Unable to access Windows Recovery Console - hangs at 'starting Windows Recovery ..."

[clennox]

PROBLEM:
Unable to access the Windows Recovery Console, because the system hangs at the 'Starting Windows Recovery Console" screen.

REASON FOR USING WINDOWS RECOVERY CONSOLE:
C:\ needs to be wiped clean and reformated. Windows Recovery Console and XP Home CD are to be used to do this, because of a 'volume already in use' issue when working from within Windows.

STEPS TAKEN SO FAR:
Installed Windows Recovery Console -verified that the correct line is in the boot.ini file

On bootup, selected boot from CD option on startup (using F11), as well as setting BIOS not to look for boot files anywhere else than on cd (have tried it both ways).

Input a single key stroke to allow 'press any key to boot from ...'(cd).

When the option appeared to boot either into Windows XP, or Windows Recovery Console, selected the latter.

Check of hardware configuration passes, then black screen with "Starting Windows Recovery Console" spanning across the bottom of the screen.

At this point, nothing happens, even if I wait 15 minutes.

Alternatively, if I just try to boot from disc without going into Windows Recovery Console, using F keys, I can get to the blue "Windows Setup" screeen, but it is blank, and hangs in the same way.

[macko72]

You don't need to use recovery console to wipe drive clean folow steps fruther and delete partition-s with setup you don't have to use recovery console at all!!! And you can download from manufacturer of your HDD diagnostic and formating tool witch will help you to wipe your drive clean or you can download or buy tird party programs to do that for you like: http://www.killdisk.com/ , http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/B...e-kill_R2.html

[clennox]

Thanks for the simple solution I need more help.

I was able to format and partition by launching the XP cd and doing a new installation of Windows that way.
Unfortunately, I did not make the O/S partition for XP big enough and have to start over.

The same process (put the cd in, select 'install', select 'new install', download install file updates, and copy files, then install XP...new install, partition etc.) isn't working. At the point where the phase of installing windows is supposed to start, it goes to the phase of rebooting my machine.

I've tried just booting from the CD (not reading other drives by adjusting BIOS), but it hangs as per the original issue with or without using the Windows Recovery Console Option.

Advice is greatly appreciated.

[macko72]

Yours problem is not clear to me I can't reach what you trying to tell me, like you HAVE installed XP but on small partiton and what you doing in BIOS ???

Please read thru this web site http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...p_sg_clean.asp this is the way to do clean install of windows XP!!!