Create a Recovery Disc

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.

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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.

   Note

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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.​

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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.​

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

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

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B) Go to step 3.​

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

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

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3. Save the ZIP file to your desktop.​

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

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

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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.​

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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.​

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

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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.​

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

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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)​

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12. Click on Copy and Replace and Continue.​

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

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

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STEP TWO

Creating a Recovery Disc

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista
• How to Do a Startup Repair in Vista
• How to Do a System Restore in Vista
• How to Restore the Complete Computer from a Complete Backup and Restore Image in Vista
• How to Use the Memory Diagnostics Tool in Vista
• List of Commands for Vista and How to Use Them
• How to Create a Vista SP1 Slipstream Installation DVD
• How to Create a Bootable USB Flash Thumb Drive to Install Vista
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Vista

 

[Cytherian]

^ Yes, definitely. 140Mb would be way too little in the way of files to do much more than provide a seed environment for running specific utilities, like the recovery options.

I'm planning to do a new install of Vista Ultimate, and created this as a standby tool in case something went wrong. I was originally going to upgrade my Home Premium installation, but the general advice seems to be that this has many risks involved and that a clean install is best. A bit of a pain when considering that all of the other installed software needs to be installed yet again. But then it does force a fresh start whereby software that hasn't been used much can be re-evaluated and/or left off initially. I'm going to time various activities in Windows first (start-up, shutdown, and performance of high memory use programs), as a benchmark to compare against a fresh install. I've often felt like Windows installations inherently get more sluggish over time, despite running defragmentation and other techniques to optimize, but I'd like to see my own empirical evidence to support or deny it.

 

[Brink]

Yeah, I always prefer a clean install myself as well. It does take a bit longer to do, but it's usually a problem free installation as well. At least until I mess it up real good with my experiments. LOL

I hope it goes smothly for you.

 

[Cytherian]

One addendum to this tutorial: If you ever run SFC /SCANNOW, the "recdisc.exe" file will end up replaced with the later one. You'll need to copy the pre-SP1 version again and set the permissions accordingly.

 

[Brink]

Yep, unfortunately running SFC will restore the old non-working default one. I'll add a note to help.

 

[john65black]

Hi Brink,

your tutorial seems fairly straightforward but I have a problem. I did not receive a retail Vista Installation DVD as my Acer Aspire M1640 (Vista home premium 32bit SP2) came preloaded without the installation disc so I do not know how to proceed.
I have backed up all my stuff with Vista backup but it does not back up the system files and I worry that I will be in difficulty if I have a hard disc failure. In that event how do I ensure that I can regenerate my system on a new hard disc.
I tried to send you my sysinfo file but it was too large to be allowed on this forum.

How do you suggest that I proceed.

John

 

[Brink]

Hello John, and welcome to Vista Forums.

The Vista "Recovery Disc" created using this tutorial will not be able to install Vista. It's only good to use to be able to boot the the "System Recovery Options" screen with. That's all.

Since you have a Acer OEM computer, you would want to create a set of Acer factory recovery discs. These will be able to reinstall your Vista back to factory conditions again. The link below from Acer can help show you how to.

Acer Support: Frequently Asked Questions list for Recovery media and Restoring a system to factory load

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[john65black]

Hi again Brink,

and thanks for your quick post.

My system has been running for about two years and on 110111 I used Acer Empowering to burn a Complete System Configuration and backup to 6 DVDs but was unsure if I was covered if the on-board HD were to fail.
Using the link that you sent me I have managed to burn 2 Factory default DVDs as described.
Will this be enough to restore my system to a replacement HD in the event of failure of the original HD?
Does Factory Restore restore Vista to its original state or will my restored system contain any faults that have accumulated over the past two years?
Thanks again for your help as I dreaded calling the Acer helpline who are a contradiction of their title.

John

 

[Brink]

John,

They will restore your Vista back to it's original factory state just like when it first came out of the box. You will be able to use them to restore to the new HDD. You will have to enter the product key number on the COA sticker on your computer to be able to activate Vista afterwards though.

