Use the attrib command to change the file attributes for a single file or folder

You should also follow these guidelines when you use the attrib command:

• You must set or clear at least one attribute.
• You can change attributes for only one file or directory at a time.
• You can view attributes by using the dir command.
• Do not separate attribute parameters with spaces.
• You can set multiple attributes simultaneously.
  • To change multiple attributes in the same way, use either the set or clear parameter (+ or -). Include all the attribute options to be changed, and do not separate them with spaces. For example, to set the compressed, hidden, and read-only attributes for a single file, type the following: attrib +chr filename
  • To change multiple attributes in different ways, use the set parameter (+) and include all the attribute letters to be set, followed without a space by the clear parameter (-) and all the attribute letters to be cleared. For example, to set the compressed and hidden file attributes and to clear the read-only file attribute, type: attrib +ch-r filename

Use the batch command to run the commands specified in a text file

The batch command cannot call itself recursively. Do not include the batch command in the file specified by the inputfile parameter.

For x86-based systems, use the bootcfg command to scan your hard disks and use the information to modify the contents of the Boot.ini file or rebuild a new copy. Always back up the Boot.ini file before modifying it.

The Recovery Console bootcfg command is not the same as the Windows Server 2003 Bootcfg.exe command-line tool. Bootcfg.exe resides in the systemroot\System32 folder and is a stand-alone command-line tool that you cannot use in Recovery Console

Use the cd or chdir command to display the name of the current volume or directory, or to change to the folder specified. The chdir command only operates within the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources.

If you want to display the current volume and folder, use the cd or chdir command without parameters.

These commands treat spaces as delimiters, which require that a space is inserted before all arguments, including double periods. Use quotation marks to enclose a path or file name that contains a space.

Use the cd or chdir command to display the name of the current volume or directory, or to change to the folder specified. The chdir command only operates within the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources.

If you want to display the current volume and folder, use the cd or chdir command without parameters.

These commands treat spaces as delimiters, which require that a space is inserted before all arguments, including double periods. Use quotation marks to enclose a path or file name that contains a space.

Use the chkdsk command to check a volume, and if needed, to repair the volume. Also, use chkdsk to recover and move readable information before marking bad sectors as unusable.

You can use the chkdsk command without parameters. When you do not specify a volume, chkdsk runs on the current volume.

Chkdsk requires the file Autochk.exe. If chkdsk cannot find Autochk.exe in the systemroot\System32 directory, it attempts to locate Autochk.exe on the Windows Server 2003 installation CD.

Use the cls command to clear the screen and redisplay the command prompt.

Use the copy command to copy a single file to a specified location.

You should also follow these guidelines when you use the copy command:

• You cannot use wildcard characters (for example: * and ?) with the copy command.
• If you do not specify a destination directory, the copy command uses the current folder by default.
• If you do not specify a destination file name, the copy command uses the existing file name by default.
• If the destination file name already exists, you are warned before overwriting it.
• Compressed files from the Windows Server 2003 operating system CD are automatically expanded as they are copied.
• The source can be removable media, any directory within the system directories of the current Windows installation, the root of any drive, the local installation sources, or the Cmdcons directory.
• The destination can be any of the same locations as the source except removable media. If a destination is not specified, it defaults to the current directory.

Use the del or delete command to delete a file or folder.

You cannot use wildcard characters with this command. The delete command only operates within the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources.

Use the del or delete command to delete a file or folder.

You cannot use wildcard characters with this command. The delete command only operates within the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources.

Use the dir command to display a list of the files and folders in a directory and to specify a particular file or group of files for which you want to see a listing. Multiple file names can be used. File names can be separated by spaces, commas, or semicolons. You can use wildcard characters (? and *) in the filename parameter to display a group of files.

Dir also lists the disk’s volume label and serial number, and the total number of files listed, their cumulative size, and the free space (in bytes) remaining on the disk. For each file and subdirectory, dir lists the file name extension, the file size in bytes, the date and time the file was last modified, and the following file attributes, if applicable.

In Recovery Console, the dir command functions differently that the command line because it lists all folders and files, including those with hidden and system attributes set. For each file and subdirectory, the dir command lists its attributes (if they apply) by using the following abbreviations:

• a = Archive
• c = Compressed
• d = Directory
• e = Encrypted
• h = Hidden
• p = Reparse point
• r = Read-only
• s = System file

Use the disable command to disable a service or driver.

Use a related command, listsvc, to view a list of service and driver names for your system. The disable command displays the previous start type of the service before changing it to SERVICE_DISABLED. Record this value so that you can restore the original state of the service after troubleshooting a problem.

There are five startup types. The first three, SERVICE_AUTO_START, SERVICE_DISABLED, and SERVICE_DEMAND_START, correspond to the standard startup types, Automatic, Disabled, and Manual, which you typically configure using the Services snap-in in the Computer Management administrative tool. The last two, SERVICE_BOOT_START and SERVICE_SYSTEM_START, are commonly used to configure the way device drivers load, for example, when Windows starts.

Use the diskpart command to manage the partitions on your hard disk. For example, you can use diskpart to create or delete disk partitions.

If you do not use a parameter, a user interface for managing your partitions appears.

This command can damage your partition table if the disk has been upgraded to a dynamic disk. Do not modify the structure of dynamic disks unless you are using the Disk Management snap-in.

