WOW Environment Remains in Memory After Quitting 16-Bit Program (181333)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0
This article was previously published under Q181333 SUMMARY
When you start a 16-bit program on a computer running Windows NT, the
Ntvdm.exe and Wowexec.exe processes start. After you quit the 16-bit
program, the Ntvdm.exe and Wowexec.exe processes remain in memory.
MORE INFORMATION
This behavior is a design feature of Windows NT. The Ntvdm.exe and
Wowexec.exe processes remain in memory in case you start another 16-bit
program. Leaving the Windows-On-Windows (WOW) environment (which consists
of the Ntvdm.exe and Wowexec.exe processes) in memory improves performance.
The WOW environment is not loaded when you start Windows NT. It is loaded
when you first start a 16-bit program.
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 6/3/2003 |
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| Keywords: | kbinfo KB181333 |
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