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

 

[xsimsimmax]

It did come with vista preinstalled and is a HP Pavillion dv9000.

Also, do you think it would be worth trying vista recovery before a whole new installation? Would this mean i lose all my data?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

This will give you the oppurtunity to select the Back up your files first (recommended) option during the factory restore. A factory restore will format your Vista partition and reinstall it like it was the day you first turned on your computer.

Using HP Backup and Recovery Manager in Vista - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

 

[xsimsimmax]

Thank you again. Hopefully, my next reply will be after a successful re-installation.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. I hope so.

 

[xsimsimmax]

I'm back and with a smile on my face, thanks to you.

This problem was lingering for a while, and i seemed to get no response on many forums. I cant thank you enough for taking some time to help me out.
Keep it up!

x

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Simisimmax. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

 

[mykidsmom]

Hi I created a recovery disc, The computer will start but will not boot up not even in safe mode. I will start but after a wail I will get a black screen, so I tried to boot form the recovery disc, it started it loaded files then black screen. Sooooo lost could use some help... It is a gateway gt5644e vista home premium I think 32 bit.

 

[Brink]

Hello Mykidsmom, and welcome to Vista Forums.

It appears that you may need to do a factory restore then. The link from Gateway below can help show you how to do this if needed. It will format your Vista and restore it like it was the day you first turned on your computer.

Gateway Support - Full Factory Recovery

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[mykidsmom]

Hello Mykidsmom, and welcome to Vista Forums.

It appears that you may need to do a factory restore then. The link from Gateway below can help show you how to do this if needed. It will format your Vista and restore it like it was the day you first turned on your computer.

Gateway Support - Full Factory Recovery

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Shawn I can get the advanced boot option screen but when I enter repair your computer it loads and then a blank screen. Could this be a hardware problem? at command prompt seems to stop and crcdisc.sys

 

[Brink]

Umm, ok. See if you can use the recovery disc that you created from this tutorial to do a System Restore at boot with it using a restore point dated before this happened to see if it may be able to fix this for you.

 

[mykidsmom]

Umm, ok. See if you can use the recovery disc that you created from this tutorial to do a System Restore at boot with it using a restore point dated before this happened to see if it may be able to fix this for you.

I start computer I f10 and boot from recovery disc, it said "loading files", a windows bar comes and it flashes green, then.....not a thing,black screen, from safe mode it starts to load lots of files scroll on the screen then....nothing ,,, the same when I try 'repair you computer" from the advanced options screen, This MOM is ahhhhhhh do I just drop kick it, the only problem is that it is only about two years old.

 

[Brink]

Try pressing the spacebar instead when you get the "Press a key to boot from CD/DVD" at boot with the recovery disc from this tutorial in the drive to see if that may help instead to do the system recovery (not factory recovery).

 

[mykidsmom]

Try pressing the spacebar instead when you get the "Press a key to boot from CD/DVD" at boot with the recovery disc from this tutorial in the drive to see if that may help instead to do the system recovery (not factory recovery).

OK this is what happens after I hit space bar, a "windows boot manger comes up"
I first enter windows setup (ems enabled) it loads then I get nothing, black screen with arrow.
I try again when boot manger comes up I hit f8 to get advanced options they come up but not "Repair your computer" option I then tried safe mode, no luck.
So tried again when boot manger (this is still booting from the disc) comes up hit memory diagnostic, it said Windows failed to start then give directions to insert disc (I already have disc inserted ) it also said ( \boot\memtest.exe status 0x000000f )
selected entry could not be loaded because app. missing or corrupted.

I am very new at this my husband said that it is 32bit so I think I have the right program maybe I have that SP1 on it and it is not working???

I have to say this is more then I was getting, but still sooooo lost. I really glad for your help. melinda

 

[Brink]

Melinda,

It appears that it's not booting from the DVD if you are seeing the "Windows Boot Manager" screen and not the "System Recovery Options" screen. When you created the recovery disc using METHOD ONE in this tutorial on the first page, did you do both Step One to download it, and Step Two to burn the ISO to the DVD using the program "ISO Recorder"? You can't just copy/save the ISO to the DVD.

Boot into the BIOS. You should see what F key to press at startup to do this. Once in BIOS look through the settings to make sure that the CD/DVD drive is listed first in the "Boot priority order", then have the hard drive Vista is installed on listed as second in the boot order. Save with the changes and restart.

When "Press a key to boot from CD/DVD" appears at boot, you will only have 8 second to press a key (spacebar) before it trys to startup Vista again. Of course the recovery disc created from this tutorial must be in the drive at the time.