Use the enable command to enable or change the startup type of a service or driver.

Use the related command, listsvc, to view a list of service and driver names for your system. The enable command displays the previous start type of the service before changing it. Record this value so that you can restore the original state of the service after troubleshooting a problem.

If you do not specify a new start type, the enable command displays the previous start type.

Use the exit command to close Recovery Console and restart your computer.

Use the expand command to expand a compressed file that is stored on the Windows Server 2003 operating system CD or from within a cabinet (.cab) file, and copy it to a specified destination. If the destination is not specified, the file is copied to the current directory.

You cannot specify removable media such as a floppy disk drive or a CD-ROM as the destination.

Use the fixboot command to rewrite the boot sector code to a hard disk. This is useful for repairing a corrupted boot sector on x86-based systems. If you need to replace the boot sector of a volume that is not the system volume, then you must specify the appropriate drive letter.

If you do not specify a drive, the default is the system boot volume.

Use the fixmbr command to rewrite the master boot code of the master boot record (MBR) of the startup hard disk. This command is useful for repairing corrupted MBRs.

If you do not specify a device, the default is disk 0. If disk 0 is not the device that needs repairing, you can obtain the device name of other disks by using the map command.

If the fixmbr command detects an invalid or nonstandard partition table signature, it prompts you for permission before rewriting the MBR.

Use this command with care because it can damage your partition table if any of the following applies:

• A virus is present and a non-Microsoft operating system is installed on the same computer.
• A nonstandard MBR is installed by a non-Microsoft disk utility.
• A hardware problem exists.

Always run antivirus software before using this command.

When you run the fixmbr command, it only overwrites the master boot code and leaves the existing partition table intact. If corruption in the MBR affects the partition table, running the fixmbr command might not resolve the problem.

Use the format command to format the specified volume to the specified file system.

Consider the following guidelines before using the format command:

• If a file system is not specified, the format command defaults to the NTFS file system.
• If you choosing FAT for the file system, this command formats a volume as FAT16. FAT16 volumes cannot be larger than 4 GB. Limit FAT16 partitions to2 GB to increase storage efficiency and to maintain compatibility with MS-DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Millennium Edition.
• Windows Server 2003 can format FAT32 volumes up to 32 GB in size. For larger volumes, use NTFS.

Use the help command to view Help information for Recovery Console commands.

Use the command parameter to specify a name of any Recovery Console command.

If you do not specify a parameter, Help lists information about all the supported commands.

Use the listsvc command to view details about the services and drivers on your system, including service start types.

Use the listsvc command together with the disable and enable commands. The information displayed is extracted from the registry file System that is located in the systemroot\System32\Config folder. If the file System is damaged or missing, the information displayed might be inaccurate.

Use the logon command to detect and logon to Windows installations.

You must correctly enter the local administrator password within three attempts or the computer will restart.

Use the map command to list all drive letters, file system types, volume sizes, and mappings to physical devices that are currently active.

If you do not use the arc parameter, the map command displays device names. The map command also displays the type of file system and the size of each disk in megabytes (MB).

The map command might not work correctly with systems that are using dynamic disk features.

Use the md or mkdir command to create a new directory or subdirectory.

The md or mkdir command has the following limitations:

• You cannot use wildcard characters with this command.
• The command only operates within the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources.
• This command might not display all the volumes on a disk or the correct volume sizes on dynamic disks.

Use the md or mkdir command to create a new directory or subdirectory.

The md or mkdir command has the following limitations:

• You cannot use wildcard characters with this command.
• The command only operates within the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources.
• This command might not display all the volumes on a disk or the correct volume sizes on dynamic disks.

Use the more or type command to display the contents of a text file.

If a text file is too large to fit on one screen, use the following page viewing options:

• ENTER Scroll down one line at a time.
• SPACEBAR Scroll down one page at a time.
• ESC to quit viewing the text file.

Use the rd or rmdir command to delete a directory or subdirectory.

The rd or rmdir command has the following limitations:

• You cannot use wildcard characters with this command.
• The path must be empty or the command will fail.
• The command operates within the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources.

Use the ren or rename command to rename a file or directory.

You cannot use wildcard characters with this command.

Use the ren or rename command to rename a file or directory.

You cannot use wildcard characters with this command.

Use the rd or rmdir command to delete a directory or subdirectory.

The rd or rmdir command has the following limitations:

• You cannot use wildcard characters with this command.
• The path must be empty or the command will fail.
• The command operates within the system directories of the current Windows installation, removable media, the root directory of any hard disk partition, or the local installation sources.

Use the set command to set Recovery Console environment variables. Recovery Console disables the set command by default. To enable the set command, you must enable the Allow floppy copy and access to all drives and all folders Group Policy setting.

To display the list of current environment variables, use the set command without specifying a parameter. All Recovery Console environmental variables are set to FALSE by default.

Use the systemroot command to set the current directory to the systemroot directory of the Windows Server 2003 installation with which you are currently working.

Use the more or type command to display the contents of a text file.

If a text file is too large to fit on one screen, use the following page viewing options:

• ENTER Scroll down one line at a time.
• SPACEBAR Scroll down one page at a time.
• ESC to quit viewing the text file.