Windows Xp Recovery Console
Table of Contents.What is the Recovery Console?The Recovery Console is a special boot up method that can be used to help fix problems that are preventing your Windows installation from properly booting up into Windows. This method allows you to access the files, format drives, disable and enable services, and other tasks from a console prompt while the operating system is not loaded. It is suggested that the Recovery Console is to only be used only after Safe mode and the other standard startup options do not work.
I feel that the Recovery Console is also useful in other situations such as removing malware files that start in both Safe mode and Standard Mode and thus not allowing you to delete the infection.This tutorial will guide you through the installation of the Recovery Console and how to use it. For those who are familiar with DOS or the command prompt, you will find the Recovery Console to be very familiar. For those who are not comfortable with this type of environment, I suggest you read through this primer in order to get familiar with this type of interface:How to install the Recovery Console to your hard driveI recommend that you install the Recovery Console directly onto your computer so that if you need it in the future, it is readily available. The Recovery Console only takes up approximately 7 megabytes so there is no reason why you should not have it installed in case you need it.To install the Recovery Console on your hard drive, follow these steps:.Insert the Windows XP CD into your CD-ROM drive.Click the Start button.Click the Run menu option. In the Open: field type X:i386winnt32.exe /cmdcons, where X is the drive letter for your CD reader, and press the OK button.
An image of this step can be found below:.After pressing the OK button a setup window will appear similar to the one below.Simply press the Yes button to continue with the installation of the Recovery Console. DescriptionAttribChanges attributes on a file or directory.BatchExecutes commands that you specify in the text file, Inputfile.
Outputfile holds the output of the commands. If you omit the Outputfile parameter, output appears on the screen.BootcfgAllows you to modify the Boot.ini file for boot configuration and recovery.CD(Chdir) Change directory. Operates only in the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources.ChkdskChecks a disk for drive problems or errors. The /p switch runs Chkdsk even if the drive is not flagged as dirty. The /r switch locates bad sectors and recovers readable information. This switch implies /p. Chkdsk requires Autochk.
Chkdsk automatically looks for Autochk.exe in the startup folder. If Chkdsk cannot find the file in the startup folder, it looks for the Windows 2000 Setup CD-ROM. If Chkdsk cannot find the installation CD-ROM, Chkdsk prompts the user for the location of Autochk.exe.ClsClears the screenCopyCopies one file to a target location. By default, the target cannot be removable media, and you cannot use wildcard characters. Copying a compressed file from the Windows 2000 Setup CD-ROM automatically decompresses the file.Del(Delete) Deletes one file.
Operates within the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources. By default, you cannot use wildcard characters.DirDisplays a list of all files, including hidden and system files.DisableDisables a Windows system service or driver.
The variable serviceordriver is the name of the service or driver that you want to disable. When you use this command to disable a service, the command displays the service's original startup type before it changes the type to SERVICEDISABLED. Note the original startup type so that you can use the enable command to restart the service.DiskpartManages partitions on hard disk volumes.
The /add option creates a new partition. The /delete option deletes an existing partition. The variable device is the device name for a new partition (such as deviceharddisk0). The variable drive is the drive letter for a partition that you are deleting (for example, D). Partition is the partition-based name for a partition that you are deleting, (for example: deviceharddisk0partition1) and can be used instead of the drive variable.
Windows Xp Recovery Console Without Cd
The variable size is the size, in megabytes, of a new partition.EnableEnables a Windows system service or driver. The variable serviceordriver is the name of the service or driver that you want to enable, and starttype is the startup type for an enabled service. The startup type uses one of the following formats:SERVICEBOOTSTARTSERVICESYSTEMSTARTSERVICEAUTOSTARTSERVICEDEMANDSTARTExitQuits the Recovery Console, and then restarts the computer.ExpandExpands a compressed file. The variable source is the file that you want to expand. By default, you cannot use wildcard characters.
The variable destination is the directory for the new file. By default, the destination cannot be removable media and cannot be read-only. You can use the attrib command to remove the read-only attribute from the destination directory. The option /f:filespec is required if the source contains more than one file. This option permits wildcard characters. The /y switch disables the overwrite confirmation prompt. The /d switch specifies that the files will not be expanded and displays a directory of the files in the source.FixbootWrites a new startup sector on the system partitionFixmbrRepairs the startup partition's master boot code.
The variable device is an optional name that specifies the device that requires a new Master Boot Record. Omit this variable when the target is the startup device.FormatFormats a disk. The /q switch performs a quick format. The /fs switch specifies the file system.HelpIf you do not use the command variable to specify a command, help lists all the commands that the Recovery Console supports.ListsvcDisplays all available services and drivers on the computer.LogonDisplays detected installations of Windows and requests the local Administrator password for those installations. Use this command to move to another installation or subdirectory.MapDisplays currently active device mappings.
Include the arc option to specify the use of Advanced RISC Computing (ARC) paths (the format for Boot.ini) instead of Windows device paths.MD(Mkdir) Creates a directory. Operates only within the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources.More/TypeDisplays the specified text file on screen. More will display a text file one page at a time, while Type displays the entire text file at once.Rd(Rmdir) Removes a directory. Operates only within the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources.Ren(Rename) Rename a file or directory. Operates only within the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources. You cannot specify a new drive or path as the target.SetDisplays and sets the Recovery Console environment variables.SystemrootSets the current directory to%SystemRoot%.Deleting the Recovery ConsoleWarning: To remove the Recovery Console you need to modify the Boot.ini file.
Modifying this file incorrectly can prevent your computer from starting properly.
What is The Recovery Console?The Recovery Console is a command-line prompt that is available in most versions of the Windows Operating System. It allows users to repair/replace broken, corrupted, or missing system files. These files are crucial to Windows’ normal functionality and performance and the entire operating system can stop working if these files are damaged. In fact, Windows may not startup at all when these files are missing and this will require the user to open the Recovery Console from the Installation CD or boot menu.
The Recovery Console can be found in Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Servers 2003. However, it has been replaced in Windows Vista and Windows 7 with an array of features known as System Recovery. How To Install The Recovery ConsoleThe Recovery Console can be used right from the installation CD that came with the computer. If this disc is no longer available, the user can open the Recovery Console in the boot menu, but only if it has been previously installed on the computer. This can be done by inserting the installation CD into the CD-ROM or mounting a virtual disc using a Windows XP ISO file and a mounting software such as Daemon Tools. Click Start and open the Run application. Type in F:i386winnt32.exe /cmdcons, with “F:” being the CD Drive letter.
The Recovery Console installation process will begin. When the Recovery Console installs, it will connect to the Internet to perform a Dynamic Update that will update all of its system files in order to provide the user with a reliable backup. The user can opt out of this update by pressing ESC, causing the Recovery Console to use the system files it already has. The installation process is complete and the user should restart his/her computer.
Start the XP Recovery ConsoleWhen the system boots, you will see a screen that gives you three choices:This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer: To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER. To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R. To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3Press the R key to start the Recovery Console. Choose which Windows Installation to RepairThe next prompt will ask you which Windows installation you want to recover:The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality. Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer. 1: C:WINDOWS Which Windows Installation would you like to log on to (To cancel, press ENTER)?
Enter the Windows XP Administrator PasswordWhen prompted, enter the Microsoft Windows XP Local Administrator password. If you do not know this password, read. Recovery Console CommandsThe Recovery Console can be used to repair and replace virtually any system file of the Windows Operating System. The user can find a full list of commands by typing “Help” into the command prompt.