Err Msg: STOP C0000221 - Bad Image Checksum in Ntvdm.exe (245087)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
This article was previously published under Q245087

SYMPTOMS

When you use a computer that is running Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 or Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0, the computer may stop responding (hang) and you may receive the following error message:
STOP C0000221 - Bad Image Checksum
The image ntvdm.exe is possibly corrupt, the header checksum does not match the computed checksum.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if the Ntvdm.exe file is damaged.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the appropriate method:

NOTE: You can use this procedure to fix any damaged file that is referred to in a STOP C0000221 error message.

File Allocation Table (FAT) Partition

If Windows NT 4.0 resides on a FAT partition, follow these steps:

  1. Start the computer in MS-DOS.
  2. Replace the Ntvdm.exe file in the %SystemRoot%\System32 folder with the Ntvdm.exe file that is included in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 or later.
  3. Restart the computer.

NTFS Partition

If Windows NT 4.0 resides on an NTFS file system partition, follow these steps:

  1. Install a parallel installation of Windows NT 4.0, and then install the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 on the parallel installation.
  2. Start the computer using the parallel installation.
  3. Copy the Ntvdm.exe file from the parallel installation to the %SystemRoot%\System32 folder of the original installation.
  4. Restart the computer in the original installation, and then remove the parallel installation.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/27/2002
Keywords:kbprb KB245087
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.