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

 

[4lifemetalworks]

it does help thanks...so i should just be saving a recovery elsewhere like a cd or flashdrive...i would of preferred them giving me a recovery CD than take up useable harddrive space...anyways i appreciate your time

 

[Brink]

4lifemetalworks,

You could save it there or to another hard drive or another newly created partition from C: .

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/95398-disk-management-shrink-partition.html


Depending on what brand your computer is, you may be able to create a OEM Recovery CD/DVD from the partition to use. Your computer documentation should show you how to do this. If not, post back with your brand to see if I can find the instructions for how at the OEM's website. You can then use that DVD instead and delete the D: partition and extend C back into it, or keep it and have it or the DVD as a backup.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Blaydrnnnr]

Hi Brink.. I'll give it a try and post back when I've done it. May be tomorrow but I'll try to post back by thursday.

Burned it... I should install the disk, restart and see if it boots? if so.. take the disk out and hit restart?

 

[Blaydrnnnr]

Sorry Brink, I did more reading and see how its done.. Have to set my BIOS to boot from CD/DVD, then insert the disk, restart, hope it works..if it does.. how do I exit without changing anything...? if it doesnt.. restart..enter Bios, change to boot from my HD, and save and restart. Yes?

 

[Brink]

Blaydrnnnr,

You should be able to just close the window from the X in the upper right corner like normal to back out of the System Recovery Options Screen without changing anything. If all else fails, just remove the DVD and hit the restart button on the case to boot into Vista.

 

[4lifemetalworks]

Hey Brink...i helped my mother create a recovery cd for vista and i did it for my computer running vista also. Heres the thing though...she recently had a problem with her computer. (she managed to erase her favorites link). Her D drive had that recovery folder in it with a lock next to it, but no manually saved revovery folders. So i went to her control panel and opened up recovery so i could recover her windows structure. It would not recover? it said last recovery failed. So i tried saving a recovery to see what would happen and why? it almost saved then said not enough space..failed. So why is there that recovery folder with a lock next to it if i cant recover? is it a recovery that only works when you book up in the BIOS and restore their? Anyways she ended up paying 16 dollars for a restore disk and everything is back to normal. im just a curious computer newbe that enjoys and appreciates people like you who make it look easy..thanks again

 

[Brink]

4lifemetalworks,

The recovery partition D:\ is not the recovery used by Vista. This is used by your OEM to reinstall Vista with only. Usually you would press something like F10 or F11 to boot to the OEM Recovery Manager (recovery partition) to select a option like "Restore Factory installation". You will have to check you computer's documentation for their (OEM) exact procedure, but it should be very similair to this.

The restore disk she bought is the same thing as what the D:\ recovery partion does, but on DVD instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[4lifemetalworks]

That does help Brink....and you make my computer world a brighter one. So in reality i could of recovered her computer from the BIOS and saved her 16 bucks. Funny how the company she bought the computer from (Hewlett Packard) told her she needed to buy a recovery cd and said nothing about the recovery on the D drive. Anyways its weird how theres space on my D drive for a personel recovery save...and theres none room in my moms. Ill just have her save recoverys on an external CD periodically. Thanks again Brink and there will be a donation to this great site very shortly.

 

[Brink]

Your welcome 4lifemetalworks. Don't worry though. It's always a good idead to have a copy of the recovery installation partition on CD/DVD just in case something happens to the hard drive.

Some OEM recoverys have a little space to use for personal recovery, but I always found it better to use another location than the recovery partiton since that is what's used to reinstall Vista with.

Thank you,
Shawn

 

[raja.amadala]

Nice tutorial...
But i have the same problem. i have lenovo y410 775789Q with vista home basic sp1, but they didn't give me any dvd related to vista, so how can i take recovery disk, plz reply me. Is there any chance for me total reinstall of vista.

 

[Brink]

Hello Raja Amadala, and welcome to Vista Forums,

If you wish to create the Recovery Disc in this tutorial then you can use Option One to do so. However, the Disc will not reinstall Vista. It is only good to use to help repair Vista with the System Recovery Options.

If you wish to reinstall Vista, then you should be able to from your recovery partition. Your computer's documentation or manufacturer's website should show you how to.

You should also please refer back to your other post to see what Nigel has posted to help you with this as well.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[raja.amadala]

Thank U.

Sir , I have installed vista sp1 and with out the disk, so the two options are not for me, but i tried the first option " when i tried to open the file it says "unable to load the .torrent file" so plz fix this problem

 

[Brink]

Did you follow the instructions at their website to use the uTorrent file to open the downloaded torrent file?

You will not be able to open the file unless you do.


Download: Windows Vista x64 Recovery Disc — The NeoSmart Files

Instructions

1. Download the appropriate .torrent file from above that corresponds to the version of Windows Vista you have installed.
2. Download and run µTorrent.
3. Open the .torrent file you downloaded with µTorrent. (File -> Add Torrent)
4. etc.........

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[frankzappa77]

I first had the impression that the original Vista Installation disc was up for download but then read the description on Neosmart's page (I'd like to take this space to thank them for EasyBCD).

I was lucky that with my laptop, I was supplied with 2 recovery DVDs and a Vista installation disc, but I don't understand why some OEM suppliers don't supply them. Anyways, I do see the potential of these discs when repairing a Vista install - thanks for the tutorial.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Frank.

Shawn

 

[bhakeman]

Sorry for not reading every message in the post, but I created my recovery discs (3 DVD+R's) when my computer prompted me to in August. (Vista Home Premium x64 on an HP). This week, it's asking me to create another set. Do I really need to make new Recovery discs this often? I've added some software since the first set (AutoCAD 2008 and some games).

Thanks in advance.

 

[Brink]

Hello Bhakeman, and welcome to Vista Forums.

This is not the same as a OEM Recovery DVD. It is used only to boot to the System Recovery Options screen to try and repair Vista. See Note at the top of the tutorial for more details.

Not sure why you would be getting asked if you want to create another OEM set though.

Shawn

 

[SIW2]

Hi bhakeman,

Is your HP machine asking you to run off another set of recovery discs?

I heard HP machines only allow you to make one set. Haven't got an Hp machine myself, so maybe they've changed that.


No idea why it would ask you to do that. Does it say anything in your manual about it?

SIW2

 

[rawbery79]

This may seem dumb, but I don't know what version I have! All it says when I look at the properties is Service Pack 1. Some help that is, lol.

Never mind, I found it. Right in front of my nose! Durrr...

 

[bhakeman]

Ok, HP's "Total Care Advisor - PC Action Center" within my PC says under 'critical alerts' that my PC "Contains a program that creates a set of recovery disks for your system. You will need these disks to reinstall your operating system and software, should you have a problem with your hard drive. It is highly recommended that you create your recovery disks now." This is listed as a 'Critical' Item in the 'Action Center'. The more I look at it, I think this is an old alert since I already have a set of Recovery DVD's.

Also, it's recommending that I "Purchase a Service Plan"...

I think it's time to uninstall "HP Total Care Advisor". :D