The Windows Recovery Console offers administrators limited access to the NTFS file system, FAT, and FAT32 volumes without starting Windows and without a graphical user interface (GUI). Administrators can use the Recovery Console to:
- copy, rename, and/or replace system files and folders.
- enable/disable services and/or device drivers
- disable device startup
- fix the Master Boot Record (MBR)
- fix the file system boot sector
- create and format partitions on drives
The Recovery Console can be loaded to ways, you can boot from the install CD, or you can install it and select it from the Windows boot loader screen. I prefer to install it and load it from the boot loader, I hate having to look for CDs when under the gun. It's pretty simple to install and takes about 7MB of disk space. To begin, insert the CD and then run the following command [CD Drive]:\I386\Winnt32.exe /cmdcons The Recovery Console setup will begin by asking you to confirm your desire to install it. Click Yes to proceed.
The installer will look for any updates available from Microsoft, you can hit ESC to cancel this update.
Next the installation will begin and files will be copied to the hard drive.
You will be notified of a successful install. Click OK to finish the install. NO reboot is required.
The boot.ini file will also be modifed. There will be another entry added with the following C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons When you restart the server you will be given two options, the default option to start Windows, and the second option to start Recovery Console.
If you do nothing the default option to start Windows will be selected after approximatly 30 seconds. This can be modified by opening up the properties of My Computer. Under the Advanced tab, press the Settings button under Startup and Recovery. Here you can edit the length of time to display the boot loader before selecting the default.
You can also edit the timeout= line in the boot.ini. This tip also applies to Windows 2000 and XP as well!
For more information see:
Windows XP/2003 Recovery Console Commands