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

 

[VtSkier]

Hmmm. Just lost what I typed.
Anyway, just wanted to comment on the fact that Vista wouldn't let me "take ownership" and "change permissions" for the old file no matter what I did. This included changing my boot-up to include a password, make sure I'm the administrator and signed in as such. Any further advice would be appreciated. Otherwise thanks for what looks to be a great set of instructions if I can get it to work.

 

[Brink]

Hello VtSkier, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Please post back with screenshots of what you see instead compared to the steps, and I'll be happy to see what I can do to help.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/289032-screenshots-files-upload-post-vista-forums.html

 

[VtSkier]

Hello VtSkier, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Please post back with screenshots of what you see instead compared to the steps, and I'll be happy to see what I can do to help.

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Here's what my old original non-working recdisc.exe looks like. Everybody except "TrustedInstaller" may "Read & execute" and "Read". TrustedInstaller has full control but I can't seem to make my computer believe that I'm "TrustedInstaller" and therefore I'm not allowed to change permissions.


Then if I try to gain access this is what I see:


Beyond this I can't do much. This is becoming an interesting exercise because I don't really need the recovery disk since I have a full set of recovery dvd's made from the computer's recovery sector as allowed by Vista.

Thanks for your efforts. Maybe the secret is to figure out how I can be "TrustedInstaller"?

VtSkier

 

[Brink]

VtSkier,

It sounds like you didn't take ownership using step 3 in OPTION THREE below (step 9 here) of your recdisc.exe file to make the Administrators group the owner first. Afterwards, you should be able to set permissions to allow Administrators "Full control".

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html

 

[VtSkier]

How to Create a Vista Recovery Disc​

(snip)

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

View attachment 3201
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17. Insert your retail Vista installation DVD into the CD/DVD drive, and click on Continue. (See screenshot below)

View attachment 3203

Well, here's where the system falls down. After reading your instructions I was able to "take ownership" of the file needed and replace it with the working version. Thanks for really great clear instructions, I just need to read them.

My computer came pre-loaded with Vista and included NO installation discs. The option was to create recovery discs in case I cannot get at the recovery partition on my hard drive. These are on two dvd's and neither will work to create the recovery disc.

By the way, I have done a system restore on this machine. I started off using the restore discs but the computer informed me that the recovery partition was in fine shape and switched me over to using this.

At any rate, I'll keep this forum bookmarked as you have lots of information and a very clear way of explaining arcane subjects. Keep up the good work, Thanks.

VtSkier


(and snip the rest)​

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome VtSkier. I'm glad it was able to help.

 

[NoahJavaRidge]

I accidentally unplugged my computer during boot, so I get nothing past bios except a black screen. I would have tried this method but I don't have a vista installation disc, is there a way to create a restore disc without an installation disc? And if I get my hands on a install disc, can I fix the problem just with that?

 

[Brink]

Hello Noah, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Yes, you will be able to use an retail Vista installation DVD/USB as well since it includes the recovery options.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/301852-vista-iso-download-create-installation-dvd-usb.html

 

[NoahJavaRidge]

Thanks For the help, I'll definitely try it!

 

[Jilirando]

Step 1.9 says to Take Ownership of recdisc.exe to allow full control. How can I do this if the password I'm trying to reset by use of this recovery disc is an administrator's? Or can I skip this step?

In other words, I don't have any access to either of the two admin user accounts on my computer, so there's no way for me to get past the UAC block.

 

[Brink]

Hello Jilirando, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You would have needed to create the recovery disc before needing to use it to reset your password. You won't be able to create it unless you are able to log in to the account you want to create it for.

If you like, you could try using the methods in the tutorial below instead to reset your password.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/102005-reset-user-account-password.html