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Windows Recovery Console

WHAT IS A RECOVERY CONSOLE?

The Windows Recovery Console is an MS-DOS interface that allows you to obtain limited access to a NTFS, FAT or FAT32 volume without booting into the Windows environment. Supported by Windows 2000 and Windows XP, the recovery console is often used to troubleshoot and repair a damaged system such as fixing a boot problem or reconfiguring a service that is preventing your computer from starting correctly. Take note that the NTFS security limited recovery console access to administrators only so as to prevent any unauthorized access.

USING THE CONSOLE

Before you start you need to have the Windows 2000 or Windows XP CD ready. Select to boot from the CD device and enter the Windows Recovery Console.

At the command prompt, type in: help and hit Enter

A list of commands that is supported by the console will be displayed. Type the <command name> /? to receive more detailed information about the command. For example, on the command prompt, type: copy /? and enter, it will display the details of the command.

COMMANDS AND FUNCTIONS

The following is a list of a summary of supported commands :

Attrib: Changes the attributes of a file or directory
Batch: Executes the commands specified in the text file
Bootcfg: Recover and configure the boot file
Cd: Changes the user's path of of directory
ChDir: Displays the name of the current directory or changes the current directory
Chkdsk: Checks a disk and displays a status report
Cls: Clears the screen
Copy: Copies a single file to another location
Del: Deletes one or more files
Delete: Deletes one or more files
Dir: Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory
Disable: Disables a system service or a device driver
Diskpart: Manages partitions on your hard drives
Enable: Starts or enables a system service or a device driver
Exit: Exits the Recovery Console and restarts your computer
Expand: Extracts a file from a compressed file
Fixboot: Writes a new partition boot sector onto the system partition
Fixmbr: Repairs the master boot record of the partition boot sector
Format: Formats a disk
Help: Displays a list of the commands you can use in the Recovery Console
Listsvc: Lists the services and drivers available on the computer
Logon: Logs on to a Windows 2000 installation
Map: Displays the drive letter mappings
Md: Creates a directory
More: Displays a text file
Rd: Deletes a directory
Ren: Renames a single file
Set: Displays and sets environment variables
Systemroot: Sets the current directory to the systemroot directory of the system you are currently logged on to
Type: Displays a text file

RESTRICTIONS

There are certain restrictions enforced within the recovery console.

Typically, you only have access to:

The root directory of all disks
The Windows directory and all sub-directories
Removable media such as floppy diskettes and CD

Take note that you can only copy files from a removable device to the hard disks which you have access to and not the other way round. You can also copy files from one disk to another.