The Windows 7 Recovery Environment is a way to boot your computer into an offline mode where you can run various recovery and diagnostic tools that can be used to try and resolve problems with Windows. This environment is particularly helpful in resolving issues when Windows crashes, does not start, or when you have malware that cannot be removed while Windows is running. Using this environment allows you to gain access to your files and Windows Registry information even when Windows is not started.

In order to access the Windows 7 System Recovery Environment you need to boot your computer in a certain way. The easiest method is to just restart your computer and start slowing tapping the F8 key. Eventually you should get to an Advanced Boot Options screen. Using the arrows on your keyboard, select Repair Your Computer and press Enter on your keyboard. If you do not see this option, continue reading, otherwise click here to skip to the next part.

If the Repair your Computer option is not available, you will need to boot your computer off of the Windows 7 DVD by inserting it into your DVD player and turning your computer on. Your computer will start and you should see the BIOS listing the hardware on your computer as well as other information. When that information has been cleared, your computer will see that a bootable DVD is inserted and present a prompt similar to the one below. If your computer does not boot off of the DVD, and instead boots directly into Windows 7, then you can read this guide on how to configure your bios to boot from a CD or DVD.

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As you want to boot the computer from the Windows 7 DVD, you need to press a key on your keyboard, and any key will do, when you see the above prompt.

Apr 01, 2010  The Windows 7 System Recovery Command Prompt is a text-based console that allow you to perform maintenance and recovery tasks on your computer by typing the commands that you would like to execute. Deleting the Recovery Console. Restart your computer. Double-click My Computer, and then double-click the hard disk on which you installed the Recovery Console. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab. Click Show hidden files and folders, click to clear the Hide protected operating system files check box, and then click OK.

To open the System Recovery Options menu using the Windows 7 installation disc or a USB flash drive, or a system repair disc If your computer's system is severely damaged and you can't access the System Recovery Options menu on your computer, you can access it using the Windows 7 installation disc or a USB flash drive, or using a system repair disc if you created one earlier.

At this screen you should configure the Language to install, Time and currency format, and Keyboard or input method options so that they are set correctly for your location and language. When done, please press the Next button. You will now be at the main Windows 7 setup screen where you would normally install Windows 7 on to your computer.

You should now click on the Repair your computer option to start entering the Windows 7 Recovery Environment.

You should now be a screen where the repair process will look for all Windows 7 installations on your computer. When done you will be presented with the System Recovery Options dialog box.

Select the installation of Windows 7 that you wish to repair and click on the Next button. You will now be shown the System Recovery Options screen.

This screen lists all of the available recovery options in Windows 7. These include:

Startup Repair

Startup Repair is an automated procedure that attempts to fix common issues with Windows that may not allow it to startup properly. This tool will automatically start when Windows is unable to start after a few attempts.

System Restore

Windows 7 Reinstall

System Restore allows you to restore your computer to a previous restore point. In the event that your computer is not working properly or randomly crashing you can restore your computer to a restore point that was made when your computer was operating properly.

System Image Recovery

System Image Recovery allows you to overwrite all the information on your hard drives with a system images created at a previous date. This allows you to recover your computer in the event that Windows becomes corrupted and cannot boot. It is also a useful tool if you wish to reset your computer to a system image created right after you installed Windows.

Windows Memory Diagnostic

The Windows Memory Diagnostic tool will scan the memory installed on your computer and look for errors. This is useful when you suspect that faulty memory may be crashing Windows.

Command Prompt

The Recovery Environment Command Prompt allows you to gain access to the files on your hard drive and the Windows Registry information while Windows is offline. This tool is particularly useful when you need remove malware infection or fix corrupt Registry entries. More information on how to use this tool can be found here:

To access one of these tools, simply left-click on it and the tool will launch.

If you have any questions regarding these tools or how to access the recovery environment, please ask us in the Windows 7 Forum.

‘System Recovery Options’ – the new Recovery Console, and more.

