Installing Recovery console

[David]

I've got some problems with a hard disk and need to run Chkdsk /f. I'm
told that I need to install the Recovery Console (I'm using XP SP2).
I searched Microsoft for installing it and found the following:

1. With Windows running, insert the Setup CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. CLick Start and select Run.
3. Type the following where D: is the CD-ROM drive letter:
D:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

The problem is that my CD ROM is a pre-SP2 version of XP and Windows
son't let me do this. I looked at a CD of SP2, but there doesn't seem
to be any similar folder structure on it. Where do I go from here?

David

 

[Dave B]

The recovery console does not need to be installed to access it, just boot
off the XP CD and select the recovery console? You can do this even with the
mismatch in your CD and the installed SP.

 

[Vanguard]

I've got some problems with a hard disk and need to run Chkdsk /f. I'm
told that I need to install the Recovery Console (I'm using XP SP2).

WHO told you this? Just run "chkdsk /f" from a DOS shell within
Windows. If the volume that you want to check is inuse then you get the
option of running CHKDSK on the next load of Windows.

If you are going to run "chkdsk /f", you might as well as do more and
run "chkdsk /r".

I searched Microsoft for installing it and found the following:

1. With Windows running, insert the Setup CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. CLick Start and select Run.
3. Type the following where D: is the CD-ROM drive letter:
D:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

The problem is that my CD ROM is a pre-SP2 version of XP and Windows
son't let me do this. I looked at a CD of SP2, but there doesn't seem
to be any similar folder structure on it. Where do I go from here?

You don't need the Recovery Console to run CHKDSK. However, if you want
to install it for other reasons, you may need a slipstreamed version of
your installation disc. You'll need the install CD, a blank CD-R or
CD-RW disc, the SP-2 file or CD, and some CD burning software. See
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp.

 

[David]

WHO told you this? Just run "chkdsk /f" from a DOS shell within
Windows. If the volume that you want to check is inuse then you get the
option of running CHKDSK on the next load of Windows.

WHO was, or is, a technician who maintains a large corporate network
so I assume he knows what he's talking about(?) When I try to run
chkdsk with or without switches I see a very brief glimpse of a DOS
screen, a few milleseconds, and then nothing happns. No option to run
at boot up.

If you are going to run "chkdsk /f", you might as well as do more and
run "chkdsk /r".

Yes, I can go with /r IF I can run it at all.

You don't need the Recovery Console to run CHKDSK. However, if you want
to install it for other reasons, you may need a slipstreamed version of
your installation disc.

The reason for installing it is that this is a laptop with system
restore CD's, not quite the same thing as a copy of XP. However I do
have a desktop with XP (pre-SP2) and that's the one I was hoping to
use to install Recovery Console. As for the slipstreamed disk I made
one about a year ago and felt well pleased with the fact that it
worked out so well. How dumb can you get? I just tried to use it as
you suggest, seems like I made a coaster!!!!!!!!!!!! Ah well, I guess
I'll have to go through the nausea all over again.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Dave B]

As I stated in my post, you can boot from the XP CD you have and run the
recovery console from there.

 

[Steve N.]

WHO was, or is, a technician who maintains a large corporate network
so I assume he knows what he's talking about(?) When I try to run
chkdsk with or without switches I see a very brief glimpse of a DOS
screen, a few milleseconds, and then nothing happns. No option to run
at boot up.

Start, Run, type in

cmd

press Enter

type in

chkdsk /f

press Enter

What happens?

Steve N.

 

[Rock]

I've got some problems with a hard disk and need to run Chkdsk /f. I'm
told that I need to install the Recovery Console (I'm using XP SP2).
I searched Microsoft for installing it and found the following:

1. With Windows running, insert the Setup CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. CLick Start and select Run.
3. Type the following where D: is the CD-ROM drive letter:
D:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

The problem is that my CD ROM is a pre-SP2 version of XP and Windows
son't let me do this. I looked at a CD of SP2, but there doesn't seem
to be any similar folder structure on it. Where do I go from here?

David

"Recovery Console SP2 revision"
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#21

 

[Vanguard]

WHO was, or is, a technician who maintains a large corporate network
so I assume he knows what he's talking about(?) When I try to run
chkdsk with or without switches I see a very brief glimpse of a DOS
screen, a few milleseconds, and then nothing happns. No option to run
at boot up.

Because you are trying to run a DOS-mode, non-GUI application. The DOS
program will spew any output to stdout (standard output) which is the
console but when the program exits then the shell exits, too, and so you
lose the console. You need to run the DOS program within a DOS shell so
the DOS program's output remains visible in that DOS shell after the
program exits.

Like I said, open a DOS shell (cmd.exe) *first* and then run CHKDSK.
Even your supposedly expert technician should've know about how to run
CHKDSK, so maybe it's time to request different personnel or wonder if
you have a feud going between you two.