FixWindowsWindows NT (3.1 to 4.0)

Windows NT: installing programs and fixing common problems

Add or remove programs and drivers on Windows NT 4.0, and recover from startup trouble using the Emergency Repair Disk and the Setup disks.

  • Updated
  • 15 min
  • Advanced
Applies to
  • Windows 2000 and older

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Running Windows NT 4.0 for older software or equipment? Learn to install and remove programs, add drivers, and recover from startup problems.

Windows NT 4.0 no longer gets security updates

Extended support for NT Workstation 4.0 ended on June 30, 2004. An unsupported version of Windows receives no updates from Microsoft and is at greater risk from viruses and malware. Keep it off the internet, do not use it for banking or email, and move important work to a supported system.

Before you start

Back up anything that matters. See how to back up your files. Take programs and drivers only from their makers' own disks. Read safe downloads and fake driver sites before fetching anything from a website. NT 4.0 does not have Plug and Play (automatic hardware setup), and it does not have Safe Mode or a Recovery Console. Its recovery tools are the Emergency Repair Disk and the Setup disks.

Install a program

  1. Sign in as a user who belongs to the Administrators group. Many programs refuse to install otherwise.
  2. Close other programs and insert the program's disc.
  3. Select Start then Settings then Control Panel, then double-click Add/Remove Programs.
  4. On the Install/Uninstall tab, select Install and follow the wizard. If it cannot find the setup program, browse to SETUP.EXE on the disc.

Programs written for Windows 95 do not always run on NT 4.0, because NT works differently with hardware. Check the program's documentation for the supported systems.

Reapply the latest service pack after adding Windows components

When you add components from the NT CD, apply the latest service pack again. This is common practice among administrators.

Remove a program

  1. Open Add/Remove Programs and select the Install/Uninstall tab.
  2. Select the program, then Add/Remove, and follow the prompts.

Add a driver

NT uses drivers from the device maker, on a disk. Open Start then Settings then Control Panel, then the icon for the device type, such as SCSI Adapters, Display, Network or Multimedia. For storage adapters, Microsoft's manual shows the SCSI Adapters icon as the place to add one after Setup. Restart when asked.

Use only a driver written for NT 4.0. A driver for Windows 95 or 98 will not work.

Fix a problem

NT 4.0 problem: try in orderA top-to-bottom flow chart with 6 boxes. Work through them in order and stop when the problem is fixed. The full text follows the picture.NT 4.0 problem: try in orderNo1Restart and check for afloppy left in the drive2Use the Last KnownGood prompt if it appearsat startup3Undo the last program ordriver change4Boot the Setup disks andpress R to repair5Does NT start normally now?Yes: You are doneRestore from your backup,or reinstall NT
Move to the next step only if the one before did not help.
Text version of this diagram
  1. Step 1: Restart and check for a floppy left in the drive
  2. Step 2: Use the Last Known Good prompt if it appears at startup
  3. Step 3: Undo the last program or driver change
  4. Step 4: Boot the Setup disks and press R to repair
  5. Question 5: Does NT start normally now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  6. If nothing worked: Restore from your backup, or reinstall NT

A program has frozen

  1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del.
  2. In the security window, select Task Manager.
  3. On the Applications tab, select the program marked not responding, then End Task.

Unsaved work in that program is lost.

Windows will not start

Start with the least drastic action. Watch the startup for a prompt about the Last Known Good configuration and use it if it appears, which undoes the latest configuration change. If that is not offered or does not help, use the repair route.

  1. Start the computer from the Setup Boot Disk, or from the CD if your BIOS supports it, and insert the other Setup disks when asked.
  2. On the welcome screen, press R to repair.
  3. Follow the on-screen options. When asked, insert your Emergency Repair Disk.

Only repair with a disk made for this PC

An Emergency Repair Disk holds settings for the computer that made it, as they were when the disk was last updated. Repairing from it can undo configuration changes made since then, such as added programs or new user accounts. Your documents are not part of it, so back them up first if the disk can still be read. If you did not make a repair disk, skip the repair step. Do not use a disk made on another machine.

Error messages

Common NT 4.0 startup errors
MessageLikely causes
NTLDR is missingThe PC is starting from a disk that is not bootable, a damaged boot sector, or damaged or missing startup files
STOP 0x0000007B INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICEWindows cannot reach the boot disk, often because of a wrong or missing storage driver, or a changed controller setting in the BIOS
Insufficient disk spaceLess free space than Setup needs, which is 117 MB on the system partition

For NTLDR, first remove any non-bootable floppy or CD and check the BIOS boot order. These are likely causes, not certainties. If the cause is a drive fault, the Emergency Repair Disk may not help.

Check what went wrong

Open Start then Programs then Administrative Tools (Common), then Event Viewer. Entries marked as errors around the time of the fault can name a failing driver or service.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Safe Mode in NT 4.0?

No. Use the Last Known Good prompt, the Emergency Repair Disk, or the Setup disks.

Should I update the Emergency Repair Disk?

Microsoft's manual recommends updating it whenever you change the configuration, such as adding disk controllers or programs.

Can NT read my newer FAT32 disk?

No. NT 4.0 supports FAT and NTFS but not FAT32. See installing NT 4.0.

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