Here we discuss accessing the Windows 7 and Vista System Recovery Options and specifically the Command Prompt which was formerly the Recovery Console in Windows XP, 2000 & 2003.

A lot of my articles recently have been centered around the Windows Recovery Console and using it to fix all sorts of Windows XP startup issues as mentioned in my Windows Boot & Startup Troublshooting Guide but these are mostly for XP users.

Things are gradually moving ever onward and Windows 7 is getting a fairly big foothold so I thought I’d reveal a little secret about how to find the Recovery Console in Windows 7 (and Vista if you must).

So firstly, it’s being renamed or rather re-renamed back to plain old ‘Command Prompt’. The thing is, the Recovery Console that was in Windows XP and several of Microsoft’s Server operating systems was a limited or restricted version of a command prompt with a limited number of commands that could be used. This time, it’s a fully fledged command prompt.

Since Windows Vista and now Windows 7 this has all changed and Microsoft have once again given us back a command prompt kinda like what we had in Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows ME days. Yae for getting good things back.

There are a host of other tools to help you troubleshoot and hopefully fix your Windows startup problems and frankly the amount of effort that seems to have gone into the ‘System Recovery Options’ is really just another way of saying, look we admit Windows develops frequent and crazily varied start up problems so here’s a suite of tools to help you fix it.

So to get to the main point which is really how to access the Command Prompt (aka the Recovery Console) if your system is being a little stubborn about booting then follow the options below:

Three Ways Into The System Recovery Options

So like all great things, there are many right ways of doing it.

In this case there are at least three ways to get into the system recovery options menu and therefore the Command Prompt (formerly the Recovery Console – I’ll stop saying that soon!).

Option 1 – Pressing F8 At Startup Time

1. Turn on/restart your computer
2. Just after the BIOS screen and before the Windows logo appears press the F8 key on your keyboard (you might have to try this a few times!) – you may now be presented with the Advanced Boot Options menu.
3. Select Repair Your Computer and press Enter – if you do not have a Repair Your Computer option then you need to go to Option 2 or 3 below.
4. Select your keyboard and click Next – you’ll now be presented with the System Recovery Options menu
5. Click Command Prompt

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Option 2: Using your Windows 7 or Vista Installation DVD

For those of you lucky enough to have recevied a Windows 7 or Vista Installation DVD (I’m not talking about the Recovery CD – this is discussed in Option 3) with your PC or if you bought if off the shelf then you’ll be able to use this DVD to get into the System Recovery Options menu. Here’s how:

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1. Insert your Windows 7 or Vista Installation DVD
2. Restart your computer
3. Boot from the DVD according to your own PC’s method. Usually, you will be prompted to press any key to boot from the DVD.
4. You will be presented with the Install Windows screen. Select your Language, etc and click Next
5. Select the Repair Your Computer option as highlighted below.
6. Windows will start searching for Windows installations. When it’s finished you will be shown a list of Windows installations on your hard disk. Select the one you want to work with and click Next.
7. A startup repair will now automatically begin. Click Cancel and the Yes to confirm.
8. Now click the link View Advanced Options for System Recovery and Support
9. Select your Keyboard input method and language > click Next
10. If you are prompted to log on as a local user then enter your username and password and click OK
11. You’ll now be presented with System Recovery Options menu
12. Click Command Prompt to access what used to be the Recovery Console

Option 3: Creating and Using a Windows 7 Recovery Disc or Windows Vista Repair Disc

Windows 7 Recovery Console Load Drivers

1. Download the correct version of the ISO files that you need from this page: Windows 7 and Vista Downloadable Disc Images. It will be for either Windows 7 or Windows Vista and either 32-bit or 64-bit.
2. Create your disc from the ISO file. You can find out how to create a bootable disc from an ISO image here.
3. Insert the disc into the PC you need access the System Recovery Options from and boot from the CD/DVD.
4. Select your Keyboard input method and language > click Next
5. Now you are presented with the System Recovery Options menu.
6. Click Command Prompt to access what used to be the Recovery Console