System Recovery Options

How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Vista​

   Information

This will show you how to boot to the System Recovery Options screen to select the Startup Repair, System Restore, Complete PC Restore, Memory Diagnostic Tool, or Command Prompt option to use on Vista.

   Note

The System Recovery Options menu is on the Vista installation disc. If your computer manufacturer (OEM) has preinstalled recovery options, the menu might also be installed on your hard disk as a recovery partition. If your computer does not include the System Recovery Options menu, your computer manufacturer (OEM) might have customized or replaced the tool. Check the information that came with your computer or go to the manufacturer's website.

METHOD ONE

Using a OEM Recovery Partition

NOTE: This is if your computer did not come with a Vista installation DVD, and has pre-installed recovery options (recovery partition) instead.

1. Start or Restart the computer.​

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2. Boot into the Advanced Boot Options screen.​

A) Select Repair your computer and press Enter.​

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3. Select your language preferences and click on Next. (See screeshot below).​

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4. Select a user name and type in the password, and then click on OK.​

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5. Go to and follow steps 5 and 6 in METHOD TWO below.​

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METHOD TWO

Using a Retail Vista Installation DVD

1. Insert the Vista installation disc, or your Recovery Disc, into the CD or DVD drive and restart the computer.​

WARNING: Check to make sure that you set the BIOS to have the CD or DVD drive listed first in the boot order.​

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2. If prompted, press any key to boot from the Vista installation DVD. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: You will only have about 8 seconds to press this key.​

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3. Select your language preferences and click on Next. (See screeshot below).​

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4. Click on Repair your computer. (See screenshot below)​

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5. Select which operating system you want to restore and the click on Next. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: If Vista is not listed here, or it is blank, then it is ok. Click on Next anyway.​

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6. Select the system recovery option you want to do. (See screenshot below)​

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• Startup Repair
• System Restore
• Windows Complete PC Backup
• Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
• Command Prompt

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• 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 Start the Memory Diagnostics Tool in Vista
• How to Open a Command Prompt at Startup in Vista

 

[SIW2]

Nice one Shawn , really clear. :D Are you thinking of doing one for the commands to repair the bootloader if the automated startup repair doesn't work ?

Not that you haven't done enough already - just that it would be good to have a tutorial here to point people to.

SIW2

 

[Brink]

LOL yep, just fixing to add the Command Prompt option on here.

 

[Brink]

Ok, added.

 

[SIW2]

Hi Shawn ,

Great , thanks.

Do you think it's worth adding this link to the MS kb for the actual commands to use?

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows Vista

SIW2

 

[Brink]

Sure, but I think it woud be better as a separate tutorial instead with that link included for more information.

 

[SIW2]

Yes would be better - more work for you though LOL

SIW2:D

 

[Brink]

LOL, you're right. I'll add the link for now until I get some free time (some year) to create one for it. :D

 

[bennys]

Hello Shawn !
I have the Vista Installation CD, therefore, I can comfortably perform the Method Two Option. I've also created a new partition(D:) just for the Windows Complete PC Backup. Obviously, I can not boot in the "Advanced Boot Options". So, how do I go about to perform a full computer restoration using my D: drive?

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hi Bennys,

For a System Restore, once you boot into the System Recovery Options screen from Method Two above, you would just select the System Restore option and select the Complete PC Backup on the D: drive.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[bennys]

Ahhhh...got it.

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Bennys.

Shawn

 

[Overclock2much]

Thx for the tutorial on this. I wasn't getting any O/S listing in the System Recovery Box. glad you cleared that up for me.
How long does this process take?
It says it might several minutes but it's been going on for almost 30 min. I guess if the O/S is really screwed up it might take several hrs. :eek:

 

[Brink]

Hello Overclock2much,

It really depends on the option you choose and what all is wrong for how long it will take. Plus, how large the hard drive is and how much is saved on it. I would not think that it would take several hours though unless you have some serious corruption problems.

