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.

​

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

​

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

---

• 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

 

[Brink]

It works the same in both Vista and Windows 7. The files needed are within the system cab files that are included in Vista and Windows 7 when installed. I can't remember the exact location of them though.

I'd be interested in your findings if you give it a play.

 

[SIW2]

I might try putting my own winre.wim on the Vista partition and add it as a boot option.

Then maybe the Beta Vista recdisc.exe will pick it up.

 

[SIW2]

Wow - forgot how fast Vista boots - amazing.

Afraid you still need the Vista install dvd to make a recovery disc.

 

[Brink]

LOL, well you can tell it's been a while since I used Vista. I must have been thinking Windows 7 as you said.

 

[SIW2]

it's been a while since I used Vista

I had forgotten a lot about it too.

Fun to have another look at it now.

You don't know what you are missing.

 

[brucenpattyann]

Why is this better than just using Back up files @ the Vista Backup & Restore Center option?

 

[Brink]

Hello Brucenpattyann, and welcome to Vista Forums.

A recovery disc is only a bootable DVD that allows you to use it to boot to the "System Recovery Options" screen. It cannot be compared to what you mentioned since it is not the same. What is better depends on your needs instead.

Did you have any questions about this to help clear up any confusion that you may have had?

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Ralzorf]

Hey Brink I've got a question for you. My mbr got messed up when I was messing around with some partitions (facepalm). I have a Recovery DVD that was sent with my laptop but for some reason it doesn't give me the option of trying to repair vista and get into the recovery console. It only lets me re-install vista, which i don't want to do. I am able to get back into my Vista desktop by using a PLoP Boot Manager DVD I made prior to the mbr mess-up. I then opened up command prompt and tried running the commands "bootrec.exe /fixmbr" and "bootrec.exe /fixboot" but it doesn't recognize them as commands. I figured it would work just fine through cmd but i guess not. do i need to put something before those commands to make it work or should i just make a recovery disk and do it that way? Thanks for your help!

Well I figured it'd be nice to have a recovery disk on hand so i just went that route so don't worry about me. :D thanks for the great walk through!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Ralzorf, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Were you able to get your boot issue sorted?

 

[Ralzorf]

yeah my boot issue for vista is sorted now. phew. i was worried for a bit there. haha

 

[Brink]

That's great news. Thank you for posting back.

 

[UltimateSilence]

Brink,
Thank you for posting this.
I have a question... Whenever I click on recdisc.exe, nothing happens. Why is this?

 

[Brink]

Hello UltimateSilence,

Did you download the 32-bit recdisc.exe from the tutorial and replace your copy as in the tutorial?

 

[PreviousVista]

Nice tutorial, thanks very much.

 

[Cytherian]

Shawn, can you explain a little more about why the OEM recdisc.exe is needed to be replaced by this supplied substitute? My guess would be that this creates a set of bootable system files that is prior to the service packs, and perhaps alleviates some complications. Was this non-SP version obtained from a first release set of Microsoft files?

Also, I see that there's no instruction to save the original and copy it back over when you're done. Is that because there's no other purpose for it?

 

[Brink]

Hello Gary,

It's just that the recdisc.exe file in a Vista SP1/SP2 installation no longer works to create a recovery disc with. The downloaded recdisc.exe file is just a copy from a pre SP1/SP2 Vista to replace your copy with so it will work again. There's no need for the original one after it's replaced. That's all.

 

[Cytherian]

Ah, OK. Good to know that. I guess Microsoft didn't want to make it so easy, so they mangled the original eh?

One last thing: Is this system recovery disc restricted for use with only Vista editions of the same type? So, if I made my recovery disc using a Visa Ultimate installation CD, would the recovery disc not work on a Home Premium edition?

 

[Brink]

Yeah, I'm not sure why they decided to disable it in SP1/SP2.

Yep, you can use it with any edition of Vista so long as it's the same 32-bit or 64-bit as the Vista installed.

 

[Cytherian]

^ Good to know this. I created one and it was done very quickly. I expected the image creation for the disc to be at least 30 minutes, but the whole process was done in about 10 minutes. Only 140Mb on it, too.

 

[Brink]

Just to make sure that you know, this "recovery disc" is not able to install Vista. It's only good to use for System Recovery Options only.