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What does this mean? my friends computer would not boot, always gave system disk error, so we booted off CD, with CD ROM drivers, and typed "win" and got this error.
VFAT Device Initialization Failed
A device or resource required by VFAT is not present or is unavailable. VFAT cannot continue loading
system halted
Search the Microsoft support web site re Vfat errors. I seem to remember a number of KB articles about that problem..
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Jeff Lawrence
- can you boot in safe mode ?
- also try fdisk /mbr
- boot with F8 and press 2. bootlog
search for any fails ..
- try copying VFAT.VXD from another computer (with the same OS)
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Computers do exactly what you tell them to do - not exactly what you want them to do ...
its a long one but........
Error Message: VFAT Device Initialization Failed
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The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows 98
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SYMPTOMS
When you start Windows, you may receive the following error message on a blue screen:
VFAT Device Initialization Failed
A device or resource required by VFAT is not present or is unavailable. VFAT cannot continue loading.
System halted.
CAUSE
This problem can occur under any one of the following conditions:
If the Ifshlp.sys file is missing from the Windows folder.
-or
If the Config.sys file contains a line that points to a previous version of the Ifshlp.sys file.
-or-
If the following Ifshlp.sys statement is deleted from the Config.sys file after you reinstall Windows:
DEVICE=C:\Windows\Ifshlp.sys
-or-
If the [Paths] section in the Msdos.sys file is incorrect.
-or-
If a Winboot.ini file from a previous incomplete installation is present in the root folder on your Startup disk.
-or-
If a "maxfile cache = 4096" line is present in the System.ini file.
RESOLUTION
To resolve the problem, use one of the following methods.
Ifshlp.sys File Missing from Windows Folder
If the Ifshlp.sys file is missing from the Windows folder, extract a new copy of the file from your original Windows floppy disks or CD-ROM to the Windows folder.
For information about how to use the Extract tool, view the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
The Config.sys File Points to a Previous Version of the Ifshlp.sys File
Windows 95
Restart your computer. When you view the "Starting Windows 95" message, press F8, and then choose the Safe Mode Command Prompt Only option from the Startup menu.
Windows 98
Restart your computer, press and hold down CTRL after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose the Safe Mode Command Prompt Only option from the Startup menu.
Use a text editor (such as Notepad) to open the Config.sys file.
Delete the line that loads the Ifshlp.sys file. Note that Windows automatically loads this driver when you start your computer.
Save and then close the Config.sys file.
Restart your computer.
Ifshlp.sys Statement Was Deleted from the Config.sys File After You Reinstalled Windows
When you reinstall Windows, the Ifshlp.sys statement is deleted from the Config.sys file and it is not replaced. To add the Ifshlp.sys statement to the Config.sys file:
Windows 95
Restart your computer. When you view the "Starting Windows 95" message, press F8, and then choose the Safe Mode Command Prompt Only option from the Startup menu.
Windows 98
Restart your computer, press and hold down CTRL after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose the Safe Mode Command Prompt Only option from the Startup menu.
Use a text editor (such as Notepad) to open the Config.sys file.
Type the following line in the Config.sys file:
DEVICE=C:\Windows\Ifshlp.sys
Save and then close the Config.sys file.
Restart your computer.
Incorrect [Paths] Section in the Msdos.sys File
Windows 95
Restart your computer. When you view the "Starting Windows 95" message, press F8, and then choose the Safe Mode Command Prompt Only option from the Startup menu.
Windows 98
Restart your computer, press and hold down CTRL after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose the Safe Mode Command Prompt Only option from the Startup menu.
Type the following command at a command prompt:
attrib -s -h -r msdos.sys
Use a text editor (such as Notepad) to open the Msdos.sys file.
Verify that the following lines in the Msdos.sys file are correct [Paths] WinDir=Windows WinBootDir=Windows HostWinBootDrv=C where Windows is the folder that contains Windows. Note that if you are using disk compression software, you must change the drive letter in the HostWinBootDrv= line to the drive letter of the host drive.
Save and then close the Msdos.sys file.
Type the following line at a command prompt:
attrib +s +h +r msdos.sys
Restart your computer.
Winboot.ini File Present in the Root Folder of the Boot Drive
Windows 95
Restart your computer. When you view the "Starting Windows 95" message, press F8, and then choose the Safe Mode Command Prompt Only option from the Startup menu.
Windows 98
Restart your computer, press and hold down CTRL after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose the Safe Mode Command Prompt Only option from the Startup menu.
Type deltree winboot.ini at a command prompt to delete the Winboot.ini file in the root folder of the boot drive, and then press ENTER.
Restart your computer.
There Is a "maxfile cache = 4096" Line in the System.ini File
Use any text editor (such as Notepad) to open the System.ini file in the Windows folder. Type a semicolon ( https://forums.windrivers.com/ at the beginning of the "maxfile cache = 4096" line, save the file, close the file, and then restart your computer.
Additional query words: 98 failure vfat initialization error startup
Keywords : kbenv kberrmsg kbfile win95 win98
Issue type : kbprb
Technology :
Last Reviewed: January 17, 2001
© 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.
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She may have only been a prostitute, but she had the prettiest face I ever came across