Vista Tutorial - Create a Recovery Disc

**Brink** · **OPTION ONE:**

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. 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.

RELATED LINKS:

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

OPTION ONE:
Through a Download

NOTE

This option is perfect if you do not have a retail Vista installation DVD and only have a OEM Vista recovery DVD or partition, or if you do not have the Vista SP1 installed.

STEP ONE:
Download the ISO file

WARNING

Be sure to download the 32 bit or 64 bit version for your version of Vista. To see what bit version you have of Vista, 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.

1. Download the 32 bit (x86) or 64 bit ISO file from here:
NOTE: This will be a torrent download. Instructions on how to download a torrent file are at the site below.

http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/download-windows-vista-x64-recovery-disc/

2. Follow the instructions at the site to convert the torrent file to a ISO file, then you can use their instructions to burn the ISO to DVD or the ones here in STEP TWO below. Either one will work just fine.

STEP TWO:
Burn the ISO file to CD or DVD

NOTE

You can use any ISO burner you like, but here are instructions with one you can use in this tutorial.

3. Download and install the 32 bit (x86) or 64 bit version of the program ISO Recorder v3 for your version of Vista at:
NOTE: Be sure to download the 32 bit (x86) or 64 bit version for your version of Vista. To see what bit version you have of Vista, 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.

4. Use the instructions to burn the ISO file from STEP ONE above to a CD or DVD.
NOTE: You will right click the ISO file (on desktop) and click on Copy image to CD, then follow the rest of the instructions at the link. Be sure to have a blank CD or DVD in the drive first of course.

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

OPTION TWO:
The Manual Way

NOTE

This option is only useful if you have the Vista SP1 installed and have a retail Vista installation DVD to use to create a Recovery Disc with your version of Vista for yourself or for someone else. If you do not have a retail Vista installation DVD, then you can also borrow a friends to use to make one from your computer.

STEP ONE:
Replace the recdisc.exe file

NOTE

You will need to replace the recdisc.exe file installed by the SP1 with a pre-release SP1 version instead for the 32 bit or 64 bit version of Vista that you have. To see what bit version you have of Vista, 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.

1. For the 32 bit (x86) Vista -
A) Click on the download button below to download the recdisc_x86.zip file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. For the 64 bit (x64) Vista -
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. Click on Allow for UAC prompt.

6. Extract the recdisc.exe file to the desktop.
NOTE: You can delete the ZIP file (on desktop) when done if you want to.

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

8. Take ownership of the recdisc.exe file at this location (step 7).

9. Right click on the recdisc.exe file on the desktop, from step 6, and click on Copy.

10. 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)

11. Click on Copy and Replace and Continue.

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

13. Place the shortcut where you want for easy use.

STEP TWO:
Create a Recovery Disc
14. Double click on the recdisc.exe shortcut to run the program.

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

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

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

18. 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)

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

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

That's it,
Shawn

**.Joe** · 03-24-2008

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** · 03-24-2008

Your welcome Joe.

**brummyfan** · 03-27-2008

Thank you Brink for this excellent Tutorial.

**Brink** · 03-27-2008

Your welcome Brummyfan.

CheeseMan316 · 04-04-2008

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** · 04-04-2008

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 · 04-04-2008

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** · 04-04-2008

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 · 04-04-2008

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.