File

Purpose

NTVDM.EXE

The main loader for a VDM.

WOWEXEC.EXE

Provides the Windows 3.1 emulation for the VDM. When you log onto Windows NT, the WOWEXEC program is loaded by running the NTVDM program, which makes that VDM the 16-bit Windows subsystem.

WOW32.DLL

Provides the DLL portion of the Windows 3.1 emulation layer. When you use the PViewer utility to look at running NTVDM processes, you can identify the one that is the 16-bit Windows subsystem by WOW32.DLL being listed in its memory detail.

AUTOEXEC.NTCONFIG.NT

Used to boot the files necessary for running 16-bit Windows applications. The AUTOEXEC.NT and CONFIG.NT files are usually in the \SYSTEM32 directory, but you can change this location by using _DEFAULT.PIF. Windows NT creates the AUTOEXEC.NT file from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and creates the CONFIG.NT file from scratch. It writes comments to the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files that describe the .NT versions. Refer to the Windows NT System Guide for more information.