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

 

[Brink]

Bhakeman,

I say since you already have a set of recovery discs, go for uninstalling it to save some HDD space and a few resources that it uses.

 

[kzimmerm]

This sounded just like the solution I was looking for. I am servicing a new DELL quad processor 64bit Vista machine and need to create recovery disks. I downloaded the resdisk (64 bit) version, moved it to the system32 folder. When I go to run it nothing happens. I shut of UAC and still nothing. What am I doing wrong?

Kurt Zimmerman

 

[Brink]

Hello Kurt, and welcome to Vista Forums.

I'm not certain why it did not work for you. You might give OPTION ONE a try to see if it will work for you then.

Shawn

 

[kzimmerm]

Hi Shawn;
Well it turns out to be a non issue. The machine I am servicing is a Dell. It turns out that Dell includes a system recovery disk with their machine. So there is no need for me to create the recovery disks.

I will say that by having the pre-service pack 1 versions of recdisc.exe both 32 & 64 bit is going to be quite valuable for me in the future. Just with that I do appreciate that.

Thanks again.
Kurt Zimmerman

 

[Brink]

The Recovery Disk from Dell will usually just do a clean reinstall of Vista back to factory defaults, and will not boot to the System Recovery Options screen.

The recovery disc in this tutorial will allow you to boot into the System Recovery Options screen to use to repair Vista with. You should be able to use it on any Vista computer of the same 32-bit or 64-bit version as the recovery disc.

I'm happy to hear that you got that one sorted though.

Shawn

 

[SIW2]

Hi Kurt,

Think you need to move/replace the original recdisc.exe file.

Believe you also need the installation disc from which the recdisc program makes a copy of the winre recovery environment and burns it to cd.

As Shawn says, the Neosmart downloads are a better solution.

SIW2

 

[Khunna]

Hi Brink,

Why do we need to replace the original file "recdisc.exe". Is it the original does not work fine? What is the differences between those two files? My Windows Vista's "recdisc.exe" version is higher than the one you post.

Regards,
Khunna

 

[Brink]

Hello Khunna,

You got it right. Only the "recdisc.exe" file from the beta version of Vista works. Replacing it is the only way to get it to work in Vista.

Shawn

 

[Khunna]

Dear Shawn,

Is it work fine for Vista SP1 and other programs I had installed when create a Vista Recovery Disc? Will it restore all those program too, like Manufacturer Recover Disc or shadow copy backup like the time I bought the PC?

Khunna

 

[Brink]

Khunna,

It will work fine with the Vista SP1. It is used only to boot into the System Recovery Options screen to repair Vista with. It will not reinstall Vista or any other program like a OEM recovery disk. See the NOTE at the top of the tutorial for more about this.

Shawn

 

[Khunna]

Dear Shawn,

I just want to make sure how the method work and finally I like to say thanks and appreciate your hard work. Happy New Year

Khunna

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Khunna. I hope you have a happy New Year as well.

 

[Khunna]

Dear Shawn,

One more question please....! If I backup newer version of the original file before I replace it and after the process of copying is completed, can I replace back the original? And if I do so what will happen to my system in case I use the *System Recovery Option*?

Khunna

 

[Brink]

Nothing will happen to your system if you restore the original "recdisc.exe" file, but I would recommend leaving the downloaded one installed since the original one is disabled and does not work. This way you can use it if you ever wanted to again.

It depends on what System Recovery Option you select for what it will do. You can look at the related links at the top of the tutorial for each option to get a better ideal of what it will do though.

 

[Ocean]

Hi BR,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

Did you make sure that you downloaded and used the correct 32 bit or 64 bit ISO version for your version of Vista?

Q1) Sorry, you will not be able to create a Recovery Disc using recdisc.exe with your HP recovery partition.

Q2) You could borrow a friends Vista installation DVD to use to make you a Recovery Disc using recdisc.exe instead.

Hope this help,
Shawn

Hi Brink! I'm newbie come to forum....

Please help me troubleshoot about vista Ultimate 64! Now, I want create vista recovery disk. But my laptop can not install the software you show for me. Can you help me about that.

My product is HP Dv4t-1000

Thank so much!

 

[Brink]

Hello Ocean, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Since you have a OEM Vista, you will need to use OPTION ONE (Step One and Step Two) to create a Recovey Disc to repair Vista with. Double check to make sure that you are downloading the correct 64-bit versions of the ISO file and ISO burner program for your computer.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Ocean]

Hello Ocean, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Since you have a OEM Vista, you will need to use OPTION ONE (Step One and Step Two) to create a Recovey Disc to repair Vista with. Double check to make sure that you are downloading the correct 64-bit versions of the ISO file and ISO burner program for your computer.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi Brink! I'm very happy then receive your answer!

I will do it follow your said. But I have one the question. Please help me know about that. From the Step One you post, that is a software create recovery disk for my laptop using or that it have vista 64 already? " Now, I downloading the ISO file in your Step One"

I'm waiting your answer!

Thank so much!

 

[Brink]

Ocean,

You can use the ISO Recorder program from STEP TWO in OPTION ONE. At the programs link, you will see the download links for it under Download in red.

 

[Ocean]

Ocean,

You can use the ISO Recorder program from STEP TWO in OPTION ONE. At the programs link, you will see the download links for it under Download in red.

Hi Brink, Thank for answer.

Now, I still downloading the ISO file. T_T My network is slowly.

Follow you said then i need to download the ISO Recorder program for the burner to DVD. So, Can i used another program burn ISO file to disk? Because I have the Nero Burner.

Thanks

 

[Brink]

You sure can Ocean. Any program that can burn a ISO file to DVD will be fine to use. This was just an example of a free one to use if folks didn't have one.