Error Message: VFAT Device Initialization Failed

ID: Q139063

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows 98

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 error message can occur when any one of the following conditions exists:

The Ifshlp.sys file is missing from the Windows folder.

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:
```
      DEVICE=<DRIVE>:\<WINDOWS>\IFSHLP.SYS
  
```
where <drive> is the drive containing Windows and <windows> is the Windows folder. For example, if Windows is installed in the WINDOWS folder on drive C, the line will read:
```
      DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS
  
```

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.

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 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 : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

Config.sys File Points to Previous Version of Ifshlp.sys File

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.

For Windows 98, restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.

Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to open the Config.sys file.

Remove the line that loads Ifshlp.sys. (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

Reinstalling Windows

When reinstalling Windows, 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:

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.

For Windows 98, restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.

Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to open the Config.sys file.

Add the following line to the Config.sys file:
```
      DEVICE=<DRIVE>:\<WINDOWS>\IFSHLP.SYS
   
```
where <drive> is the drive containing Windows and <windows> is the Windows folder. For example, if Windows is installed in the WINDOWS folder on drive C, add the following line:
```
      DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS
   
```

Save and then close the Config.sys file.

Restart your computer.

Incorrect [Paths] Section in Msdos.sys File

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.

For Windows 98, restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.

Type the following line at the command prompt:

attrib -s -h -r msdos.sys

Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) 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 containing Windows. 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.

Save and then close the Msdos.sys file.

Type the following line at the command prompt:

attrib +s +h +r msdos.sys

Restart your computer.

Winboot.ini File Present in Root Folder of Boot Drive

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.

For Windows 98, restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.

Delete the Winboot.ini file in the root folder of the boot drive by typing "deltree winboot.ini" (without quotation marks), and then press. ENTER.

Restart your computer.

Additional query words: 98 failure vfat initialization error startup problem


Keywords          : kbenv kberrmsg win95 win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:95
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: June 16, 1999