You can disable only the 16-bit Windows On Windows subsystem, or both the Windows On Windows and the Windows NT Virtual DOS Machine (NTVDM) subsystems, however, you cannot disable just the Windows On Windows subsystem by modifying the registry.
To modify the 16-bit Windows On Windows subsystem:
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
- Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
- Locate the CMDLINE (for MS-DOS applications) and WOWCMDLINE (for 16-bit Windows applications) values under the following key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WOW
- Adding a character to the beginning of the string will keep the subsystem from running, but it will keep the old value in tact to easily revert back to the old setting.
- Quit Registry Editor. These registry changes are dynamic and it is not necessary to restart.
Keep Task Manager running to help determine the current state of the system. If an NTVDM is running, you may wish to stop the NTVDM process currently running to ensure that the registry changes are reflected when creating a new NTVDM.
This keeps 16-bit and MS-DOS programs from running. Also, an error message may be displayed giving file and path information for the program you are trying to run.