The easy way to install Windows Recovery Console is to have the i386 directory already copied to your C drive.
- Get to a command prompt. Start | Run , type: cmd
- type: Cd \i386
- type: winnt32 /cmdcons
After it installs (do be connected to the internet when it installs, it may download updated files), you will want to reduce the prompt time at boot up by right-clicking your My Computer icon, select properties, click on the advanced tab then click the settings button under “Startup and Recovery”.
Reduce “Time to display list of operating systems” to somewhere between 3 and 5 seconds. Depending on your PC, 3 seconds might not give you a chance to see the menu and 5 may just delay boot time.
You aren’t done yet..
Test. Reboot and test.
Some PC’s require a driver in order for Windows Recovery Console to be able to read the hard drive. If the PC won’t boot to the console, then you likely need a driver. This is done by pressing F6 when prompted and having the proper driver on a floppy disk in your A: drive.
Don’t have an A: drive? (besides on a laptop). Then you have succumbed to the stupidity of the PC makers/sellers who think they are outdated but don’t know squat about the behemoth from Redmond still relying on them.
Why does Microsoft INSIST on that driver coming from the A: drive? I have no idea.
But if you have a laptop or a desktop with a floppy drive, about $30 bucks will buy you a USB floppy drive.
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