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

 

[Isca]

Hey again! I'm hoping you can help me with another issue.

I just followed all the directions for this, but my new recovery disc doesn't seem to boot right. When I put it in, it opens up the drive with the files on the disc listed. There's no exe file for me to select. Did I skip a step to make it run the System Recovery Options screen?

 

[Brink]

Hi Isca,

You will have to boot from it for it work. What is it doing at boot? You might have a bad burn. Try again to see if a new one will work for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Isca]

Got it!!! Thank you SO MUCH for these wonderful helpful threads. You're amazing, all of you.

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Isca.

 

[VMLENZA]

I think I followed insructions: but when I clicked CreateISOimage it would not let me "include boot image". I had a hard time locating the iso file but finally RTclicked it and put it to cd. How far do I have to go to test it? Is it a valid test if I just get the screen with the repair options? I have nothing to repair right now.
I'm about to install Office Home & Student after being unable to ever get the Trial to run due to family illness which covered the whole trial period till it expired. If I understand it correctly, this disk image will not include any of the Office programs except maybe the start menu and the desktop. Is that right?

 

[Brink]

Hi VMLENZA, and welcome to Vista Forums.

I would say that if the DVD booted to the System Recovery Options screen, then it works just fine.

This Recovery Disc created here does not install Vista or any other program. It's only purpose is to help repair your already installed Vista.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[llitten]

I don't know where to go.

I have vista ultimate x64.

I am needing to use the recovery disk (but I can't find mine)

so, I've got the torrent, and burned it to a dvd (twice just the check the burning was good...(two different disks)

Then I f8 and choose the dvd drive as the boot drive

i get: windows is loading files.......

then it goes to the microsoft bar, green, like its trying to boot up and start windows.

but then I get a big fat arrow that is the mouse, and the screen goes from 1600x1200 to 800x600 and seems to freeze up, although the mouse still moves.

ctrl alt delete does nothing.

what i am NOT seeing is the repair screen!!! what could the issues be?

 

[Brink]

Hi LLitten, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Double check to make sure that you have the CD/DVD drive listed as first in the boot from order in BIOS. When you boot the computer with the DVD in the drive you should not need to press F8. Instead you should get a press any key to boot from DVD message. Press a key, and it should boot from the DVD instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[bennys]

Where is the the 32 bit version on the link recommended?
Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hi Bennys,

Sorry about that, 32 bit and x86 is the same thing at that link.

Shawn

 

[bennys]

Thank you Brink... much love.

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Bennys.

 

[VMLENZA]

Yes - it works - Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Your welcome VMLENZA. I'm happy to hear that the DVD worked for you. Thank you for posting your confirmation.

Shawn

 

[pngzhengli]

Re: Startup Repair

Hi, I've created the Recovery CD but I can't use the CD. I reboot with the CD but nothing came out. Pls advise! Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Re: Startup Repair

If you just copied the downloaded ISO file to the DVD, then it will not work. It will need to be burned to the DVD using a ISO burning program. There is a link provided for a free one to use in that tutorial.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/141820-create-recovery-disc.html

 

[Blaydrnnnr]

Hello again Brink,
Please excuse my lack of experience here, but I need to ask, My system is HP, Vista SP1 was preinstalled, ( OEM ) I have recovery disks, with the imfamous Recovery image partion on my HD, I thought that this disk would come in handy for repairs if I *&%@ something up ( I'm learning alot, so that means I'm playing with alot..much room for messing up! ) I downloaded the torrent for my x64 home premium and am going to burn it using ImageBurn, this Method one ISO will work for my HP?
Thanks again and much apologies...

 

[Brink]

Hi Blaydrnnnr,

Since your OEM Vista has SP1 preinstalled, I do not know for sure if the one created in Method One will work or not. I know Method Two will not since you only have a Vista recovery installation DVD/CD.

You can make one real quick and test the new DVD to see if boots into the System Recovery Options screen. It would be nice to have this confirmed or not.

Thank you,
Shawn

 

[4lifemetalworks]

im about as smart as a box of rocks when it comes to computers, but i followed the tutorial on creating a boot up disk for vista....and by god i did it. Thanks to whom ever for keeping it simple and understanding that people like me need their hand held during most of this computer stuff...THANK YOU and im glad i found you guys. How bout shedding some light on this...my mom has vista too and i want to create a recovery(not a restore point)on her "D Drive"..but her "D Drive" is practically full already and there hasnt even been one recovery saved yet?..and no shes not saving anything on her "D drive". Like my "D DRive" theres already a recovery on hers with a lock next to it (PC Angel or something) which is some type of recovery. BUT my "D DRive" shows my most recent recovery back up with date AND that other recovery with a lock next to it. Whats that for? why two recovery things?and why cant i get my moms vista to save a recovery date...i dont know, its not a huge deal but i like trying to understand your world..lol

 

[Brink]

Your welcome 4lifemetalworks, and welcome to Vista Forums.

This is added by your OEM and is not part of Vista itself. The D: partition is the OEM Vista Recovery partition used to reinstall Vista back to factory defaults on your computer with. It usually is just a small partition with not much free space. I would not recommend trying to save or delete anything on it. The PC Angel is program used to protect the D: recovery partition.

Hope this helps,
Shawn