Start your computer with the Windows Setup floppy disks, or with the
Windows CD-ROM. At the "Welcome to Setup" screen, press F10, or press R to
repair, and then press C (Windows 2000 only) to start the Windows Recovery
Console. Select the appropriate number for the Windows installation that
you want to repair, and then type the administrator password. If the
administrator password does not exist, just press ENTER.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;229716
Description of the Windows 2000 Recovery Console
View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q229716
For a Microsoft Windows XP version of this article, see 314058.
SUMMARY
This article describes the functionality and limitations of the Windows
Recovery Console. The Windows Recovery Console is designed to help you
recover when your Windows-based computer does not start properly or does
not start at all.
MORE INFORMATION
When you use the Windows Recovery Console, you can obtain limited access to
NTFS, FAT, and FAT32 volumes without starting the Windows graphical
interface. In the Windows Recovery Console you can:
Use, copy, rename or replace operating system files and folders.
Enable or disable services or devices from starting when you next start
your computer.
Repair the file system boot sector or the Master Boot Record (MBR).
Create and format partitions on drives.
Note that only an administrator can obtain access to the Windows Recovery
Console so that unauthorized users cannot use any NTFS volume.
Starting the Windows Recovery Console
To start the Windows Recovery Console, use any of the following methods:
Start your computer with the Windows Setup floppy disks, or with the
Windows CD-ROM. At the "Welcome to Setup" screen, press F10, or press R to
repair, and then press C (Windows 2000 only) to start the Windows Recovery
Console. Select the appropriate number for the Windows installation that
you want to repair, and then type the administrator password. If the
administrator password does not exist, just press ENTER.
Add the Windows Recovery Console to the Windows Startup folder by using
Winnt32.exe with the /cmdcons switch. This procedure requires approximately
7 MB of hard disk space on your system partition to hold the Cmdcons folder
and files.
NOTE: If you are using software mirroring, please 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
After you start the Windows Recovery Console, you receive the following
message:
Windows NT(TM) Boot Console Command Interpreter.
WARNING:
This is a limited function command prompt intended only as a system
recovery utility for advanced users. Using this utility incorrectly can
cause serious system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall
Windows to correct them.
Type 'exit' to leave the command prompt and reboot the system.
1: C:\WINNT
Which Windows installation would you like to logon to (enter to abort)?
After you enter the number for the appropriate Windows installation, enter
the Administrator account password. Note that if you use an incorrect
password three times, the Windows Recovery Console quits. Also, if the SAM
database is missing or damaged, you are not able to use the Windows
Recovery Console because you cannot be properly authenticated. After you
enter your password and the Windows Recovery Console starts, type exit to
restart your computer.
Restrictions and Limitations of the Command Console
From the Windows Recovery Console you can only use the following folders:
The root folder
The %SystemRoot% folder and the subfolders of the Windows installation you
are currently logged on to
The Cmdcons folder
Removable media drives such as CD-ROM drives
NOTE: If you try to obtain access to other folders, you receive an "Access
Denied" error message. Also, while you are using the Windows Recovery
Console, you cannot copy a file from the local hard disk to a floppy disk.
You can copy a file from a floppy disk or CD-ROM to a hard disk, and from
one hard disk to another hard disk.
Available Commands
HELP
Use the help command to list all of the following supported commands:
attrib delete fixboot md type
cd dir fixmbr mkdir systemroot
chdir disable format more
chkdsk diskpart help rd
cls enable listsvc ren
copy exit logon rename
del expand map rmdir
ATTRIB
Use the attrib command with any of the following parameters to change
attributes of a file or folder:
-R
+R
-S
+S
-H
+H
+ Sets an attribute.
- Resets an attribute.
R Read-Only file attribute.
S System file attribute.
H Hidden file attribute.
NOTE: At least one attribute must be set or cleared. To view attributes,
use the dir command.
CD and CHDIR
Use the cd and chdir commands to change the folder. If you type cd .., you
specify that you want 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 enclose a subfolder
name that contains a space with quotation marks, for example:
cd "\winnt\profiles\username\programs\start menu"
The chdir command only operates within the system folders of the current
installation of Windows, removable media, the root folder of any hard disk
partition, or the local installation sources.
CHKDSK
chkdsk drive /p /r
This command (where drive specifies the drive to check) checks the drive,
and if needed, repairs or recovers the drive. It also marks bad sectors and
recovers readable information.
The /p switch instructs CHKDSK to do an exhaustive check of the drive even
if the drive is not marked with problems, and then corrects any errors that
are found. The /r switch locates bad sectors and recovers readable
information. Note that if you specify the /r switch, the /p switch is
implied. The chkdsk command may be specified without arguments, in which
case the current drive is implied with no switches. Optionally, the listed
switches are accepted. The chkdsk command requires the Autochk.exe file.
Chkdsk automatically locates this file in the bootup folder. Typically,
this folder is the Cmdcons folder if the Command Console was pre-installed.
If the folder cannot be found in the bootup folder, Chkdsk tries to locate
the Windows CD-ROM installation media. If the installation media cannot be
found, Chkdsk prompts you to provide the location of the Autochk.exe file.
CLS
Use this command to clear the screen.
COPY
copy source destination
Use this command (where source specifies the file to be copied and
destination specifies the folder or file name for the new file) to copy a
file. Wildcards or folder copies are not permitted. A compressed file from
the Windows CD-ROM is automatically decompressed as it is copied.
If destination is not specified, it defaults to the current folder. If the
file already exists, you are prompted to overwrite it.
DEL and DELETE
del drive: path filename
delete drive: path filename
Use this commmand (where drive: path filename specifies the file to delete)
to delete a file. The delete command only operates within the system
folders of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root
folder of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources. The
delete command does not accept wild card (*) characters.
