VFAT Initialization Error Message Installing Windows 98

ID: Q190110

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98

SYMPTOMS

When you are installing Windows 98, you may receive the following error message:

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 behavior can occur if the SystemSoft CardWorks software is installed on your computer during Windows 98 Setup. CardWorks may also prevent Ifshlp.sys from being loaded from the Config.sys file.

The following computers have exhibited this behavior:

IBM ThinkPad model 380 and 385

Toshiba model 465CDX

Toshiba 460CDT Pentium 166

Toshiba Sattelite Pro 460DX

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, uninstall the CardWorks software. For information about how to do so, please contact your computer's manufacturer.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about VFAT error messages, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q139063
TITLE : Error Message: VFAT Device Initialization Failed

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words:


Keywords          : kb3rdparty kberrmsg kbhw kbsetup win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 24, 1999