xes
asked on
vfat
Pentium II running Win98 with two harddrives. Last task before error message was that of loading virus definition files. On rebooting received following error message :
VFAT DEVICE INITIALIZATION FAILED
A device or resource required by vfat is not present or is unavailable. Vfat cannot load.
System halted,
I can run in safe mode.
What caused this error and how does one resolve it.
VFAT DEVICE INITIALIZATION FAILED
A device or resource required by vfat is not present or is unavailable. Vfat cannot load.
System halted,
I can run in safe mode.
What caused this error and how does one resolve it.
are you running NAV (5.0 or later)?? and have you uninstalled any applications and when the uninstaller asks you whether you want to remove "shared" files, did you say "Yes"?? I think that might be the problem when NAV fails to load virus definition files....get back to us...with more info....
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Xes,
Before reinstall look at this. Hope it helps.
Glenn
Error Message: VFAT Device Initialization Failed
Article ID: Q139063
Revision Date: 07-AUG-1996
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows 95
SYMPTOMS
When you start Windows 95, 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 error message can occur when any one of the following conditions exists:
- The Config.sys file contains a line pointing to a previous version
of the Ifshlp.sys file.
- The following Ifshlp.sys statement was deleted from the Config.sys file
after reinstalling Windows 95:
DEVICE=<DRIVE>:\<WINDOWS>\
where <drive> is the drive containing Windows 95 and <windows> is the
Windows 95 folder. For example, if Windows 95 is installed in the
WINDOWS folder on drive C, the line will read:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.S
- The Ifshlp.sys file is missing from the Windows folder.
- The [Paths] section in the Msdos.sys file is incorrect.
- A Winboot.ini file from a previous incomplete installation is present
in the root folder of the boot disk.
RESOLUTION
To resolve the problem, use the method in the appropriate section below.
Config.sys file points to Previous Version of Ifshlp.sys file
1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message,
press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from
the Startup menu.
2. Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to open the Config.sys file.
3. Remove the line that loads Ifshlp.sys. (Windows 95 automatically
loads this driver when you start your computer.)
4. Save and then close the Config.sys file.
5. Restart your computer.
Ifshlp.sys statement was deleted from the Config.sys file after
reinstalling Windows 95
When reinstalling Windows 95, Setup will delete the Ifshlp.sys statement in the Config.sys file and not replace it. To add the Ifshlp.sys statement back to the Config.sys file, follow these steps:
1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message,
press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from
the Startup menu.
2. Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to open the Config.sys file.
3. Add the following line to the Config.sys file:
DEVICE=<DRIVE>:\<WINDOWS>\
where <drive> is the drive containing Windows 95 and <windows> is the
Windows 95 folder. For example, if Windows 95 is installed in the
WINDOWS folder on drive C, add the following line:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.S
4. Save and then close the Config.sys file.
5. Restart your computer.
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 95 disks or CD-ROM to the Windows folder.
For information about using the Extract tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
TITLE : Using the Windows 95 Extract Tool (Extract.exe)
Incorrect [Paths] Section in Msdos.sys File
1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message,
press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from
the Startup menu.
2. Type the following line at the command prompt:
attrib -s -h -r msdos.sys
3. Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to open the Msdos.sys file.
4. Verify that the following lines in the Msdos.sys file are correct
[Paths]
WinDir=<Windows>
WinBootDir=<Windows>
HostWinBootDrv=C
where <Windows> is the folder containing Windows 95. Note that if you
are using disk compression software (such as DriveSpace), you must
change the drive letter in the "HostWinBootDrv=" line to the drive
letter of the host drive.
5. Save and then close the Msdos.sys file.
6. Type the following line at the command prompt:
attrib +s +h +r msdos.sys
7. Restart your computer.
Winboot.ini File Present in Root Folder of Boot Drive
1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message,
press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from
the Startup menu.
2. Delete the Winboot.ini file in the root folder of the boot drive.
3. Restart your computer.
Before reinstall look at this. Hope it helps.
Glenn
Error Message: VFAT Device Initialization Failed
Article ID: Q139063
Revision Date: 07-AUG-1996
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows 95
SYMPTOMS
When you start Windows 95, 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 error message can occur when any one of the following conditions exists:
- The Config.sys file contains a line pointing to a previous version
of the Ifshlp.sys file.
- The following Ifshlp.sys statement was deleted from the Config.sys file
after reinstalling Windows 95:
DEVICE=<DRIVE>:\<WINDOWS>\
where <drive> is the drive containing Windows 95 and <windows> is the
Windows 95 folder. For example, if Windows 95 is installed in the
WINDOWS folder on drive C, the line will read:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.S
- The Ifshlp.sys file is missing from the Windows folder.
- The [Paths] section in the Msdos.sys file is incorrect.
- A Winboot.ini file from a previous incomplete installation is present
in the root folder of the boot disk.
RESOLUTION
To resolve the problem, use the method in the appropriate section below.
Config.sys file points to Previous Version of Ifshlp.sys file
1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message,
press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from
the Startup menu.
2. Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to open the Config.sys file.
3. Remove the line that loads Ifshlp.sys. (Windows 95 automatically
loads this driver when you start your computer.)
4. Save and then close the Config.sys file.
5. Restart your computer.
Ifshlp.sys statement was deleted from the Config.sys file after
reinstalling Windows 95
When reinstalling Windows 95, Setup will delete the Ifshlp.sys statement in the Config.sys file and not replace it. To add the Ifshlp.sys statement back to the Config.sys file, follow these steps:
1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message,
press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from
the Startup menu.
2. Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to open the Config.sys file.
3. Add the following line to the Config.sys file:
DEVICE=<DRIVE>:\<WINDOWS>\
where <drive> is the drive containing Windows 95 and <windows> is the
Windows 95 folder. For example, if Windows 95 is installed in the
WINDOWS folder on drive C, add the following line:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.S
4. Save and then close the Config.sys file.
5. Restart your computer.
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 95 disks or CD-ROM to the Windows folder.
For information about using the Extract tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
TITLE : Using the Windows 95 Extract Tool (Extract.exe)
Incorrect [Paths] Section in Msdos.sys File
1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message,
press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from
the Startup menu.
2. Type the following line at the command prompt:
attrib -s -h -r msdos.sys
3. Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to open the Msdos.sys file.
4. Verify that the following lines in the Msdos.sys file are correct
[Paths]
WinDir=<Windows>
WinBootDir=<Windows>
HostWinBootDrv=C
where <Windows> is the folder containing Windows 95. Note that if you
are using disk compression software (such as DriveSpace), you must
change the drive letter in the "HostWinBootDrv=" line to the drive
letter of the host drive.
5. Save and then close the Msdos.sys file.
6. Type the following line at the command prompt:
attrib +s +h +r msdos.sys
7. Restart your computer.
Winboot.ini File Present in Root Folder of Boot Drive
1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message,
press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from
the Startup menu.
2. Delete the Winboot.ini file in the root folder of the boot drive.
3. Restart your computer.
ASKER
QUESTION FOR TZYCONE
Re the vfat error. Any Idea why this error could have occurred, as it seems to have triggered of various other problems.... virus hard drive problems????
Re the vfat error. Any Idea why this error could have occurred, as it seems to have triggered of various other problems.... virus hard drive problems????