System will not boot into Windows

[Ray Stainer]

My Computer was working fine in Windows 98 (1st edition), then suddenly it would only boot in DOS from my dual menu. I have tried all sorts; finally trying to use "StartUp" from an earlier diskette.
The current situation is DOS :=OK. Windows :="VFAT Device Initialization failed..etc...

Can you help me if I supply more info. or is it too bad to be cured without new Hardware?

Thanks in advance

Ray Stainer

[Rick]

Go Here http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q139063

[Whyzman]

Ray,

Just did a Google search on your problem and came up with THIS (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q139063) result.

RICK, you type faster than me without a cup of coffee...I'm headed for the coffee right now! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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May all your dealings in life be win/win!


Whyzman
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Reserved for Punishing Humor...A Pessimist's blood is always B-negative!

[This message has been edited by Whyzman (edited 06-09-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Whyzman (edited 06-09-2002).]

[Ray Stainer]

Many thanks for your help.
My Computer is now running in Windows (but not completely correctly)
I found the MSDOS.sys needing attention as directed and replaced it with a "good" one. I can now use the computer OK, but there needs to be some changes before it is 100%, I hope you don't mind me asking you further.
During the POST tests I get "Detecting IDE Primary Slave (Press F4)"...F4 makes no difference, and the comp. carries on with the boot in either case, I have a CD-writer installed which may have something to do with this message but I have never had the message before and some small niggling things do not work correctly intermittently, so I suspect some thing is wrong in the SETUP. I have never really understood this Section, and have thought I'd better leave it alone. Since I had had the same belief about MSDOS.sys and yet was able to correct it, maybe I could ask for some understanding of the SETUP (accessed by pressing 'del' at the start).
Many thanks for your help. It is priceless to me. I cannot praise the FORUM
highly enough. If you care to look at my profile you will realise that you are helping a large family to become competent as they learn with me.

Thanks again

Ray Stainer

[Sylvander]

Hello Ray

"Detecting IDE Primary Slave (Press F4)"...
is what you get when you go into "BIOS setup", "Standard CMOS setup" and set the "Primary Slave" Hard Disk "Type" to "Auto".
This is good. You should set all your hard disks to "Auto". They will then "Dynamically Auto-Detect" at every boot which means that even if you alter the jumper settings between Master/Slave or change the connection between Primary/Secondary, the BIOS configuration parameters will always be correct. Do not press F4 to by-pass this process or that drive will not be detected and configured and would then [probably] not work!

Are your drive configuration parameters correct at present I wonder!
If you are afraid to use "Auto" [don't be], you could "Statically Detect" the parameters by going to "IDE HDD Auto Detection" in the "BIOS Setup".
This will detect the drive and set it's parameters [but only the once and must be re-done after each change of jumper or connection]. You can see that there would be a problem if you changed your drive hardware arrangement and did not statically detect your drive parameters after that change. If you changed a drive from Primary-Slave to Secondary-Master, the old settings would be totally unsuitable. Have you ever made a change and not altered the parameters?