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

 

[Ocean]

You sure can Ocean. Any program that can burn a ISO file to DVD will be fine to use. This was just an example of a free one to use if folks didn't have one.

Hi Brink, I'm burning ISO file! But now i want create recovery disk for my laptop. How to do that? Can you show me please?


Thank so much!


UPDATE:
I burned already! But i boot win from the disk then i only choose 2 option: Install Window and Repair Window. I cannot choose another.

So, I want create recovery disk for my laptop using. How to do that? Please help me!

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Ocean,

Is this what you see in METHOD TWO of the tutorial below? If so, then after you click on the Repair your computer link, you should see the System Recovery Options.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/194765-system-recovery-options.html

 

[Ocean]

Hi Brink!
I'm just see the option you say but I see that have restore win from the file backu already, and now i want create recovery disk from my vista using. Do you see my mean?

i want to backup my vista. That file backup is same the GHOST FILE.

Happy to recieve your answer!

Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Sorry Ocean,

You lost me on that last post. :huh:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/99709-backup-complete-computer.html ???

 

[Ocean]

Thanks for you help!
So I have problem again. I just backup my computer but this file is so large. If I burn to DVD then I need 7 to 12 DVD Blank .

Now, I don't know do anything.

I want to install the Window 7 beta.....

Thanks your help!

See you!

 

[Brink]

I see now Ocean.

The best thing to do is to use or get another hard drive to use to back up to. In a pinch you could create a new partition to backup to afterwards.

If you hard drive is large enough, you could just create a new partition that is at least 30 GB (30720 MB) in size. You can then install Windows 7 beta on that partition to be able to dual boot with either Vista or Windows 7.

 

[Ocean]

Thanks for your answer

So, I'm know how to create partition. But I'm not sure the backup file when it save to the partition can boot and recovery from there.

Can you help me about that! Now, I'm prepared one partition for backup file.



Thank so much!

 

[Brink]

After you have done the Backup Complete Computer on to the new partition, you can restore the computer with it if you needed to.

 

[Denny56]

I have a dell with Home Premium SP1 ,32bit. I have a Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 upgrade DVD will this work for the tutorial. Option Two The Manual Way.

 

[Brink]

Hello Denny, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If it is a retail Vista Home Premium SP1 upgrade DVD and not a OEM one, then yes you can use it to create one using Option Two.

However, if it is a retail Vista Home Premium SP1 upgrade DVD, then you can use it instead to boot to the System Recovery Options screen.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Denny56]

It is a retail Vista sp1 upgrade,I tryed sytem recovery options no repair there. method two that is f12 thingy BOIS not sure what to when i get there. What to choose what is there onboard or floppy,WD500AAKS-75A7B,onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive,USB Device,System Setup,Diagnostics.

 

[Brink]

Denny,

When you booted from your Vista DVD, you do not have a Repair your computer option when you get to step 4 in the tutorial, or do you mean something else?

 

[Ocean]

Hi Brink! Sorry no answer a long time!

Follow your help. I create a partition recovery complete. But the size of that is so small for the size of drive c. I check the size of drive c is 45 GB but then I backup finish the partition and check it then i see 22 GB from Patition Recovery.

Can you say me know about that? Is this problem? Or system auto archive the file?

Wait your answer!

Thank so much!

 

[Brink]

Hello Ocean,

This is normal. The image backup is compacted and compressed, so it will always be smaller.

 

[Ocean]

Thank for answer!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Ocean.

 

[Denny56]

Could not repair,did a clean install Thanks Brink

 

[Brink]

Denny,

I'm sorry to hear that you had to that, but I hope it sorts out your problem.

Shawn

 

[joe kuehr]

Hi, just wondering.
would this work to repair my bootloader and reinstall my vista from the recovery partition?
I installed xp(dual boot) then "fixed" the MBR with easybcd, seemed to work well, however my vista has since gotten messed up and i want to re-install, I forgot to make the recovery disks, and the f11 doesn't work(just wont boot to the recovery partition).
I know the partition is still there, still taking up 7 gigs of space, but I can't get into it. would making one of these disks solve that for me?
Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Hello Joe, and welcome to Vista Forums.

It can be used to attempt to repair Vista from the System Recovery Options screen, but it cannot be used to reinstall Vista with.

You may be able to order a replacement recovery disc from HP though if you are unable to creat one of your own from the partition.

HP and Compaq Desktop PCs -  Obtaining a Recovery CD or DVD set 

Hope this helps,
Shawn