When other start up repairs fails to repair Windows XP to regular use, you want to utilize integral Microsoft Recovery Console to repair problem. Recovery Console solves serious start up problems, but it is not "user friendly" option. Even Microsoft Support suggests that Recovery Console be utilized "by advanced users only." Recovery Console is thus "last ditch effort" for many users earlier than reinstalling Windows XP completely.

Accessing the Recovery Tool

1. Windows XP Recovery Console program is placed on original Windows XP set up disks. If you do not have an original set up disk, borrow similar disk. Just be certain that if you are running Windows XP Home version, e.g. that you utilize Home version disk a Windows XP Professional disk won't work in this case. Put set up disk in DVD or CD drive and start system. In many cases, PC will start from this disk rather than hard drive. If PC continually tries to boot from hard drive, restart and push "F1," "F2" or "Delete" as you start. This shows BIOS settings. Modify boot order so that CD drives boots before hard drive. Press "F10" to save modification, type "Exit" and restart.

Starting the Recovery Console

2. Set up disk will mechanically detect copy of Windows XP installed on hard drive. It will present choice of "recovering" current installation of Windows in repair operation. Select this option by pressing "R." Occasionally you asked to type in an administrator password. Overlook this in many cases and hit "Enter."

Recovery Console Commands

3. Recovery commands are dissimilar from DOS commands. Type word "Help" and menu of correct commands will show. Two common commands that frequently fix Windows are "chkdsk" and "fixboot." "Chkdsk" search hard drive for errors and solve them. This test is performed in Console and by mechanically restarting machine into "chkdsk" mode. The "fixboot" command tries to fix problem by making other boot file. Either of these commands repair problem, though, and you must do research online at Microsoft Support or other tech support forums to find Recovery Console commands that do repair problem you are facing. Microsoft Support site presents listing and explanation of different commands and how to utilize them. When you have finished working Recovery Console, type "exit" to end program and restart system.

Recovery Failures

4. Although helpfulness of Windows Recovery Console, it will not always work to solve problem, and reinstallation of Windows needed. To prevent losing personal data, think buying new hard drive and installing Windows XP on this drive, rather than overwriting data on old drive. Access this old drive, and copy and move data to new hard drive by an external USB hard drive case or by installing old hard drive as secondary slave drive.