Published by

**Brink** · 24 Mar 2008

How to Create a Vista Recovery Disc

Information

This will show you how to download or create a Recovery Disc for both the 32 bit and 64 bit Vista.

Note

The Recovery Disc created here does not install Vista. It is also not like the OEM Vista recovery DVD that comes with most store bought computers created from the factory recovery partition. Instead it is used only to boot from to repair your already installed Vista. See the example below for the options available from the recovery disc when booted from.

Tip

This can be useful if you only have a OEM Vista recovery DVD or partition and would like to have a dvd to boot from to repair your Vista instead of reinstalling it. Plus, the recovery disk files are small enough to fit on a CD if you do not want to or can use a DVD.

EXAMPLE: System Recovery Options screen
NOTE: Using the Recovery Disc you create below, you can boot to the System Recovery Options screen below.

Here's How:

STEP ONE

Replace the recdisc.exe file

Note

If you have SP1 or SP2 installed, then you will need to replace the recdisc.exe file installed by SP1/SP2 with a non-SP retail version below instead for the 32 bit or 64 bit version of Vista that you have installed.

To see what 32-bit or 64-bit version of Vista you have, open the Control Panel (Classic View) and click the System icon, or right click Computer in the Start Menu and click Properties. You will see the bit version under the System type section.

If you ever run the sfc /scannow command, then it will restore the old original non-working copy of the recdisc.exe file, and you would have to do this STEP ONE section again to be able to create a Vista Recovery Disc.

1. If You Have 32 bit (x86) Vista Installed

A) Click on the Download button below to download the recdisc_x86.zip file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. If You Have 64 bit (x64) Vista Installed

A) Click on the Download button below to download the recdisc_x64.zip file.

3. Save the ZIP file to your desktop.

4. Right click on the ZIP file (on desktop), and click on Open.

5. If prompted by UAC, then click on Allow.

6. Extract (drag and drop) the recdisc.exe file to the desktop.
NOTE: You can delete the ZIP file (on desktop) when done if you like afterwards.

7. Right click on the extracted recdisc.exe file, click on Properties, General tab, the Unblock button, and on OK.
NOTE: If you do not have a Unblock button under the General tab, then the shortcut is already unblocked and you can continue on to step 8.

8. In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\recdisc.exe. (See screenshot below)

9. Take ownership of and set permissions to Allow your user account Full Control of the recdisc.exe file at the location in step 8.

10. Right click on the extracted recdisc.exe file on the desktop from step 6, and click on Cut.

11. Go back to the C:\Windows\System32\recdisc.exe window and right click on a empty area and click on Paste. (See screenshot below step 13)

12. Click on Copy and Replace and Continue.

13. Right click on recdisc.exe, and click on Send To and Desktop (create shortcut).

14. Move the shortcut to where you like for easy use.

STEP TWO

Creating a Recovery Disc

15. Double click on the recdisc.exe shortcut on your desktop created from above to run the program.

16. Select your DVD drive, and click on create disc. (See screenshot below.

17. Insert your retail Vista installation DVD into the CD/DVD drive, and click on Continue. (See screenshot below)

18. You will now see this. (See screenshot below)

19. After a little bit, it will ask you to replace the Vista installation DVD with a blank CD or DVD.

A) Insert a blank CD or DVD into your CD/DVD drive and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

20. When it is finished, click on Close for both windows. (See screenshots below)

21. Now you can boot from this Recovery Disc to go to the System Recovery Options screen in the example above.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**.Joe** · 24 Mar 2008

Shawn,

Thanks again for another excellent tutorial. Many folks will benefit from your hard work

Edit: Side note, process has been tested and works like a charm.

**Brink** · 24 Mar 2008

Your welcome Joe.

**brummyfan** · 27 Mar 2008

Thank you Brink for this excellent Tutorial.

**Brink** · 27 Mar 2008

Your welcome Brummyfan.

**CheeseMan316** · 04 Apr 2008

Before I spend the hours trying, I'll ask if these seems possible.

I was uninstalling sp1 rc1 to prepare for sp1 rtm install. The uninstall failed and got into reboot cycle where it could constantly BSOD on nvlddmkm.sys. I booted to safe mode and it continued on with the uninstall (supposedly). After it "FINISHED" the uninstall, it rebooted and came up to a screen where it said "service pack did not uninstall. reverting changes. do not turn off your computer". Now everytime I try to boot it, Last known, safe, safe w/network safe w/cmd prompt, normal, debug, etc. it says the same thing.

This process seems to be for creating a recovery disk from an operational Vista PC but mine is not. But what I was thinking of trying was doing a clean install on a different hard drive on the same computer and creating the recovery disc. Then using that recovery disc to fix the other install.

Do you think that will work?

I have tried the auto repair startup from the install disc with no luck. I am just trying to avoid a reinstall.

This whole event makes me regret rebooting my machine to do the rc1 to rtm upgrade of SP1. Prior to this reboot, my machine had been up for 48.5 days without reboot.

Machine:
Dell PE SC440
Xeon 3060
4GB Crucial Ram
nVidia 8400GS
SB Audigy
2x WD 160GB SATA II drives
DVD/RW
DVD-Rom

**Brink** · 04 Apr 2008

Hi CheeseMan,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

Sorry, I do not believe that will work. The recovery disk here or on a Vista installation DVD will not help uninstall any SP1 version.

I'm afraid a reinstall is going to be your only option in this situation. Be sure to backup anything you do not want to lose first though.

Sorry,

Shawn

**CheeseMan316** · 04 Apr 2008

Ugh.... I knew that was likely to be the case. It just stinks because I have a lot of programs to re-install if/when I decide to take that route!

**Brink** · 04 Apr 2008

I hear you CheeseMan. Since you have the Vista Ultimate edition, you can make a Complete PC Backup after you have everything installed and running smooth. This way if something should happen again, you can pick up where your last backup was in no time.

Backup Complete Computer

Shawn

**CheeseMan316** · 04 Apr 2008

Well... i think I found out why it got in the reboot loop. Disk filled up. Used up 50GB of space. So something went wrong.

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