Recommended Posts

I keep getting the error message below whenever I try to run certain programs.

This could be a bug in the program, but some are programs that I'm simply reinstalling, having prevouosly installed them with no porblems.

This seems to be a problem with user.exe.

I got the original off my XP CD (Home, upgrade, pre-SP1) when it was mysteriously deleted a few months back.

And now I'm getting these problems.

This doesn't just apply to (possibly) 16-bit programs. I tried installing DirectX 9, but that failed, leaving a message in the log referring to a problem with user.exe.

The screenshot below is incomplete. More text appears on it, but I can't capture it goes by so fast. Something about using a boot disk or CD to start the system.

Please help.

post-11-1057671507.png

post-11-1057671507.png

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/90802-userexe-error/
Share on other sites

  empty said:
Have you googled it? I honestly have no idea what the hell that means :| Also, what OS is this? Xp or 2000?

Note:

  Quote
I got the original off my XP CD (Home, upgrade, pre-SP1)

Yes, I have XP Home (upgrade) SP-1.

And yes, I Googled it.

I also searched support.microsoft.com.

No good.

That's why I tried Neowin.

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/90802-userexe-error/#findComment-1029271
Share on other sites

  Angel Blue01 said:
In XP?

The only memory managers I know of are for DOS. I just use emm386 (or whatever its called).

Would a memory manager fix this user.exe error in DirectX setup?

did you install it in config.nt? if so, remove it there :blink: there is already a built in memory manager for DOS in XP. you can see in in the properties of a DOS shortcut :)

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/90802-userexe-error/#findComment-1031033
Share on other sites

you can open a command prompt, and THEN start your program. that will leave the window open so you can take a screenshot of the output :)

try running "sfc /scannow", that will make sure all your system files are working and aren't modified by viruses. note that if you have modded different files for themes, icons, etc. they will be replaced, so back those up first.

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/90802-userexe-error/#findComment-1031911
Share on other sites

The problem with running it from the command prompt (which I tired) is that this is a Widows installation program, that then tries to run whatever causes the error.

Besides, the DirectX setup isn't 16-bit.

I did try to run it from the command prompt. It started the normal Windows installation, and failed just like before.

Can anyone post the SP-1 (Home) version of user.exe, or atleast explain how I can extract it?

As I said earleir, I'm using the version off the Windows XP CD.

But I'll try to replace it again...

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/90802-userexe-error/#findComment-1032630
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • I'd concur too, as an informed enthusiast I'd find it a good deal, but your average Joe just wants cheap as possible and it's hard to beat Amazon or Ebay builds for that.
    • Now you know how many would-be Windows 11 users felt. I’m not justifying any of it, but MS and Apple both do it.
    • An Air India plane with 242 people on board crashed Thursday near a major international airport in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, the airline and the country's government said. https://www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/air-india-plane-crashes-indias-ahmedabad-airport-rcna212545
    • NTLite 2025.06.10473 by Razvan Serea NTLite is a Windows configuration tool that allows you to modify your existing Windows install or an image yet to be deployed, remove Windows components, configure and integrate, speed up the Windows deployment process. Reduce Windows footprint on your RAM and storage drive memory. Remove components of your choice, guarded by compatibility safety mechanisms, which speed up finding that sweet spot. Windows Unattended feature support, providing many commonly used options on a single page for easy setup. Easily integrate a single or multiple drivers, update or language packages. Package integration features smart sorting, enabling you to seamlessly add packages for integration and the tool will apply them in the appropriate order, keeping hotfix compatibility in check. One of the important new features of NTLite (compared to its predecessors) is the ability to modify an already installed the operating system, by removing unnecessary components. Supports Windows 11, 10, 8.1 and 7, x86 and x64, live and image. Server editions of the same versions, excluding support for component removals and feature configuration. ARM64 image support in the alpha stage. Does not support Checked/Debug, Embedded, IoT editions, nor Vista or XP. NTLite 2025.06.10473 changelog: Upgrade UI: Text size now set as host, more readable on some systems Post-setup: Loading progress improvement for the 99% delay Components: ‘Snipping tool’ compatibility option UI-Translation: Thanks for Romanian (Coman) Fix Updates: Parallel WinRE integration getting stuck Updates: Download overwrite previous Defender updates Settings: Win10 News widget disabling Download: NTLite 64-bit | 21.5 MB (Free, paid upgrade available) Download: NTLite 32-bit | 19.3 MB Link: NTLite Home Page | NTLite Features | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      elsafaacompany earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      Yianis earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Veteran
      Travesty went up a rank
      Veteran
    • One Month Later
      somar86 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      somar86 earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      506
    2. 2
      ATLien_0
      260
    3. 3
      +Edouard
      183
    4. 4
      +FloatingFatMan
      183
    5. 5
      snowy owl
      132
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!