System Restore from Recovery Console

Windows XP Recovery Console

We all know that recovery console is a place where we cannot run system restore normally... so follow the below mentioned steps to run system restore in Recovery Console also. In order to do this you need a windows xp bootable disc.

Step 1: Insert the XP disc and turn of the sys.
Step 2: Boot from the cd and go to windows Stepup page.
Step 3: Choose the second option "R"
Step 4: Choose the operating system
Step 5: Type the Admin password and confirm that by typing again.
Step 6: Type CD\ then Enter
Step 7: Type cd system~1\_resto~1 then Enter
Step 8: Type dir then Enter

Note : When you hit enter it will list all the restore points folders like rp1, rp2 …….. If the restore points have more than one page then u have to keep on hitting the key to view the last restore point folder. You will have to choose the second to last option folder

Step 9: Type cd rp {the second to the last restore point no. } (Note: Example: cd rp9, if rp9 is the second to the last restore point where the last restore point no. is 10
Step 10: Type cd snapshot
Step 11: Now the command prompt will look like this c:\system~1\_resto~1\rp9\snapshot
Step 12: Type copy _registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system
Step 13: Press enter
Step 14: Type copy _registry_machine_software c:\windows\system32\config\software
Step 15: Type Exit

Note: If you get an access denied error when doing the above, then do the following steps at the recovery console:

Step 1: Type CD\ then press Enter
Step 2: Type cd windows\system32\config then press Enter
Step 3: Type ren system system.bak then press Enter
Step 4: Type exist press Enter
Step 5: Your PC will reboot, go back into the Recovery Console and then you have start from Step 7

Note : If you still cannot get access in anyway to your installation in the recovery console then your SAM database files are corrupt. There is no way you can restore these with the recovery console. You may need to do a fresh install