XP Pro Recovery Console

[tractorman13]

I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop w/XP Pro-in the boot-up process it says "\Windows\System32\config\system file missing, corrupt, etc. use XP start-up disc and use the "r" selection to attempt to correct this issue. The missing file has been placed in a "tmp" directory with a different file name. The file name needs to be renamed 1st and then copied to the System32\config directory. I have searched the Internet on how to rename files in the DOS mode but I continue to get "the parameter is not valid". Using the "r" thru the XP Pro disc I end up @ the C:\WINDOWS prompt and I have tried the rename from there and the C:\Windows\tmp with the same "the parameter is not valid" result. How do I or can I rename the file I need to get?

[ktkendall]

What command are you using to try to rename the file and how exactly are you using it?

The ren or rename command should work.


C:\>help rename
Renames a file or files.

RENAME [drive:][path]filename1 filename2.
REN [drive:][path]filename1 filename2.

Note that you cannot specify a new drive or path for your destination file.

C:\>

Probably why you can not fine any help is because it is not called dos mode anymore, but as you can see in my copy and paste up there is how you get help using commands in command line mode. I am reasonably sure it s the same in the recovery console mode.

[tractorman13]

When you use the "r" selection in WinXP it takes you to C:\WINDOWS-then I entered cd tmp. Then entered rename file1 file 2. When that didn't work I went back to C:\Windows and then entered rename file file 2 and received the same invalid parameters message.

[glc]

When you use the Windows Recovery Console, you can use only the following items:
• The root folder
• The %SystemRoot% folder and the subfolders of the Windows installation that you are currently logged on to
• The Cmdcons folder
• The removable media drives such as the CD-ROM drive or the DVD-ROM drive

REN and RENAME Use the ren and rename commands to rename a file. Note You cannot specify a new drive or path for the renamed file. These commands work only in the system folders of the current Windows installation, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources.

So - you cannot rename anything in c:\windows\tmp. This is not a system folder.

Put the exact file you need on removable media, then use the console to copy it to where it belongs.

COPY
copy source destination
Use this command to copy a file. In the command syntax, source specifies the file to copy and destination specifies the folder or file name for the new file. You cannot use wildcard characters indicated by an asterisk (*), and you cannot copy a folder. If you copy a compressed file from the Windows CD-ROM, the file is automatically decompressed at the same time that it is copied.

The source of the file can be removable media, any folder in the system folders of the current Windows installation, the root of any drive, the local installation sources, or the Cmdcons folder.

If destination is unspecified, the default destination is the current folder. If the file already exists, you are prompted whether you want the copied file to overwrite the existing file. The destination cannot be removable media.