Think Adoption, NOT Abortion
If this site helped you, please make a donation to:

Feeding families around the world…and the corner.

Deuteronomy 18:10-11  "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead."

XP Recovery Console

Site Visitors 
To find a topic on this page, Click Edit on the Toolbar, Find (on this page), type in keyword

Three things to remember when you are working with computers.
• First thing is "YOU CAN DO IT".
• Second take your time, a little mistake can cause a big problem.
• Third all answers are only a question away.
If you are experiencing computer Problems such as slowness, strange icons appearing, tool bars appearing, home page changing, please use one of the following links to check for a virus or trojan.


• Panda Virus Free Online Virus Scan
  
• AVG Anti-virus Program (FREE)
  • AVG is a great "FREE" program and I used to keep a link to the download but they keep changing it all the time and I can't keep this link up to date so Google "Download AVG Free" to get the download link. SORRY!
  
  

TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Extracting or Copying Files From The Operating System Cd Or Other Sources
• Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
• What Is the Recovery Console?
• Installing Windows XP Recovery Console
• Add the Recovery Console to The Boot Menu
• Starting the Windows Recovery Console
• Using the Command Console
• Restrictions and limitations of the Recovery Console
• Available commands
  • HELP
  • ATTRIB
  • BATCH
  • BOOTCFG
  • CD and CHDIR
  • CHKDSK   Use to check and repair bad clusters on the hard drive and recover lost data if possible.
  • CLS
  • COPY
  • DEL & DELETE
  • DISABLE
  • DISKPART
  • ENABLE
  • EXIT
  • EXPAND
  • FIXBOOT
  • FIXMBR
  • FORMAT
  • LISTSVC
  • LOGON
  • MAP
  • MD and MKDIR
  • MORE
  • NET
  • RD and RMDIR
  • REN and RENAME
  • SET
  • SYSTEMROOT
  • TYPE
• Save a Backup Copy of Boot.ini
• Edit the Boot.ini
• Sample Boot.ini File
• Modifying the Boot.ini
• Adding an Operating System
• Removing an Operating System
• Setting the Default Operating System
• Setting the Time Out
• Open the Boot.ini File to Verify Changes
• Available switch options for the Windows XP and the Windows Server 2003 Boot.ini files
• Load Printer Port in Safe Mode



Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
What Is the 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:
  • Use, copy, rename, or replace operating system files and folders.
  • Enable or disable service or device startup the next time that start your computer.
  • Repair the file system boot sector or the Master Boot Record (MBR).
  • Repair (marks any bad sectors and it recovers readable information) hard drive.
  • Create and format partitions on drives.
• Note: Only an administrator can obtain access to the Windows Recovery Console so that unauthorized users cannot use any NTFS volume.

Installing Windows XP Recovery Console
• If you don't have a Windows XP CD (some system builders only supply you with a "Recovery CD"), it should be possible to install the Recovery Console from the Windows XP Setup disks. Information on obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks can be found in Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q310994.
• To install the Recovery Console on your system follow these steps:
  • While running Windows XP, insert your Windows XP CD in the drive
  • Click Exit when the installation options are displayed (You can skip this if you already have the \i386 directory on your hard drive)
  • Select Start
  • Run
  • In the Open box type: {X}:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
    • Where {X} should be the driver letter of your CD drive.
    • If the i386 directory is already installed on your computer, you can just type the path to it, for example
      C:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
  • Follow the instructions to install the Recovery Console
  • When the installation is complete, restart your computer
  • The Recovery Console will show up in the list of available operating systems in the boot menu.
  • To use the Recovery Console, you need administrator privileges

Add the Recovery Console to The Boot Menu
• To add the Recovery Console as an option to the Startup Menu, insert the XP CD into the drive
• Click the Start button
• Click Run
• Type in
  d:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
  • There is a space between winnt32.exe and the forward slash ( / )
  • Use the letter of your CD for the letter "D" in the above example
  • Click Yes when Prompted

Starting the Windows Recovery Console
• To start the Windows Recovery Console, use one of the following methods:
  • Use the Windows Setup floppy disks or the Windows CD-ROM to start your computer.
    If you have a HP, Compaq or other computer that doesn't have a floppy, bootable CD that will take you to the Welcome Screen check the manufacture site for instructions on how to create a Recovery CD.
  • At the "Welcome to Setup" screen, press F10 or press 'R" to repair.
  • Use the Winnt32.exe utility with the /cmdcons option to add the Windows Recovery Console to the Windows Startup folder. This procedure requires approximately 7 megabytes (MB) of hard disk space on the system partition to hold the Cmdcons folder and files.
  • Important: If you are using software mirroring, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    • 229077 Mirroring prevents pre-installing the Recovery Console
    • Follow the instructions in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
      • 222478 Creating a template to run Recovery Console using a remote install server

