This article describes the functionality and limitations of the Windows Recovery Console. If a Windows XP-based computer does not start correctly or if it does not start at all, you may be able to use the Windows Recovery Console to help you recover the system software. This article discusses the following topics:
- How to start the Windows Recovery Console from your Windows XP installation disc
- How to use the Command Console
- Restrictions and limitations of the Windows Recovery Console
- The commands that are available in the Windows Recovery Console
When you use the Windows Recovery Console, you can obtain limited access to the NTFS file system, FAT, and FAT32 volumes without starting the Windows graphical user interface (GUI). In the Windows Recovery Console, you can perform the following actions:
- Use, copy, rename, or replace operating system files and folders
- Enable or disable service or device startup the next time that you start your computer
- Repair the file system boot sector or the master boot record (MBR)
- Create and format partitions on drives
Note Only an administrator can obtain access to the Windows Recovery Console. This prevents unauthorized users from using any NTFS volume.
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... you can start the computer and use the Recovery Console directly from your original Windows XP installation disc. If your computer is already in Windows and you want to add the Windows Recovery Console as a startup option, go to the next section "Adding the Windows Recovery Console as a startup option."
- Insert the Windows XP CD into your CD drive and restart your computer. If you are prompted, select any options required to start (boot) from the CD.
- When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts. Select the repair or recover option by pressing R.
- If you have a dual-boot or multiboot system, select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.
- When you are prompted, type the Administrator password.
- At the command prompt, type Recovery Console commands, and then you can refer to the commands that are listed in the "Available commands within Windows Recovery Console" section.
- At any time, you can type Help for a list of available commands.
- At any time, you can type Help commandname for help on a specific command. For example, you can type help attrib to display the help on the attributes command.
- At any time, you can exit Windows Recovery Console by typing Exit at the command line.
