JSI Tip 6061. Windows 2000 could not start because FastFat.sys is missing or corrupt?

When you start Windows 2000, you receive:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: System32DriversFastFAT.sys.

This error can be the result of the FastFat.sys file being corrupt or missing, and it can also be caused by faulty or incorrectly installed RAM.

01. To check your RAM:

Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K.
Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P.
Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z.

02. Remove memory modules, leaving enough to start Windows.

03. If you still receive the error, swap RAM modules and try again. If the problem ceases to occur, one of the removed RAM modules is damaged.

04. It the problem is NOT RAM and you are using the NTFS file system, you must perform a parallel install of Windows 2000 and use it to Expand FastFat.sy_ from the I386 folder of the CD-ROM to the %SystemRoot%System32Drivers folder of the original install, as FastFat.sys. Then exit this procedure.

05. If your system is NOT installed on a NTFS partition, start your computer with a Windows 98 or Windows ME startup disk that has drivers for your CD-ROM.

06. At a command prompt, type cd c:winntsystem32drivers and press Enter, where C:Winnt is the folder in which Windows 2000 is installed.

07. Type dir fastfat.sys and press Enter. If you receive a 'file not found' message, go to step 09.

08. Type ren fastfat.sys fastfat.bad and press Enter.

09. Type and press Enter.

10. Type cd i386 and press Enter.

11. Type expand.exe fastfat.sy_ c:winntsystem32driversfastfat.sys and press Enter.

12. Type C: and press Enter.

13. Restart Windows 2000.

NOTE: See Troubleshooting Tools and Strategies.