Using the Command Console
• Starting the Recovery Console
• Using the Windows CD or Bootup floppies start the computer.
  • There are some computer companies whose recovery CD will not allow you to boot to the Start Up screen. In this case you will have to create a Boot CD
• The Setup menu will appear on boot up.
• To start the Recovery Console press the "R" key
  




• In the next window you will be prompted to select the Windows installation to repair : (usually just "1" )
• Then press the Enter key after typing in the number that you want to use. In this case #1
  





• Next you will be prompted to enter the Administrator account password
• If you did not enter one on set up leave blank and press the Enter key
  Note: If you use an incorrect password three times, the Windows Recovery Console quits. Also, if the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database is missing or damaged, you cannot use the Windows Recovery Console because you cannot have correct authentication. After you enter your password and the Windows Recovery Console starts, type exit to restart the computer.
• You are now in the Recovery Console
• To get help type help at the prompt
• Press Enter key






• If you do not need to use the help section you can continue with the Dos command you need to use at this point such as the Expand command
  
• When you use Windows XP Professional, you can set group policies to enable automatic administrative logon.
• For additional information about how to set Recovery Console to enable automatic administrative logon, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  312149 How to enable an administrator to log on automatically in Recovery Console

Restrictions and limitations of the Recovery Console
• When you use the Windows Recovery Console, you can use only the following items:
  • The root folder
  • The %SystemRoot% folder and the subfolders of the Windows installation that you are currently logged on to
  • The Cmdcons folder
  • The removable media drives such as the CD-ROM drive or the DVD-ROM drive
• Note: If you try to obtain access to other folders, you may receive an "Access Denied" error message. Also, when you are using the Windows Recovery Console, you cannot copy a file from the local hard disk to a floppy disk. However, you can copy a file from a floppy disk or from a CD-ROM to a hard disk, and you can copy a file from one hard disk to another hard disk.

Available commands
HELP
• Use the help command to list all the following supported commands:

     attrib    del        fixboot   more     set
     batch     delete     fixmbr    mkdir    systemroot
     bootcfg   dir        format    more     type
     cd        disable    help      net           
     chdir     diskpart   listsvc   rd            
     chkdsk    enable     logon     ren           
     cls       exit       map       rename  
     copy      expand     md        rmdir

ATTRIB
• Use the attrib command with one or more of the following parameters to change the attributes of a file or a folder:
  -R
  +R
  -S
  +S
  -H
  +H
  -C
  +C
  
• Notes:
  • +: Sets an attribute
  • -: Resets an attribute
  • R: Read-only file attribute
  • S: System file attribute
  • H: Hidden file attribute
  • C: Compressed file attribute
• You must set or clear at least one attribute.
• To view attributes, use the dir command.

BATCH
batch inputfile [outputfile]
• Use this command to run commands that are specified in a text file. In the command syntax, inputfile specifies the text file that contains the list of commands to be run, and outputfile specifies the file that contains the output of the specified commands. If you do not specify an output file, the output appears on the screen.

BOOTCFG
• Use this command for boot configuration and recovery. This command has the following options:
  • bootcfg /add
  • bootcfg /rebuild
  • bootcfg /scan
  • bootcfg /list
  • bootcfg /disableredirect
  • bootcfg /redirect [portbaudrate] | [useBiosSettings]
• Examples:
  • bootcfg /redirect com1 115200
  • bootcfg /redirect useBiosSettings
• You can use the following options:
  • /add: Adds a Windows installation to the boot menu list.
  • /rebuild: Iterates through all Windows installations so that you can specify which installations to add.
  • /scan: Scans all disks for Windows installations and displays the results so that you can specify which installations to add.
  • /default: Sets the default boot entry.
  • /list: Lists the entries already in the boot menu list. /disableredirect: Disables redirection in the boot loader.
  • /redirect: Enables redirection in the boot loader, with the specified configuration.

CD and CHDIR
• Use the CD and chdir commands to change to a different folder. For example, you can use the following commands:
  • Type CD .. to change to the parent folder.
  • Type CD drive: to display the current folder in the specified drive.
  • Type CD without parameters to display the current drive and folder.
  • The chdir command treats spaces as delimiters. Because of this, you must put quotation marks ("") around a folder name that contains a space, for example:
    CD"\windows\profiles\username\programs\start menu"
  • The chdir command works only in the system folders of the current installation of Windows, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources.

