I keep getting this error message "NTVDM.exe has stopped working" preceeded by a string of characters (something like the C:/~ command line (edit: The entire command line is "C:\PROGRA~1\svchost.exe) , that flashes (then disappears) and the only thing I am able to see is the "svchost.exe" This problem tends to come about when opening/closing IE, or many other day to day programs and sometimes comes up multiple times in a few minutes.... Thanks in advance.

NTDVM.exe is a program for providing compatibility with older, 16 bit applications. Are you using any older applications on your copy of Vista? Vista is a bit fussy when it comes to older applications - so the exact names and versions are essential to figure this out.

To find out more about what's going on, you can go to Start and type in "eventvwr.msc" (without the quotes) and press Enter. Expand the category for Windows logs and check the Application log underneath it. You'll be looking for errors that occur at the time you get the error messages. Double click on the error to get the details and post them here.

These are the only errors i see:
"Faulting application ntvdm.exe, version 6.0.6000.16386, time stamp 0x4549adf0, faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, time stamp 0x00000000, exception code 0xc0000005, fault offset 0x000007ed, process id 0x129c (these numbers change from error to error), application start time 0x01c8912a85b71eed (these change as well)."

"Fault bucket 355553618, type 1
Event Name: APPCRASH
Response: None
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: ntvdm.exe
P2: 6.0.6000.16386
P3: 4549adf0
P4: StackHash_1703
P5: 0.0.0.0
P6: 00000000
P7: c0000005
P8: 000007ed
P9:
P10: "

NOTE: These occur within 4-5 seconds of each other but that can span up to minutes... They NEVER occur at the same time.

I found another specific instance that creates the error, everytime i open a new tab (or an entirely new instance) of Internet Explorer it occurs, however, this is not the only time. Perhaps something conflicting there.

In response to your other question, I don't believe I have any software older than the Microsoft 2007 series, and the software installed on my PC in may '07...

Most of the links that I found that pertain to this type of problem seem to be related to games. What games have you installed? The particular problem seems to be with DOS/early Windows games. Most errors seem to involve the autoexec.bat, autoexec.nt and config.nt files.

Here's an article that pertains to Windows NT, but most of the steps don't work in Vista: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q220155/

I would suggest searching your hard drive for these files:
autoexec.bat
autoexec.nt
config.nt

When you find them, open them with a text editor and copy/paste their contents into your next reply. From there we may find some clues as to what's causing the problem.

Hmm... I couldn't find any of the above files on the system... Checked all the local drives. In response to your question... I have Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, World of Warcrat, and Football Manager 2008.

I also tried the article and followed all the steps. I was unsure of how to "replace" the files as it said but the first file I opened in the text editor (NTIO.sys) said this...

Unrecognized command in CONFIG.SYS
$
Bad command or parameters - $
Sector size too large in file $
Bad or missing $Command Interpreter
Invalid country code or code page
$
Error in COUNTRY command
$
Insufficient memory for COUNTRY.SYS file
$
Configuration too large for memory
$
Too many block devices
$
Invalid STACK parameters
$
Incorrect order in CONFIG.SYS line $Error in CONFIG.SYS line