I just purchased the XP Recovery CD from this site in an attempt to get to the recovery console during startup (as I do not have the Windows XP disc).  I am receiving a "master boot record error, press any key" message during startup and would like to fix this issue.

My question is:  Can I fix this issue with the software I just purchased?  And/or can I reach the recovery console with this software and how do I do that?

Hi Raoul --

I installed the WinXP Recovery Console as follows:  
I put the WinXP reinstallation disc in Drive D and then went to: Start > Run > and typed
D:\I386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons  (Enter)  Note the space after exe
The install was automatic after entering the above.

There is information about the WinXP Recovery Console at this site:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

Hope this helps you.
Laverne

This is how you fix the problem (this information is located in the Crash Troubleshooter on the XP Recovery CD):

If you can find the file, fdisk, run it outside of
Windows with the command, "fdisk /mbr".  Or
you can type fixmbr or fixboot in the Recovery
Console which can be run from the WinXP CD (this is not XP Recovery CD, but the CD that you purchase from Microsoft (or the store) with Windows XP on it).

The XP Recovery CD does not run the Recovery Console.

The only other way to run the Recovery Console other than from the WinXP CD is by previously installing it on your computer from the WinXP CD (as described by Laverne in the post above).