CHKDSK
chkdsk drive /p /r
• The chkdsk command checks the specified drive and repairs or recovers the drive if the drive requires it. The command also marks any bad sectors and it recovers readable information.
• You can use the following options:
  • /p: Does an exhaustive check of the drive and corrects any errors.
  • /r: Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.
• Note: If you specify the /r option, the /p option is implied. When you specify the chkdsk command without arguments, the command checks the current drive with no options in effect.
• When you run the chkdsk command, you are required to use the Autochk.exe file. CHKDSK automatically locates this file in the startup folder. If the Command Console was pre-installed, the startup folder is typically the Cmdcons folder. If CHKDSK cannot find Autochk.exe in the startup folder, CHKDSK tries to locate the Windows CD-ROM installation media. If it cannot find the installation media, CHKDSK prompts you for the location of the Autochk.exe file.

CLS
• Use this command to clear the screen.

COPY
copy source destination
• Use this command to copy a file. In the command syntax, source specifies the file to copy and destination specifies the folder or file name for the new file. You cannot use wild card characters indicated by an asterisk (*), and you cannot copy a folder. If you copy a compressed file from the Windows CD-ROM, the file is automatically decompressed at the same time it is copied.
• The source of the file can be removable media, any folder in the system folders of the current Windows installation, the root of any drive, the local installation sources, or the Cmdcons folder.
• If destination is unspecified, the default destination is the current folder. If the file already exists, you are prompted whether you want the copied file to overwrite the existing file. The destination cannot be removable media.

DEL and DELETE
del drive: path filename

delete drive: path filename
• Use this command to delete a file. In the command syntax, drive: path filename specifies the file that you want to delete. The delete command works only in the system folders of the current Windows installation, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources. The delete command does not accept wild card characters.

DIR
dir drive: path filename
• Use this command to display a list of files and subfolders in a folder. In the command syntax, drive: path filename specifies the drive, folder, and files to list. The dir command lists all files, including hidden and system files. Files can have the following attributes:
  • D: Directory
  • H: Hidden file
  • S: System file
  • E: Encrypted
  • R: Read-only file
  • A: Files ready for archiving
  • C: Compressed
  • P: Reparse point
• The dir command works only in the system folders of the current Windows installation, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources.

DISABLE
disable servicename
• Use this command to disable a Windows system service or driver. In the command syntax, servicename specifies the name of the service or driver that you want to disable.
• Use the listsvc command to display all services or drivers that are eligible to be disabled. The disable command prints the old start type of the service before resetting the start type to SERVICE_DISABLED. Record the old start type if you must enable the service again.
• The disable command displays the following start_type values:
  SERVICE_DISABLED
  • SERVICE_BOOT_START
  • SERVICE_SYSTEM_START
  • SERVICE_AUTO_START
  • SERVICE_DEMAND_START

DISKPART
diskpart /add /delete device_name drive_name partition_name size
• Use this command to manage the partitions on your hard disk volumes. You can use the following options:
  • /add: Creates a new partition.
  • /delete: Deletes an existing partition.
  • device_name: The name of the device that is used to create a new partition.
  • drive_name: A drive-letter-based name, for example D:.
  • partition_name: The partition-based name for deleting an existing partition.
  • size: The size of the new partition in megabytes.
• You can determine the device name from the output of the MAP command, for example, \Device\HardDisk0. You can use the partition name instead of the drive name argument, for example,
  \Device\HardDisk0\Partition1
• If you use no arguments, a user interface for managing your partitions appears.
• Warning: If you use this command, you can damage the partition table if the disk has been upgraded to a dynamic disk configuration. Do not modify the structure of dynamic disks unless you are using the Disk Management tool.

ENABLE
enable servicename start_type
• You can use the enable command to enable a Windows system service or driver.
• Use the listsvc command to display all eligible services or drivers to enable. The enable command prints the old start type of the service before resetting it to the new value. It is a good idea to note the old value, in case you have to restore the start type of the service.
• Valid options for start_type are:
  SERVICE_BOOT_START
  • SERVICE_SYSTEM_START
  • SERVICE_AUTO_START
  • SERVICE_DEMAND_START
• If you do not specify a new start type, the enable command prints the old start type for you.

EXIT
• Use the exit command to quit the Recovery Console and restart your computer.

