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

 

[damamma5]

will this recovery disc work on any computer rumming vista 32 bit or x64bit?
cause i have a hp labtop and a gateway pc if i download from my labtop can i use the recovery disc on my gateway

 

[SIW2]

Hi,

There are 2 - one is for 32bit and one is for 64bit.

Yes it will work on a laptop.

 

[MilesAhead]

I must be doing something wrong because when I boot from the burned CD I get a screen to set the date time and keyboard type to install Vista. Nothing about a recovery console or recovery options. Something is weird!!

 

[Brink]

Hello MilesAhead,

You should be able to do Method Two here with it to go into the System Recovery Options screen.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[MilesAhead]

Hello MilesAhead,

You should be able to do Method Two here with it to go into the System Recovery Options screen.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi. I see now. Once I click Next I have an option to repair. I'm leery of clicking any Next because with this Raid controller restoring my backup image is an all night job.
As it is, I get a Load Drivers screen. So I'd have to copy the Raid driver to CD I guess to even start. Even then I can't run a Windows program to lay the image back on. Paragon supports making a BartPE disc and has a plugin, but unfortunately BartPE doesn't support 64 bit. Seems like every option short of putting on all the OEM crapware is blocked. I hate cleaning all that gunk off!!

Can't even set up vLite without the install DVD, so guess I have to pay for stuff twice now. Really frustrating. I did the all night restore so I have Vista64 running again with my apps, but I hate to leave things in a state where if I get hosed I have to hope the power stays on steady for 9 hours!!

 

[Brink]

You might give Drive Backup Express a try, it's a pretty good free backup and restore program.

 

[MilesAhead]

You might give Drive Backup Express a try, it's a pretty good free backup and restore program.

I have Paragon Drive Backup Personal 9.0
The trouble is, this RAID needs a Windows driver.
When you boot the rescue CD, it loads Linux.
The only restore mode that will work is
"reduced graphics safe mode". That's the
one that will restore overnight.

For RAID support both Paragon and Macrium Reflect say to make
a rescue CD from BartPE. Well, BartPE only does 32 bit. Even if
I had the install DVD it wouldn't let me make a Windows boot anyway.
If I knew it was going to be this tough to restore this machine I never
would have purchased it. It's just not acceptable to run a 9 hour job
to do a 45 minute restore.

Somehow I have to boot a 64 bit Windows that lets me run programs.
I can't even split off another partition and install another OS because
there are no XP drivers for this HD. Looks like it's an AMD special and
nothing else supports it. For now I made a backup that's nothing but
the MBR and Partition Table. Even if that works, you have to wait
at least 5 minutes between each mouse click when you seek to the
restore set. So just to restore the MBR would take me about 1/2 hour.

I never saw disk action like this. Every drive I ever had let me shrink the
C: partition and put another OS on. Just fun and games.

 

[Brink]

Wow, I'm glad I have Ultimate with the built-in Computer backup and restore then. :eek:

 

[MilesAhead]

Wow, I'm glad I have Ultimate with the built-in Computer backup and restore then. :eek:

The HP recovery disc set you burn has stuff to attempt automatic repair. What hosed it was I tried to make a backup capsule with Paragon thinking most of the time you can at least boot into that. Well, it needed to reboot to complete the operation. Booted down, but not up. Automatic repair failed. When I got this machine the description says 750GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 rpm)

Nothing about RAID. I thought I was getting standard Sata like my other HP machines. What an unpleasant surprise!! I try to stick to vanilla for maximum compatibility.

I wouldn't mind so much if I could just reinstall the OS without all the crap. I don't know how many times I've deleted everything named Wild Tangent but I'm tired of it. I hate to shell out 1/3 the price of the machine just for an install DVD. That's being raped after robbed!! or verse visa.

There's got to be an easier way.

Anyway Brink.. thanks for letting me vent. I feel a bit better. Guess there's always some kind of "surprise" with every PC purchase. They change so fast now even if you stay in the same make and model line you don't always get what you expect.

