i use win xp with sp2. there is a problem with my win that it show ntldr missing. i repair winxp by using bootable win xp cd. i repaired my win with long way (after cd boot completing press f8 for licence aggrement after this option win show r for repair, enter for install, esc for do not repair) here a select r for repair. i did not use recovery console.
as you asked there are no dual-boot machine. i have only one sata hdd.
but i use 1st boot device to cd rom in bios/c-mos.
