Using the Win XP Recovery Console to make a PC Bootable

THIS THREAD IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND INCOMPLETE - DO NOT FOLLOW THIS YET

This instructions here guide you on boot your Windows XP CD to access the Recovery Console. Prior to following these instructons you need to make sure that you have your bootable Windows XP CD, and you must have configured your BIOS to allow booting from the CD drive. If you do not have your Windows XP CD, see this >> Making A Win XP Recovery Console CD


1. Boot from the Windows XP CD.

2. When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts. Select the repair or recover option by pressing R as seen in the below image ( click to expand the thumbnail - note: your CD may not be Windows XP Professional like in this example )

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/chaslang/images/RC/Rec_Cons1.gif

3. After selecting R, you should see a screen like below showing the Recovery Console:

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/chaslang/images/RC/Rec_Cons2.gif

4. Once you are at the Recovery Console, you will be given at least one choice of Windows installations. Normally the choice you want is number 1 . Click the number 1 key at the "top" of the keyboard and click enter.

NOTE: At this point your the numbers to the right of your keyboard is are off. If you insist on using these keys for your numbers, remember to hit the Num Lock key before clicking a number over there or your computer will automatically reboot and you will have to wait through the previous steps to get back to the recovery console.

5. Now you will be given a message asking for the Administrator password. Depending on whether you ( or someone else ) ever configured this password or not, it may just be blank. So enter your known password or try leaving it blank ( by just hitten the Enter key ) if you are not sure you have one.

6. Now you will have a prompt in the black command prompt window that shows the below:

X:\WINDOWS>

Note: Where X: is to be replaced with your drive letter which is typically C: This applies to all steps below showing X:

7. Type the below ( there must be a space between "cd" and "\" ) and then press Enter:

cd \

8. Now the prompt should just show:

X:\>

9. Type the below and then press enter:

cd system~1\_resto~1


Note: If it gives an error "Access Denied" while accessing the folder, follow the method below

Type: cd \

Press Enter

Type: cd windows\system32\config

Press Enter

Type: ren system system.bak

Press Enter

(note the spaces between ren and system, and then between system and system.bak)

Type: exit

Press Enter

Now the computer should restart, then re-follow steps 1-9

10. Now the prompt, should be

X:\SYSTEM~1\_RESTO~1>

Now type the below and press Enter

dir

NOTE: When you hit enter it will list all the restore points folders like "RP101", "RP102" ( your number will be different ) we must determine which is the last restore point so we can copy a backup file from a recent backup. If the restore points have more than one page then you have keep on hitting the key to view the last restore point folder.

NOTE: It is a good rule of thumb to choose the files from the restore point folder which the second to the last one which should be from a faitly recent date.

11. Type the below and hit Enter:

cd rpXXX

where XXX is replaced the the second to the last restore point number

Example: cd rp253 if rp254 is the last restore point

12. Now type the below and hit Enter:

cd snapshot

NOTE: Now the command prompt will look like this:

X:\system~1\resto~1\rp253\snapshot>

Assuming rp253 was your next to the last restore point.


13. No type the below and hit Enter:

copy _registry_machine_system X:\windows\system32\config\system

Remember to replace X: with your actual drive.

14. Now remove your XP CD and type the below and hit Enter which will reboot your PC.

Exit


NOTE: If the above procedure does solve the inability to boot your PC, repeat all steps, but in step 13 type:

copy _registry_machine_software X:\windows\system32\config\software

And then Exit to reboot.


If this still does not allow you to boot, try selecting a different restore point.