How to Recover Local Computers Using the DaRT Recovery Image
To recover a local computer by using Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT) 7, you must be physically present at the end-user computer that is experiencing problems that require DaRT. You can also run DaRT remotely by following the instructions at How to Recover Remote Computers Using the DaRT Recovery Image.
To recover a local computer by using DaRT
As the computer is booting into the DaRT recovery image, the NetStart dialog box appears. You are asked whether you want to initialize network services. If you click Yes, it is assumed that a DHCP server is present on the network and an attempt is made to obtain an IP address from the server. If the network uses static IP addresses instead of DHCP, you can later use the TCP/IP Configuration tool in DaRT to specify a static IP address.
To skip the network initialization process, click No.
Following the network initialization dialog box, you are asked whether you want to remap the drive letters. When you run Windows online, the system volume is typically mapped to drive C. However, when you run Windows offline under WinRE, the original system volume might be mapped to another drive, and this can cause confusion. If you decide to remap, DaRT tries to map the offline drive letters to match the online drive letters. Remapping is performed only if an offline operating system is selected later in the startup process.
Following the remapping dialog box, a System Recovery Options dialog box appears and asks you to select a keyboard layout. Then it displays the system root directory, the kind of operating system installed, and the partition size. If you do not see your operating system listed, and suspect that the lack of drivers is a possible cause of the failure, click Load Drivers to load the suspect drivers. This prompts you to insert the installation media for the device and to select the driver. Select the installation that you want to repair or diagnose, and then click Next.
Note
If the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) detects or suspects that Windows 7 did not start correctly the last time that it was tried, Startup Repair might start to run automatically.
If any of the registry hives are corrupted or missing, Registry Editor, and several other DaRT utilities, will have limited functionality. If no operating system is selected, some tools will not be available.
The System Recovery Options window appears and lists various recovery tools.
On the System Recovery Options window, click Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset.
The Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset window opens. You can now run any of the individual tools or wizards that were included when the DaRT recovery image was created.
You can click Help on the Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset window to open the client Help file that provides detailed instruction and information needed to run the individual DaRT tools. You can also click the Solution Wizard on the Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset window to choose the best tool for the situation, based on a brief interview that the wizard provides.
For general information about any of the DaRT tools, see Overview of the Tools in DaRT 7.0.
To run DaRT at the command prompt
You can run DaRT at the command prompt by specifying the netstart.exe command and by using any of the following parameters:
Parameter Description -network
Initializes the network services.
-remount
Remaps the drive letters.
-prompt
Displays messages asking the end user to specify whether to initialize the network and remap the drives.
ImportantThe end user’s response to the prompts overrides the -network and -remount switches.
You can customize DaRT so that a computer that boots into DaRT automatically opens the Remote Connection tool that is used to establish a remote connection with the help desk.