 

[MWB]

Hi Shawn
I am new writer looking to resolve a partial crash of Vista business.
I have read your "recovery" tutorial but think mine may be disabled and don't want to dabble before I know a bit more!
I am using a compaq 6715b with preloaded vista and have no back up discs.
Following use of a Reg Clean from Regsoft I have lost linkage and set up options to numerous areas including printer, modem, Control Panel, and my windows shadow recovery is not accessible showing erroe 0x81000202 and neither is the HP recovery option for a timepoint. The update function is not working and my Vista software is not validating (error 0x80070426) but my Office software is and is functioning normally.
The system is still up and semi-functional and I can now access my modem by cable but not wireless.
Any direct advice or next steps/contacts I could take?
Kind Regards
Mark

 

[SIW2]

Hi MWB,

Registry cleaners can be dangerous- if you use one, it is best to check the entries it offers, before removing them.

I am not familiar with regclean , but if you are able to open the program , you will probably find it backed up the entries it removed and can restore them for you.

Otherwise, if you browse to the regclean install files folder, probably in Program files (x86) there will likely be backups there in the form of .reg files.

Double click on those and they will merge back into the registry - you will get a warning it is dangerous to merge files- but under the circumstances, I would do it.

If you are not able to open Regclean directly, type C: in the start search box and Program Files (x86) should pop up. Alternatively, type Regclean in the start search box - when it pops up, rt click and select Open file Location - there will be a folder called Data or Backups, or similar, containing the .reg files.

Will Look like this :



Hope it helps

SIW2

 

[MWB]

Hi MWB,

Registry cleaners can be dangerous- if you use one, it is best to check the entries it offers, before removing them.

I am not familiar with regclean , but if you are able to open the program , you will probably find it backed up the entries it removed and can restore them for you.

Otherwise, if you browse to the regclean install files folder, probably in Program files (x86) there will likely be backups there in the form of .reg files.

Double click on those and they will merge back into the registry - you will get a warning it is dangerous to merge files- but under the circumstances, I would do it.

If you are not able to open Regclean directly, type C: in the start search box and Program Files (x86) should pop up. Alternatively, type Regclean in the start search box - when it pops up, rt click and select Open file Location - there will be a folder called Data or Backups, or similar, containing the .reg files.

Will Look like this :

View attachment 10548

Hope it helps

SIW2

Hi SIW2

Many thanks for the support and advice.

The software I used was regpair v1.8 from regsofts.com and was a recommended download from Cnet. Not being aware of the dangers you've highlighted I ran a full scan and full fix twice in a row without checking the detail before restarting and subsequently losing OS functionallity. I did immediately go back and restore both of the "fixes" from within the registry cleaner but to no avail. I have followed your suggested process and the back up files are there but are empty presumably because of previusly running the restore process.

I am awaiting feedback from Regsofts and Microsoft but am open to any good advice which could avoid me having to run a full PC restoration.

Many Thanks
Mark

 

[Brink]

Hello Mark, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You might see if you can do a Vista System Restore using a restore point dated before this issue to see if it can fix it for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[SIW2]

Hi Mark,

Type services.msc in the start search box, click it when it pops up and make sure that Task Scheduler, Microsoft Shadow Copy provider and Volume Shadow Copy Service are all running.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/59910-services.html

Then try System restore.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

Hope it helps

SIW2

 

[MWB]

Hello Mark, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You might see if you can do a Vista System Restore using a restore point dated before this issue to see if it can fix it for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks Shawn

When I access this option it says it is not available although I have used it once before some months ago without issue.

I checked the set up in services as per the default comment in your tutorial and it shows the volume shadow copy as not started and manual but when I do try to start it a pop up comment says Error 2 cannot find file? presumably this has been disabled in some way by the registry cleaner that I ran!

The HP recovery F drive has 8MB of data within it but the recovery option won't run and I unable to access the data helped in this partition. The E drive has over 1MB of OS Tools which I can access but don't know if or what I could usefully action.

Kind Regards
Mark