Desktop

Ask something
Discussion Locked

HD will not boot - VFAT error

0 helpful
11 replies

by ian boothby

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I took a HD running W98se from a P60 that was working OK and put it into a P66 that had been running W3.11. Problem is I cannot get it to load windows - I always get 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.
The drive boots OK when replaced in its original PC, so I'm guessing the P66 BIOS does not recognize the formatting on the HD??? I'm no expert, so anyone help me with a work-around please?

11 replies

by yelhsa3840

win3.11 wont read the fat32 file system if you can format the HD and put it in the p66 it should work then reinstall win98if you want it or try swapping the CMOS chip

by ian boothby

Sorry if unclear...I took the P66's HD running 3.11 and fdisked & formatted it with W98 in the P60 (cos it has a CDROM) then replaced the HD into the P66, but the PC will not boot WIN. (I think the CMOS chip is soldered to the Mobo anyway)

by gerstenbergerd

Have you checked your CMOS to make sure that the setting for the primary hard drive is set to AUTO and not hard set to a certain drive. Also double check your jumpers on the new drive to see if they are set to single drive or to master depending on the drive.

Good luck.

by paulp

I would try clearing CMOS (BIOS) before I put the new drive in. And because it's an older system, you may have to enter the drive parameters into CMOS (BIOS) manually. The older BIOS's had a listing of "Drive Types" that you could use to specify the parameters or you could select User Defined enter them manually. The parameters should be printed on the drive case, or you can get them from the manufacturers website.

by thechas

Place the drive back into the P66 system.

Copy the Win98 and driver folders from the W98 CD onto the hard drive.

From device manager, remove ALL system specific devices.
This includes the motherboard resources, video card, and whatever else is "different" between the 2 systems.

Shut down, and move the drive over to the P60.
Direct Windows to the folders that you copied from the CD as needed to install drivers and Windows files.

If the drive still will not boot in the P60 system, Isuspect that you either have insufficient RAM, or RAM that does not get along with W98.

It may be easier to temporarily install a CD drive on the P60 system, and perform a true clean install.

Chas

by opatzg9

Chas' answer is good except move the stuff to the p66 after you remove all the devices and shut it down in the p60. Other wise do you have the latest motherboard bios drivers for the p66. If not go to www.motherboards.org and download a few of their utilities to help you find the name of your motherboard and then download the latest and greatest bios files.
Good luck

by ian boothby

Thanks also, but another tech-helpsite gave me this stupidly simple fix which worked - hook up the CDROM drive that the old HD would not run, and just boot with a Startup disk that supports a CDROM drive, re-format and re-install Windows. Hey Presto!! Thanks for all the help tho'.

This discussion is closed to new replies.