If you support a Windows XP system that occasionally has problems booting up, you may want to install the Recovery Console on that system. Once you install the Recovery Console, it will always be available when you need to troubleshoot the boot process. This will save you from having to search for a Windows XP installation CD every time you want to run the Recovery Console.

Here's how to add the Recovery Console to an XP machine:

Access the Run command by pressing [Windows]-R.

Type x:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons in the Open text box (where x is the CD-ROM drive letter) and click OK.

When you see the confirmation prompt, click Yes and follow the onscreen steps.

Restart Windows XP and make sure that the Recovery Console option appears on the Operating System Selection menu.