 

[mykidsmom]

Melinda,

It appears that it's not booting from the DVD if you are seeing the "Windows Boot Manager" screen and not the "System Recovery Options" screen. When you created the recovery disc using METHOD ONE in this tutorial on the first page, did you do both Step One to download it, and Step Two to burn the ISO to the DVD using the program "ISO Recorder"? You can't just copy/save the ISO to the DVD.

Boot into the BIOS. You should see what F key to press at startup to do this. Once in BIOS look through the settings to make sure that the CD/DVD drive is listed first in the "Boot priority order", then have the hard drive Vista is installed on listed as second in the boot order. Save with the changes and restart.

When "Press a key to boot from CD/DVD" appears at boot, you will only have 8 second to press a key (spacebar) before it trys to startup Vista again. Of course the recovery disc created from this tutorial must be in the drive at the time.

I looked on the disc it is a ISO image (my husband burned the disc for me because I do not have a cue) I have tried again this morning, when the "press a key to boot from DVD/cd comes up I have pressed it, even one time I held it down the key whole time, still windows boot manager keeps coming up. I looked to make sure in BIOS and cd/dvd is first. no matter what I do windows boot window comes up.
Melinda

 

[mykidsmom]

Melinda,

It appears that it's not booting from the DVD if you are seeing the "Windows Boot Manager" screen and not the "System Recovery Options" screen. When you created the recovery disc using METHOD ONE in this tutorial on the first page, did you do both Step One to download it, and Step Two to burn the ISO to the DVD using the program "ISO Recorder"? You can't just copy/save the ISO to the DVD.

Boot into the BIOS. You should see what F key to press at startup to do this. Once in BIOS look through the settings to make sure that the CD/DVD drive is listed first in the "Boot priority order", then have the hard drive Vista is installed on listed as second in the boot order. Save with the changes and restart.

When "Press a key to boot from CD/DVD" appears at boot, you will only have 8 second to press a key (spacebar) before it trys to startup Vista again. Of course the recovery disc created from this tutorial must be in the drive at the time.

I looked on the disc it is a ISO image (my husband burned the disc for me because I do not have a cue) I have tried again this morning, when the "press a key to boot from DVD/cd comes up I have pressed it, even one time I held it down the key whole time, still windows boot manager keeps coming up. I looked to make sure in BIOS and cd/dvd is first. no matter what I do windows boot window comes up.
Melinda

I know this sounds dumb, but my husband down loaded the recovery disc and burned it on his XP should that make a difference?

 

[Brink]

No, as long as it made it a bootable DVD, it should still work on your Vista as well. As a test, you might have him test to see if he can boot from the DVD on his computer to verify if it may be something wrong with the DVD. If he can, then he can just close the window and remove the DVD to back out of it without doing anything to his computer.

 

[mykidsmom]

Melinda,

It appears that it's not booting from the DVD if you are seeing the "Windows Boot Manager" screen and not the "System Recovery Options" screen. When you created the recovery disc using METHOD ONE in this tutorial on the first page, did you do both Step One to download it, and Step Two to burn the ISO to the DVD using the program "ISO Recorder"? You can't just copy/save the ISO to the DVD.

Boot into the BIOS. You should see what F key to press at startup to do this. Once in BIOS look through the settings to make sure that the CD/DVD drive is listed first in the "Boot priority order", then have the hard drive Vista is installed on listed as second in the boot order. Save with the changes and restart.

When "Press a key to boot from CD/DVD" appears at boot, you will only have 8 second to press a key (spacebar) before it trys to startup Vista again. Of course the recovery disc created from this tutorial must be in the drive at the time.

Thought I would let you know what we ended up doing. after trying again with making a new disc with a different program, it still would not work. My husband then used a hard drive utility program by western digital. It "fixed errors" with the hard drive. After this it could boot up with the recovery disc. but needless to say the startup repair or repair what ever it is called did not work. I had unspecified damages to the system configuration something like that. I had to restore it back to factory settings (boy can't believe how long that took!) So with that long story, it is now up and running, just not on Internet yet. Something about drivers for the wireless. Have to wait till hubby gets home!! Thank you for all your help it has been a learning experience, just wish I knew what caused it so I could not do it again....

Melinda:D

 

[Brink]

Melinda,

I'm happy to hear that you got it almost all sorted out.

The model number you have in your system specs may not be correct. I can't find anything on it for drivers for you.

 

[mykidsmom]

Melinda,

I'm happy to hear that you got it almost all sorted out.

The model number you have in your system specs may not be correct. I can't find anything on it for drivers for you.

You are right I typed it in wrong it is gt5644e Not sure that would help, the wireless card did not come with the computer. The router is dlink but the card is something eles but do not know what, my dauther and hubby set up the computer so do know everthing about it....