A. As we saw in 'Q. How do I install the Recovery Console?' the recovery console can be used to boot into a special console that allows us to repair an inoperable Windows 2000 installation.
Like a normal Windows installation we cannot install on a mirrored partition (be it a basic or dynamic mirror set) and so if the system partition is part of a mirror (the partition with Ntldr, ntdetect.com etc.) you need to break the mirror, install the recovery console then recreate the mirror:
- Start the Computer Manager MMC snap-in (Start - Programs - Administrative Tools - Computer Management)
- Select the Storage branch
- Select the Disk Management leaf
- Break the mirror
- Install the recovery console as normal (WINNT32 /CMDCONS)
- Recreate the mirror
Note: In Windows 2000 you can only create mirrors on dynamic disks although older mirror sets are supported from an upgrade to 4.0 to Windows 2000 on a basic disk but if you broke the mirror you would have to upgrade to dynamic disks to recreate.