Vista - How to repair/create a Vista Recovery disk for those Without a Vista Installation DVD

Applies to:
Home Basic
Home Premuim


It seems many in the Forum are having an issue with corruption either of the User account and/or Windows that may be a result of Malware and/or User error, and suddenly find themselves without the means to fix or re-install Windows Vista.

If your system is up and running without issue, or you plan to upgrade your hard drives in the future, be proactive and create your own Vista O/S Recovery Disk now. For those even with a Vista DVD, and/or a Recovery Partition the time saved in means of Driver and Program re-installation is a fraction of what it would take you to painstakingly reinstall Windows/Updates/drivers/Programs in the event of unrecoverable failure or error.

If you have a Vista Retail/Upgrade/OEM disk (as opposed to recovery media), and are having problems, there is also a a way to "repair" Vista without losing your Data/Programs.

Here is how:

1. Create your own Recovery Disk for free:
Requires DVD's, and/or External Hard Drive at least 250GB in size (recommended)

Download and Install Paragon's free Disk imaging software (drive backup), This will create a Bootable Recovery Image of your entire Hardrive and Installed Partitions.
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/

Set up Vista's File Backup Utility to backup weeekly:
Start>Control Panel>System and Maintenance>Backup and Restore Center

HOW IT WORKS:
In the event of catastrophic failure, boot into Recovery image, and reinstall, then restore all files changed since image was created through Vista's File Backup Utility

2. Repair for those with Retail/Upgrade/OEM Vista O/S disks
Tutorial (Courtesy of Brink):Repair Install For Vista


For other issues, there is a wealth of troubleshooting Walkthrough Tutorals here for almost every conceivable problem:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/

Thanks Rive. Good info.

Admin: This should be a sticky.

~Lordbob

Put this in Vista Tutorials.

Here it is:
Vista Backup Recovery Disks

Nice. Good Job Rive.

~Lordbob