 

[john65black]

Hi Shawn,
it seems as if I am now protected I have my factory restore discs and my weekly backup on the external HDD. I do not expect the internal HD to fail but it is always better to be sure.

Thank you very much for your prompt and accurate advice.

John

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[john65black]

Hi again Shawn,

I have just been told that Microsoft no longer offer "a download of Windows Vista" in these circumstances. I now have my factory default and my product key will this enable me to regenerate my system as described before.
I know that MS are about to release W8 so maybe they will stop supporting Vista although I still get updates from them Is there any word about how long they will continue to offer Vista support.

John

 

[Brink]

Hello John,

You can still get an official Vista ISO download if you have a MSDN or TechNet subscription. Some online retailers may still have it available for sale.

Here's the official Vista lifecyle from Microsoft for more details on availability and support though.

• (availability) Windows lifecycle fact sheet - Microsoft Windows
• (support) Microsoft Product Lifecycle Search

 

[john65black]

Thanks Shawn,

I think that your hyperlinks make things clearer. Given that W8 is going to be the newest system then I am probably better advised to wait for that. If I decide to upgrade to W8 then maybe I should look at upgrading my pc at the same time (E4700 Intel core duo, 3GB Ram, 320GB HDD). I will probably plod on with my current system for a few years, ensure that my backups are current, await a catastrophic failure and then buy a new system with a new os.

I know that people castigated Vista but I find that it is a good system for me. The only complaint that I have with it is that the os for Vista HP cannot be backed up with the backup routine.

Thanks for your help.

John

 

[Brink]

You're welcome John. Vista is good now after the service pack releases and a few tweaks. Luckily there are plenty of free 3rd party backup programs like Macrium Reflect free to use to backup the Vista drive.

 

[mike hammy]

hi guys

is it possible to create this on a windows 7?

my mothers vista has crashed out, and wont load up anymore just as u switch it on

have been trying to, but it wont load up the .exe at step 2

 

[Brink]

Hello Mike, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Sorry, but a Vista Recovery Disc can only be created on another same 32-bit or 64-bit Vista unless you wanted to purchase one.

However, does she have a retail installation disc? If so, that can be used instead.

If it's a factory OEM Vista that came preinstalled on the computer, then you could also possibly do a factory restore to fix it if she has backups of her files and doesn't mind starting from scratch again. If that is an option, then please post back with the brand and model # of her computer, and I'll be happy to see if I can find instructions for how to do a factory restore.

 

[mike hammy]

hi

thanks for reply, she has an Acer Aspire SA90

and she hasn't got an installation disk and cant even get it to load passed the loading screen as u switch it on, also now when switching the CPU on, the monitor goes on power save mode or something, so u cant really see now.....

unless a friend has it i may just have to buy one

 

[Brink]

Mike,

Do note that this "Vista Recovery Disc" does not reinstall Vista. It only lets you boot to the "System Recovery Options" screen to attempt to repair the currently installed Vista.

Before buying anything, test to see if her computer will boot from any other bootable CD/DVD (ex: your Windows 7 installation disc) or bootable USB flash drive first. If not, then there's no point in buying a Vista Recovery Disc if you can't boot to it.

Here's how to do a factory restore on an Acer system:

Acer Support: Frequently Asked Questions list for Recovery media and Restoring a system to factory load

How to recovery your system from bootup

1. Locate the Alt key, to the left of the space bar, and F10, on the top row of keys.
2. Power the system on.
3. When the system is powered on, tap the Alt and F10 keys together at the same time when the Acer splash screen appears.
   It should state "Please wait a moment..." with the Acer logo in the upper left hand corner.
4. At the eRecovery Management menu it will ask you how to restore.
5. Click on the restore option you would like to use.

 

[mike hammy]

thanks alot mate

i will try these in a while and get back to you

although for now i have to sleep

thanks again

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. I hope it goes well.