In the Tutorial How to install and use the Windows Recovery Console you give a clear description of what to do and how to go about using a CD but my computer came with a pre-installed operating system which is Windows XP PROFESSIONAL SP2.I am a relative newcomer to the world of computetrs but i am willing to learn which is one of the reasons why i registered with Bleeping Computer. I would appreciate any and all available help, guidance, procedures or instructions.

Why do you need to use the WRC (Windows Recovery Console) ? Is something wrong with the current Windows?

If your Microsoft Windows XP-based computer does not start correctly or if it does not start at all, you can use the Windows Recovery Console to help you recover your system software.

In the Windows Recovery Console, you can:

• Use, copy, rename, or replace operating system files and folders.
• Enable or disable service or device startup the next time that start your computer.
• Repair the file system boot sector or the Master Boot Record (MBR).
• Create and format partitions on drives.

To install the Recovery Console, follow these steps:
1. Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM drive.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type d:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons where d is the drive letter for the CD-ROM drive.
4. A Windows Setup Dialog Box appears. The Windows Setup Dialog Box describes the Recovery Console option. To confirm the installation, click Yes.
5. Restart the computer. The next time that you start your computer, "Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" appears on the startup menu.

You can also do it more automatically by doing a search (Recovery Console) in the Help and Support(start button) and clicking the link there, about halfway down the page.. You will still need the original CD!