Windows XP Recovery Console commands can be used as a diagnostic tool in case your operating system ceases to work. Numerous commands can be used within XP Recovery Console:
- Attrib
We will start Windows XP recovery console commands from attrib command. The attrib command changes the attributes of a directory or a single file.
- Batch
The batch command is used to perform a series of other Recovery Console commands from a user specified text file.
- Bootcfg
The bootcfg command builds or edits the boot.ini file. It’s used to detect Windows installation in particular folder or partition on a hard drive.
- Chdir
The chdir command is a short version of “Change Directory”. It is used to change the directory or drive and can also output the current directory and drive.
- Chkdsk
The chkdsk command, also known as “check disk”, is used to identify and fix hard drive error and issues.
- Cls
The cls command simply clears the screen. If your screen is full with commands, then you can use this command to clear all mess. From all other Windows XP recovery console commands, this one doesn’t really do any thing except for clear the content of the screen for user’s convenience.
- Copy
The copy command is pretty self-explanatory; it copies a file from one location to another.
- Delete
The delete is also very common command, which is used to delete a file.
- Dir
The dir command displays a list of all files and folders inside the folder that you are presently working in. It can also display other vital information for example, hard drive’s serial number, size of all file, free space left, complete number of files listed, and much more.
- Disable
The disable command can be used to disable a device driver or system service. It can be used during troubleshooting, or if you think one of the service or driver is causing some kind of issue and needs to be disabled.
- Diskpart
The diskpart command can be used to create or delete partitions on your hard drive.
- Enable
The enable command can be used to enable a device driver or a system service. It is usually used after you disable a driver or service using “disable” command.
- Exit
The exit command does what it says – it closes the Recovery console and restarts your PC.
- Expand
The expand command extracts a file or multiple files from a compressed file.
- Fixboot
The fixboot command creates a fresh partition boot sector to the user-specified partition.
- Fixmbr
The fixmbr command fixes master Boot Record (MBR) by writing a new master boot record to your hard drive.
- Format
The format command can be used to format your hard drive into other file systems i.e. NTFS, FAT32 etc.
- Help
The help command displays additional information about all Recovery Console commands.
- Listsvc
The listsvc command is used to list all drivers and services available.
- Logon
The logon command can be used to access the user-specified Windows installation.
- Map
The map command maps and displays hard drive partitions and drive letters.
- Mkdir
The mkdir command can be used to create a new folder.
- More
The more command displays the information residing in a text file. The more command does pretty much the same thing as type command.
- Net use
The net use command is not a usable command in recovery Console. It is used to assign drive letter to network drives, hence can only be used in command prompt inside windows not in recovery console.
- Rename
The rename command changes the name of the file or folder that you specify.
- Rmdir
The rmdir command can be used to remove a folder.
- Set
The set command can be used to activate or deactivate certain options in the Windows XP Recovery Console.
- Systemroot
The systemroot command sets the environment variable, %systemroot% as the current folder currently being used.
- Type
The type command displays the information inside in a text file. The type command does almost the same thing as more command.
More information can also be found on Microsoft’s Windows XP documentation site. As you can see, these Windows XP Recovery Console commands can be used for many different purposes, read all commands carefully as incorrect use of command can result in undesirable results. You also use Chkdsk commands along with other Windows XP Recovery Console commands to acquire maximum results.
