Handy disk tools included with the Recovery Console include chkdsk, diskpart, and format. Just like their XP equivalents, the chkdsk command is used to check a partition or volume for errors and repair them, while the format tool allows you to do just what you’d expect – format a partition if necessary. If you need to create or delete partitions, then diskpart does the job; think of it as a command-line version of the Disk Administrator tool and you get the picture.
Not being able to boot into XP can happen for a variety of reasons, but two of the most common are problems with the boot sector code on the system partition, and a corrupted master boot record (MBR) on the boot partition. If the boot sector on your system appears to be damaged, run the fixboot command. If the MBR has somehow become corrupted (usually via a virus), then the fixmbr command is the way you’ll want to go. The fixmbr command can result in inaccessible partitions, so be sure to scan for MBR viruses (if possible) prior to running the command.
