help please with XPpro recovery console

[timO']

suddenly i can't boot into Windows. BIOS is not detecting either of my
SATA HDDs. It does see my floppy my DVDRW and the external USB
hardrive,

and it put the external hdd in the boot sequence. i cannot put the c
drive into the boot sequence cause it isn't being detected.

want to try to use the recovery console, although i think the problem
is in the PSU or the Mobo.
when i boot off the XP system disk, it gets to the menu where i select
to run the recovery console, get to a DOS screen that invites me tp
type EXIT. but no options to run the recovery console. in a support
book it says that to enter the number of the XP installation, but
there is no opportunity to enter anything other than to reinstall XP,
quit or run the recovery console. i do not want to reinstall XP and
loose my data.
i am stuck.

 

[AJR]

At this point "...but there is no opportunity to enter anything other than
to reinstall XP,quit or run the recovery console. i do not want to reinstall
XP and
loose my data...." - select reinstall XP - as setup progresses and if it
detects a XP installation - it lists it/them and will ask if you want to
repair the installation and if so indicate the list number (usually only one
installation).

If repair is selected setup will run an upgrade installation - meaning there
should be (note should be) no loss of data or installed programs.

Major problem - if drives not recognized there is no option for repair or
install. If setup does proceed and does not detect previous installation -
serious problem!!! If you proceed installation will be a "clean" install.

 

[timO']

At this point "...but there is no opportunity to enter anything other than
to reinstall XP,quit or run the recovery console. i do not want to reinstall
XP and
loose my data...." - select reinstall XP - as setup progresses and if it
detects a XP installation - it lists it/them and will ask if you want to
repair the installation and if so indicate the list number (usually only one
installation).

If repair is selected setup will run an upgrade installation - meaning there
should be (note should be) no loss of data or installed programs.

Major problem - if drives not recognized there is no option for repair or
install. If setup does proceed and does not detect previous installation -
serious problem!!! If you proceed installation will be a "clean" install.

since I posted my question I found loose pins in the PSU molex going
to the SATA drives.
the pins popped out of plastic connector so even though the two parts
male and female were securely attached. the pins weren't mating
reliably. so the system boots fine again.
the info you supplied is what i wanted to understand better. Thanks!