DIR
dir drive: path filename
Use this command (where drive: path filename specifies drive, folder, and
files to list) to display a list of files and subfolders in a folder. The
dir command lists all files including hidden and system files. Files may
have the following attributes:
D - Directory R - Read-only file
H - Hidden file A - Files ready for archiving
S - System file C - Compressed
E - Encrypted P - Reparse Point
The dir command only operates within the system folders of the current
Windows installation, removable media, the root folder of any hard disk
partition, or the local installation sources.
DISABLE
disable servicename
Use this command (where servicename specifies the name of the service or
driver to be disabled) to disable a Windows system service or driver.
Use the listsvc command to display all eligible services or drivers to
disable. The disable command prints the old start type of the service
before resetting it to SERVICE_DISABLED. Because of this, you should record
the old start type in case it is necessary to re-enable the service.
The start_type values that the disable command displays are:
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.
/add: Creates a new partition.
/delete: Deletes an existing partition.
device_name: The device name for creating a new partition. The name can be
obtained from the output of the MAP command, for example: \Device\HardDisk0.
drive_name: A drive-letter based name for deleting an existing partition,
for example D:
partition_name: The partition-based name for deleting an existing partition
and can be used in place of the drive name argument, for example:
\Device\HardDisk0\Partition1.
size: The size of the new partition in megabytes.
NOTE: If no arguments are used, a user interface for managing your
partitions is displayed.
WARNING: This command can damage your 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 (where servicename is the name of the
service or driver to be enabled) 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. You should note the old value, in case it is
necessary to restore the start type of the service.
Valid start_type are:
SERVICE_BOOT_START
SERVICE_SYSTEM_START
SERVICE_AUTO_START
SERVICE_DEMAND_START
NOTE: 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 Command Console and restart your computer.
EXPAND
expand source [/F:filespec] [destination] [/y]
expand source [/F:filespec] /D
Use this command (where source specifies the name of the file to be
expanded and destination specifies the directory for the new file) to
expand a file.
NOTE: You may not include wildcards.
If destination is not specified, the command defaults to the current folder.
Options:
/y: Do not prompt before overwriting an existing file.
/f:filespec: If the source contains more than one file, this parameter is
required to identify the specific files to be expanded. You may include
wildcards.
/d: Do not expand; only display a directory of the files which are
contained in the source.
The destination may be any directory within the system directories of the
current Windows installation, the root of the drive, the local installation
sources, or the Cmdcons folder. The destination cannot be removable media.
The destination file cannot be read-only. Use the attrib command to remove
the read-only attribute.
expand prompts you if the destination file already exists unless you use
/y.
FIXBOOT
fixboot drive name:
Use this command (where drive name is the drive letter where the boot
sector will be written) to write the new Windows boot sector code on the
boot partition. This command fixes problems where the Windows boot sector
is corrupted. The Emergency Repair process also fixes the boot sector. This
command overrides the default of writing to the system boot partition.
FIXMBR
fixmbr device name
Use this command (where device name is an optional device name that
specifies the device that needs a new MBR) to repair the master boot record
(MBR) of the system partition. This command is used in scenarios where a
virus has damaged the MBR and Windows cannot start.
WARNING: This command has the potential to damage your partition tables if
a virus is present or a hardware problem exists. This command may lead to
inaccessible partitions. Microsoft suggests running antivirus software
before using this command.
The name can be obtained from the output of the map command. If this is
left blank, the boot device's MBR is fixed, for example:
fixmbr \device\harddisk2
If Fixmbr detects an invalid or non-standard partition table signature, it
prompts you for permission before rewriting the MBR.
FORMAT
format drive: /Q /FS:file-system
Use this command (where /Q performs a quick format of the drive, drive is
the drive letter of the partition to format /FS:file-system specifies the
type of file system to use [FAT, FAT32, or NTFS]) to format the specified
drive to the specified file system.
If a file system is not specified, the existing file system format is used,
when available.
LISTSVC
The listsvc command lists all available services, drivers, and their start
types for the current Windows installation. This command may be useful when
using the disable and enable commands.
NOTE: These are extracted from the %SystemRoot%\System32\Config\SYSTEM
hive. If the SYSTEM hive become damaged or missing, unpredictable results
may occur.
LOGON
logon
The logon command lists all detected installations of Windows, and then
requests the local administrator password for the copy of Windows you chose
to log on to. If more than three attempts to logon do not succeed, the
console quits and your computer restarts.
MAP
map arc
Use this command (where the arc parameter tells the map command to use ARC
paths instead of Windows Device paths) to list drive letters, file system
types, partition sizes and mappings to physical devices.
MD and MKDIR
The md or mkdir commands create new folders. Wildcard characters are not
supported. The mkdir command only operates within the system folders of the
current installation of Windows, removable media, the root folder of any
hard disk partition, or the local installation sources.
MORE
more filename
Use this command to display a text file to the screen.
RD and RMDIR
The rd and rmdir commands delete a folder. These commands only operate
within the system folders of the current Windows installation, removable
media, the root folder of any hard disk partition, or the local
installation sources.
REN and RENAME
The ren and rename commands can rename a file. Note that you cannot specify
a new drive or path for your destination file. These commands only operate
within the system folders of the current Windows installation, removable
media, the root folder of any hard disk partition, or the local
installation sources.
SET
The set command allows you to display or modify four environment options.
AllowWildCards = FALSE AllowAllPaths = FALSE AllowRemovableMedia = FALSE
NoCopyPrompt = FALSE
SYSTEMROOT
The systemroot command sets the current working folder to the %SystemRoot%
folder of the Windows installation you are currently logged on to.
TYPE
type filename
The type command displays a text file.
Subbu
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