The recovery console is used to troubleshoot and repair damaged Windows installation.

Many users are not aware that when working with the recovery console, although it looks like a regular command prompt, you actually have a different set of commands that you can use than the regular command prompt.

Also your disk access is restricted to the Windows folder and to the root folder of your hard drive ( you still have access to the floppy drive, if you have one)

Here are the recovery console list of commands.

• Attrib - Changes the attributes of a file or directory.
• Batch - Executes the commands specified in the text file.
• Bootcfg - Boot file (boot.ini) configuration and recovery.
• ChDir (Cd) - Displays the name of the current directory or changes the current directory.
• Chkdsk - Checks a disk and displays a status report.
• Cls - Clears the screen.
• Copy - Copies a single file to another location.
• Delete (Del) - Deletes one or more files.
• Dir - Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
• Disable - Disables a system service or a device driver.
• Diskpart - Manages partitions on your hard drives.
• Enable - Starts or enables a system service or a device driver.
• Exit - Exits the Recovery Console and restarts your computer.
• Expand - Extracts a file from a compressed file.
• Fixboot - Writes a new partition boot sector onto the specified partition.
• Fixmbr - Repairs the master boot record of the specified disk.
• Format - Formats a disk.
• Help - Displays a list of the commands you can use in the Recovery Console.
• Listsvc - services and drivers available on the computer.
• Logon - Logs on to a Windows installation.
• Map - Displays the drive letter mappings.
• Mkdir (Md) - Creates a directory.
• More - Displays a text file.
• Net Use - Connects a network share to a drive letter.
• Rename (Ren) - Renames a single file.
• Rmdir (Rd) - Deletes a directory.
• Set - Displays and sets environment variables.
• Systemroot - Sets the current directory to the systemroot directory of the system you are currently logged on to.
• Type - Displays a text file.

Related: Add The Recovery Console To Windows Boot Menu