UNDERSTANDING RECOVERY CONSOLE

The Windows XP Recovery Console is a tool that allows recovery from a number of failures. Windows XP have two tools to use: the Recovery Console and the Safe Mode

feature. The Recovery Console is a powerful and simple but it is not installed by default.

Recovery Console can be install to make it available in case you cannot restart Windows. Recovery Console option from the list of available operating systems during startup can be selected to restore windows. The Recovery Console is recommended to be installed on important servers and on the workstations of IT personnel.

Although you can run the Recovery Console by starting directly from the Windows XP CD, generally, it is more convenient to set it up as a startup option on your startup menu.

The Recovery Console is very useful if you have to repair your computer by copying a file from a disk or CD-ROM to your hard disk, or if you have to reconfigure a service that is preventing your computer from starting correctly. 

How To install the Recovery Console with Windows XP CD:

1. Insert Windows XP CD into the CD/DVD drive.
2. Click Start, then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type d:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons where d is the drive letter for  CD/DVD drive.
   For Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, type d:\amd64\winnt32.exe /cmdcons whered is the drive letter for CD/DVD drive. 
4. In the Windows Setup Dialog Box option click Yes. And restart the computer.

5. After Restarting the computer. "Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" appears on the
   startup menu.
   
   
   
6. move to “Microsoft Windows Recovery Console and press enter.

Alternatively, Universal Naming Convention (UNC)-established connection can be used to install the Recovery Console from a network share point. 

How to install the Windows Recovery Console After Windows is Already Installed on the Computer

1. Click Start, click Run, and then type CD-ROM drive letter:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons in the Open box, where CD-ROM drive letter is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive. (e.g. G: or H:)
2. Click OK, follow the instructions on the screen to finish Setup, and then restart your computer.

Note To use the recovery console for an installation, you need the local Administrator password. For Domain Controllers, you need the Administrator password that is used in the Directory Service Restore mode. 

How to use the Recovery Console

When Windows can’t start, the Recovery Console can be run from the Windows XP startup disks or the Windows XP CD-ROM. 

Note To start the computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM, you must configure the basic input/output system (BIOS) of the computer to start from your CD-ROM. 

1. Insert the Windows XP DISC into the CD drive, and then restart the computer. 
   
   
2. After "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3. When prompted to type Administrator password and if the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER or else type the administrator password and press enter.
4. At the command prompt, type the appropriate commands to diagnose and repair your Windows XP installation. 
   
   For a list of commands that are available in Recovery Console, type recovery console commands or help at the command prompt, and then press ENTER. 
   
   
5. Type the command which is needed to be recover.
   
   
6. After all the necessary recovery is done, type exit and then press ENTER.