VFAT Device Inititialization Failed 2

[sweevo]

Hello,

I'm having a problem with the boot up of a computer. This is a friend's computer, so I don't really have much info on what was done prior to this problem occurring.

On starting the computer, there is an "Invalid System Disk" error when trying to boot from the hard disk.

I use a Win 98 startup disk to get to the DOS prompt. Here, I can access the hard disk normally.

I then tried to load Windows, and a message about the registry briefly flashes up, then the comp blue screens with the following message:

VFAT Device Inititialization Failed

A device or resource required by VFAT is not present or is unavailable. VFAT cannot continue loading.

System halted

Does anyone know what might be causing this? Has something important been deleted - and is there a way to recover the situation without a full reinstall?

Any help would be appreciated. Cheers.

 

[PeterGriff]

I think this is because you are booting from the floppy - this is designed to give you access, not as an alternative method to run windows, however it could be damaged files. If your hard drive is not booting it probably indicates some other underlying problem - either a bad shutdown has corrupted critical files, or your hard drive is developing faults (bad sectors).

Heres a quick fix
- boot from your floppy (must be the same OS version as you are running)
- navigate to C:\windows\command
- copy sys.com A:- cd A:- sys C:
this will copy a set of system files back.
Reboot your PC without the floppy. If it is fixed you should backup data, then run scandisk in thorough mode (or from DOS and say yes to the surface scan) to check your hard drive over.
If it is still not fixed you may have bigger problems - most likely multiple bad sectors on your hard drive (they usually pick the windows system area - I guess this is the most heavily used). In this case see if you can mount your hard drive in another PC and copy off any data before proceeding.
NOTE that running scandisk on a damaged system can mess up your data and make it difficult to recover so always get what you can onto another machine first.

Peter G

 

[SESaskDFC]

Howdy:

Error Message: VFAT Device Initialization Failed

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q139/0/63.asp

VFAT Initialization Error Message Installing Windows 98

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q190/1/10.asp

http://help.nec-computers.com/sg/prs/TPC01559.asp

Murray

 

[sweevo]

Thanks for the info.

I've just copied the sys files back to the hard drive and seem to have progressed a step further.

I no longer get the invalid system disk message and the computer boots to the prompt. If I press F8 after the power-on self test, the windows load options do appear (Normal, safe mode etc), though whichever I choose it still only boots to the DOS prompt.

I will run Scandisk from here, but are there any procedures I can follow in order to restore Windows, so it loads up normally? Will I have to re-install Windows?

Thanks.

 

[PeterGriff]

Hi sweevo,

you need to have a look and try to determine whether everything appears OK or not in terms of all the files still being there. Do a dir /p /on and see if you still have a Windows folder. Change to the Windows folder (cd C:\windows) and repeat dir /p /on and browse through the Windows folders and see that all the standard folders are present (ystem, system32, favorites, application data, start, temp ...). If everything is in its place you should try the tips suggested if the second link of SESaskDFG's post. Otherwise you will have to reinstall over the existing install, or failing that do a clean install.

To install over the top copy your CD files to the hard drive.
Instructions: create a directory on the hard drive (cd\) (md C:\win98cd) then (cd win98cd) and make a folder win98 (md win98), then copy the top level files from the CD into Win98cd folder (D:\) then (copy *.* C:\win98cd) then change to the win98) on D drive and copy these files (cd win98) (copy *.* C:\win98cd\win98).
Then swap to C drive (C:\) and move to win98cd folder (cd C:\win98cd) and run setup (setup).

To clean install do the above steps but stop before you run the setup. Before running setup you should change the name of the windows folder and the program files folder. (ren C:\windows winold) and (ren C:\progra~1 progold). Then run setup from win98cd folder as above. When it asks you for a location to install Windows it will suggest C:\winold - ignore this and force it to install to C:\windows (and YES when it asks if you are really sure).
All your files will be intact and the original windows and program files folders are still present but renamed.

Peter G

 

[sweevo]

Thanks for your time - I'll give those a go.

Cheers