bytes.
It is a Windows core system file. The file is a Microsoft signed file. Therefore the technical security rating is 2% dangerous, however also read the users reviews.

Recommended: Identify ntvdm.exe related errors

If ntvdm.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files\Common Files", the security rating is 64% dangerous. The file size is 73,216 bytes. There is no information about the author of the file. The program is not visible. The process starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run). Ntvdm.exe is not a Windows system file. ntvdm.exe is able to monitor applications.

External information from Paul Collins:

"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. You can find a bit more about NTVDM here

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as ntvdm.exe, particularly when located in the c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. Therefore, you should check the ntvdm.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

Score

User Comments

Windows 16-bit Virtual Machine is used to run DOS programs
Alex

16bit application layer for Windows NT based operating systems (NT, 2k, XP,...)
Pieter-Jan Gunst

Hosts 16-bit Windows apps and DOS apps under NT, Windows 2000 and XP
Bj.

This link provides detailed description
zero

Although it is a Windows program, it seams to be using 100% of my CPU and the only way I can get rid of it is to constantly delete it through Task Manager. An iritating nusance...
Pete

I recommend going to the Task Manager and stopping ntvdm.exe when installing our software Skyline Property Management from ssctech.com. I also stop MMC.exe--these two seem to those the install of our 3rd party software Pervasive DB and Crystal Runtime.
Dale Randle (further information)

ntvdm.exe causes chasm the rift to not play on my computer
billy

dos system, makes xp a bit less USeless
zero0v

found it in more than ten folders on my computer
BoogWar

The virus Alureon may camoflage itself as this file
David Brown (further information)

ntvdm is pulling up the docs32.exe file as soon as internet connects and executes the file infmgr.exe from %systemroot% \system32.
Ronald M

it uses 100% of CPU
jignesh vadera

It Sarts GETMODULE 30.exe a virus so i realy thought it was a virus to but its a core file...
Tyler Bundy

Invoked by Windows as VM running a DOS program. So "needed" is relative.
canderson

needed to run dos applications and some games
Big Smoke

do not delete or rename this file or you will have big problems.
Larry Carter

adwatch kills it by default, which causes SysSuite8 diskfixer to fail
emoze

It is a screen that keeps poping up saying there is a problem with it on our comptuer
michelle

NT Virtual Dos Machine, is in itself not a harmful program. It can become a problem if it is replaced by a malicious version as always. In addition, badly written or a malicious dos applications which is run by ntvdm can be harmful
Nab

I was at startup, And a bunch of "NTVDM"s poped up in my windows task manager, They were opening and closing and it was right after I scanned my computer..
Lewk

Fan started running continuously so checked task manager and ntvdm was using 50% cpu so ended process. Fan slowed and system ran fine afterward. Happened only once. Win XP
Philip

source code of ntvdm.exe file
robert collins

seems to be stopping my older DOS programs from running.
Jeff

it's a windows system file but not essential.and harmful too
maveric

using 100% of my CPU

When this opens, wow.exe opens with it as a sub program. When I close ntvdm.exe from Task Manager, wow.exe closes also. I believe the wow.exe is some sort of spyware. I do not run Word of Warcraft. Computer also slows down quite a bit.
Rob

It uses a lot of cpu time and really slows my system when it is not caught by McAfee security software
Robbo

Ntvdm.exe is used for running 16 bit applications on a 32 bit system. It is not dangerous but it will max out your CPU because of the conversions it does.
LegalizeMe

It uses a lot of CPU when I run QBasic
Zarquon the magnificent

Consumes an entire core of my Core 2 Duo E8400
Kevin Kim

When I execute a batch that runs in a loop, I can see ntvdm.exe running. It consumes about 80% of one of my cores.
Edward L

It can be stopped using Process Blocker(try both version 4rm: http://www.processblocker.com/download.html ). I am pretty confident it'll work for you too.
SMD

It is used Only when the computer user runs C/C++/C# programs
Shaik Shoeb

ntvdm.is.a windows file it uses 100 percent of cpu usage to stop this file open ur task manager open process right click on ntvdm.exe then click on end process tree

essential for Windows

I closed my dos window and ntvdm.exe closed , was taking 30% cpu
Bob Joy

use 99% of my CPU. Only invoked when trying to run a very old dos game
Beer

when i open my laptop 20 minutes later x2 ntvdl.exe are appeared at my task manager and my cpu goes up to 100% then i have to stop them manually... plz i need help to fix it...
dj pol

for installation of gre powerprep it needs
ssr

ntvdm.exe will startup when you start up qb.exe version 1.1 or 4.5 . Strangely enough though when starting qb.exe version 1.1 , ntvdm uses a lot less cpu time.
Leendert Schouten

it started in the background and used lots of cpu recource and ended as i closed turbo c compiler v3 for C++
Musawer

Windows Virtual DOS Machine, runs old 16-bit DOS or Windows 3.1 software. In the Task Manager, you will also see wow.exe- this is short for "Windows On Windows", emulating the older 16 bit Windows 3.1.....
Bill Matthews

I ended it and my CPU went from 80%-100% to 30%-60%. My fan made less noise and nothing bad happened.
rokyfox

when i downloaded 3 windows updates for XP ,NTVDM.exe used 100% of my CPU so i ended the prosses in task manager and hid the updates to stop them downloading ever again
nilocelbbuh

when you download some application like online games,utilities,appsware,etc. it is perfect.No problem available...when u use it for a few times...NTVDM.EXE appear then said it cant be open because of some error.I dont think its an error.its like controlling it or eat the system.
syafiq zamri

It distracts the browser from sending and receiving data
Richard Keep

cannot open any application or softwares.....and even cannot delete it from system 32 directory
rokktim

ntvdm.exe used to be a pipeline for malware, don't know if this still applies, blocking its execution with a good firewall creates no application problems out of well over 400 apps on my XP box.
Dave Abbott

You need it, but it stays running unless you restart or close the process(es). No damage to end process but be sure you aren't installing or running a DOS program.
Qermaq

Summary: Average user rating of ntvdm.exe: based on 62 votes with 49 reviews.

20 users think ntvdm.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 14 users think it's probably harmless. 12 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 10 users suspect danger. 6 users think ntvdm.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 7 users doesn't grade ntvdm.exe ("not sure about it").

Ntvdm scanner

Security Task Manager shows all running Windows tasks including embedded hidden functions (e.g. keyboard or browser monitoring, autostart entry). A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware, keylogger or a Trojan.

MalwareBytes detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, malware and tracking threats from your hard disk. Ideal supplement to Security Task Manager.

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