 

[Sharmasing]

Hi,is it possible to make a dual boot cd with the 32 and 64 bit options?

 

[Brink]

Hello Sharmasing, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Sorry, but no. It can only be one per boot disc.

Shawn

 

[MilesAhead]

Wow, I'm glad I have Ultimate with the built-in Computer backup and restore then. :eek:

I feel relieved now! I got the Macrium Reflect trial and did a backup and restore. I tried the free version but the Linux rescue CD had the same problem. The paid has a newer version and it reads the HD fine. Restored a 44 GB image from USB external in about 80 minutes. Not too bad. Unlike the Paragon trials this isn't a demo. It works for 30 days. The only section that's disabled until you register is the function to create a WinPE boot CD. It's worth $40 though to know I can depend on it. Also it has some network restore options that Paragon Personal doesn't have.

Ahhhhhhhhhh I'm breathing easier!!

 

[Brink]

Nice. I'm happy to hear that you found one that will work for you reliably.

 

[OldGrantonian]

When I tested my recovery DVD, I did not get the "System Recovery Options" dialog shown in the screen shot at the top of the tutorial.

Instead, I got a dialog with an "Install Now" button. There were two links at the lower left. One link said "What to know ...". The second said "Repair your computer".

To be safe, I stopped at this point and rebooted normally.

Is everything OK so far, or have I done something wrong (as usual)?
.

 

[Brink]

Hello OldGrantonian,

No, you did not do anything wrong at all. You would just then select the "Repair your computer" link to then enter the "System Recovery Options" dialog.

 

[OldGrantonian]

Can't lose them all

Thanks for your help.

BTW: I have a couple of minor comments, which can probably be safely ignored

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Step 9:

9. Right click on the recdisc.exe file on the desktop, from step 3, and click on Copy.

This could possibly say "from step 6".

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From the tutorial about taking over:

METHOD TWO:
THE MANUAL WAY

OPTION ONE:
Through the Command Prompt

2. In the elevated command prompt, type takeown /f (full path of file) and press Enter.

I hate typing, so even before opening the command prompt, I had already decided that I would simply enter

c:
cd \Windows\System32

I had forgotten that's the default current directory when opening the console

So, I simply typed:

takeown /f recdisc.exe

This worked

Similarly at step 4:

icacls /grant recdisc.exe username:F

Successful

---------------------------------------------------

Thanks again
.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. I have updated the tutorial to correct it.

Thank you,
Shawn

 

[carl424]

hi

i have just created the two recovery disc's using the toshiba disc creator.
Do i have this option (create a Recovery Disc) with this.

Or do i have to create another disc if i want to use the system recovery options
Also , does this tutorial work if you have service pack 2 installed

toshiba laptop L300/300D series 32bit sp2

 

[Brink]

Hello Carl,

Your OEM recovery disc is completely different than this one as per the NOTE box at the top of the tutorial.

The OEM disc is used to restore Vista back to factory condition, when this recovery disc is used to boot to the Systems Recovery Option screen that can only be used to repair Vista with. Yes, it will still work when you have SP2 installed.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[carl424]

Hello Carl,

Your OEM recovery disc is completely different than this one as per the NOTE box at the top of the tutorial.

The OEM disc is used to restore Vista back to factory condition, when this recovery disc is used to boot to the Systems Recovery Option screen that can only be used to repair Vista with. Yes, it will still work when you have SP2 installed.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

thanks shawn, i will give it a go, and try to create one.
just understanding it a bit more now, you would think you would have an option to repair your computer alredy included, like the disc creator.

It doe's not mention anything about this in the manual, and i thought i was fine having created the recovery disc's, in case i ever needed to reinstall.

If i would have not come accross this tutorial, i would have just left things as they are, and maybe if i had a problem in the fufture i would have done a reinstall when there was no need to do so, i could just pop the other cd in and try and do a repair instead, which is a lot better than reinstalling.......