Steps Performed by the Emergency Repair Disk

ID: Q100315

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0


The following steps are performed by the Emergency Repair Disk:

  1. Runs CHKDSK on the partition containing Windows NT system files. On Intel x86 machines, also runs CHKDSK on the system partition (this is optional and must be enabled manually).


  2. Verifies that each file in the installation is good, through a checksum algorithm. If files are missing or corrupt they are restored from the installation disks.


  3. Replaces the default system and security (SAM) Registry hives, subject to user confirmation.


  4. Reinstalls Boot Loader (that is, the boot sector, BOOT.INI, NTLDR, etc.)


Note: The Emergency Repair disk is machine specific, and should only be used on a system on which it was created.

Additional query words: tshoot repair

Keywords : kbtool ntutil
Version : WinNT:3.1,3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo


Last Reviewed: January 13, 1999
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