EXPAND
expand source [/F:filespec] [destination] [/y]

expand source [/F:filespec] /D
• Use this command to expand a file. In the command syntax, source specifies the name of the file to be expanded and destination specifies the folder for the new file. If you do not specify a destination, the command defaults to the current folder. You cannot include wild card characters.
• You can use the following options:
  • /y: Do not prompt before overwriting an existing file.
  • /f:filespec: Identifies the files to be expanded.
  • /d: Do not expand; display only a directory of the files in the source.
• If the source contains more than one file, you must use the /f:filespec parameter to identify the specific files to be expanded. You can include wild card characters.
• The destination can be any folder in the system folders of the current Windows installation, in the root of the drive, in the local installation sources, or in the Cmdcons folder. The destination cannot be removable media, and the destination file cannot be read-only. Use the attrib command to remove the read-only attribute.
• Unless you use the /y option, the expand command prompts you if the destination file already exists.

FIXBOOT
fixboot drive name:
• Use this command to write the new Windows boot sector code on the system partition. In the command syntax, drive name is the drive letter where the boot sector will be written. This command fixes damage in the Windows boot sector. This command overrides the default setting, which writes to the system boot partition. The fixboot command is supported only on x86-based computers.

FIXMBR
fixmbr device name
• Use this command to repair the MBR of the boot partition. In the command syntax, device name is an optional device name that specifies the device that requires a new MBR. Use this command if a virus has damaged the MBR and Windows cannot start. Warning: This command can damage your partition tables if a virus is present or if a hardware problem exists. If you use this command, you may create inaccessible partitions. We recommend that you run anti-virus software before you use this command.
• You can obtain the device name from the output of the map command. If you do not specify a device name, the MBR of the boot device is repaired, for example:
  fixmbr \device\harddisk2
• If the fixmbr command detects an invalid or non-standard partition table signature, fixmbr command prompts you for permission before rewriting the MBR. The fixmbr command is supported only on x86-based computers.


FORMAT
format drive: /Q /FS:file-system
• Use this command to format the specified drive to the specified file system. In the command syntax, /Q performs a quick format of the drive, drive is the drive letter of the partition to format, and /FS:file-system specifies the type of file system to use such as FAT, FAT32, or NTFS. If you do not specify a file system, the existing file system format is used if it is available.

LISTSVC
• The listsvc command lists all available services, drivers, and their start types for the current Windows installation. This command is useful in conjunction with the disable and enable commands.
• The list is extracted from the %SystemRoot%\System32\Config\System hive. If the System hive is damaged or missing, the results are unpredictable

LOGON
• The logon command lists all detected installations of Windows and then requests the local administrator password for the copy of Windows that you want to log on to. If your first three tries to log on do not succeed, the console quits, and your computer restarts.
MAP
map arc
• Use this command to list drive letters, file system types, partition sizes, and mappings to physical devices. In the command syntax, the arc parameter tells the map command to use ARC paths instead of Windows Device paths.

MD and MKDIR
• The MD and mkdir commands create new folders. Wild card characters are not supported. The mkdir command works only in the system folders of the current installation of Windows, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources.

MORE
more filename
• Use this command to display a text file to the screen.

NET
• Although the Help file states otherwise, the net command is not usable from the Recovery Console. The protocols stack is not loaded for the Recovery Console. Therefore, there is no networking function available.

RD and RMDIR
• Use rd and rmdir commands to delete a folder.
• Note: These commands work only in the system folders of the current Windows installation, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources.

REN and RENAME
• Use the ren and rename commands to rename a file.
• Note: You cannot specify a new drive or path for the renamed file. These commands work only in the system folders of the current Windows installation, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources.
SET
• You can use the set to display or modify four environment options.
  • AllowWildCards = FALSE
  • AllowAllPaths = FALSE
  • AllowRemovableMedia = FALSE
  • NoCopyPrompt = FALSE
• For additional information read the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  235364 Description of the SET command in the Recovery Console

SYSTEMROOT
• The systemroot command sets the current working folder to the %SystemRoot% folder of the Windows installation that you are currently logged on to.

TYPE
type filename
• Use the type command to display a text file.

Extracting or Copying Files From The Operating System Cd Or Other Sources
• Using the Copy Command in Recovery Console
  • If the file is not a .cab file, you can use the copy command in Recovery Console to extract the file from the operating system CD and place it on your local disk in a Windows XP Professional installation.
  • Using the copy command type it in as follows.
    • copy source [destination]
      • The Source is the location of the file you want to copy
      • The Destination is the location you want to copy the file to
• Using the Expand Command in Recovery Console
  • Start Recovery Console and use the expand command
  • Using the expand command type it in as follows.
    • expand source [/f:filespec] [destination] [/y] [/d]