Dec 31, 2010  These freely downloadable ISO files may be used to create your own bootable disc which will allow you access to the Windows 7 or Vista System Recovery Options menu including the Command Prompt (aka Recovery Console) without the need for an actual original Windows 7. Creating a Windows Vista Recovery CD. While a Recovery Disk or a Recovery Partition will allow you to restore your computer to the original settings from the manufacturer, chances are you will not be able to use it to repair your Windows Vista installation. Greg Shultz shows how you can create a Vista Recovery CD.

1. Windows Vista Recovery Disk Download
2. Easy Recovery Essentials Windows Vista Iso
3. Windows Vista Recovery Removal

Windows Vista, 7 and 8 include an option on the install DVD to perform a small number of important repair and recovery functions, but the chances are you didn't get an install DVD with your computer. In this case, you need to create a repair disc in Windows. Windows Vista Ultimate SP2 is great release after Windows XP, it is for all the types of Personal Computers with many enhancements. This free download of Vista is an ISO image for 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.

Windows Vista Recovery Disk Download

Back in 2006 when Windows Vista was introduced, it came with a brand new feature that is able to burn what’s called a “System repair disc” onto a blank CD. While it isn’t a disc full of utilities that can help you fix a huge number of issues such as the great Hiren’s Boot CD is able to do, there are number of functions built in that can do the basic tasks. These include helping a system with startup issues to boot, enabling you to run an offline system restore, a command prompt where you can use tools such as Diskpart, run the Windows memory diagnostic and restore a full system image backup if your installation is beyond repair.

What’s good about this tool is it’s available in all versions of Windows Vista, Windows 7 and also Windows 8. These same functions are also found on the Windows Install DVD that is used to install the operating system, so you don’t necessarily need to have a repair CD if the install DVD is to hand. The problem with this though is if you own a branded computer or laptop such as Acer, Dell or HP, the chances are they only provided you with a recovery partition or a recovery DVD without the proper Windows DVD. In other words, you need to make your own system repair disc through Windows.

A simple scenario where a repair disc would be useful is if you decide for whatever reason that you want to install Windows XP as well as your current Windows. It’s easy to install Windows XP on a system with Windows 7 or Vista installed, but XP would overwrite the current bootloader making only the XP installation bootable. The system repair disc would be able to reinstall the correct bootloader to make all operating systems bootable.

A few years back the people who make EasyBCD, Neosmart, used to host the Windows bootable repair CD’s although they now charge a fee for their own version of a repair disc. Most other repair discs made by Windows and uploaded to websites have just about all been taken down from the internet by Microsoft actively seeking their removal, for some reason. Here’s how to create your own from within Windows.

Creating a Windows Vista Repair Boot CD

Although not immediately obvious in Windows Vista, it does come with the ability to create the repair CD which you can use to repair things like the boot sector, boot failure issues or various other problems. The odd thing about Vista is it appears the function to create the disc was removed in Service Pack 1 onwards. Although the program to create the CD is there, it’s unusable. What you need to do if you have Service Pack 1 or 2 installed is to use the original Recdisc.exe from the RTM version of Vista and replace the current file. Here’s how to do it:

1. As noted above, you need the original Windows Vista RTM Recdisc.exe file to be able to use it with SP1 or SP2. You can download the correct version for your operating system architecture below:

Recdisc for Vista 32-bit Recdisc for Vista 64-bit

Extract the downloaded zip file to your folder of choice. Gang beasts free download full version.

2. Download Windows Se7en Files Replacer and extract the 7-Zip file to a folder.

3. If you have Windows UAC (User Account Control) turned off, simply run the Se7en Files Replacer.exe and drop the Recdisc.exe you downloaded from step #1 onto the window. This will replace the file in WindowsSystem32, there’s no need to reboot.

If you have UAC on, run the tool and click the Manual button to the right. Then locate the executable from step #1, and locate the original in C:WindowsSystem32 from the next file dialog, although it should already be pointing to the correct folder. The reason you can’t simply copy and paste the file is because Recdisc.exe has advanced permissions which prohibits it being replaced under normal circumstances.

4. If done correctly, you should now be able to run the repair disc creator. Go to Start or press the Win key and type recdisc. This will open the dialog where the CD/DVD drive can be selected, simply insert a blank disc and press the Create button.

Creating a Windows 7 Repair Boot CD

Thankfully, with Windows 7 it’s far easier to create the repair CD because you don’t have to worry about replacing the Recdisc.exe file like is needed for Vista.

1. All you have to do is press Win or go to Start and type recdisc, then follow the prompts by selecting the optical drive with a blank CD and pressing the button.

If you’re one of those users that doesn’t have a working CD/DVD-RW drive in your computer, it’s normally not possible to create the repair disc because Recdisc requires an optical drive to write to. We have discovered how you can create the ISO file and write a perfectly working repair disc onto USB without using a ROM drive. You can read all about that in our Installing Windows 7 System Recovery Disc onto USB Flash Drive article.

Creating a Windows 8 Repair Disc

Unfortunately, with Windows 8 Microsoft has gone back to playing around with the recovery disc feature like they did in Windows Vista. As it stands, Recdisc is available in Windows 8 but NOT in Windows 8.1. All is not lost though because you still get the new to Windows 8 feature of writing the repair disc directly to USB flash drive.

Using Recdisc in Windows 8

1. The procedure for Recdisc in Windows 8 is the same as Windows 7 and Vista, Press Win key+R to bring up the Run dialog and type recdisc.

Using the USB Recovery Creator in Windows 8/8.1

As mentioned, only this function is available in Windows 8.1 and not Recdisc above. To use it:

1. Either press Win key+R and type recoverydrive or go to Control Panel -> Recovery -> “Create a recovery drive”.

2. At the first window, make sure the tick is not in the “Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive” box. Then make sure the flash drive is inserted and press Next.

3. In this window MAKE SURE your USB device has been detected and is the selected drive to write onto. If your flash drive doesn’t show up, it could default to the C: drive as the device to overwrite so special attention is needed here.

4. Press Next when you’re satisfied, then read the final warning and click Create. After a short while the USB recovery drive will be created.

The Windows 8 recovery image is now 200MB+ compared to around 160MB for the Windows image that gets written to CD, but still easily fits on even small flash drives.

You might also like:

How To Perform a Repair Install of Windows XPInstalling Windows 7 System Recovery Disc onto USB Flash DriveInstall Windows 7 and Vista MUI Language Packs on Basic, Home Premium, Business or ProHow To Burn Downloaded Windows Vista to DVD or USBvLite is a Windows Vista Configuration Tool that creates Vista Lite

I have the same problem as Tim, Michael and Corina. Recdisc.exe asks for the windows disk. If you posted a reply, I cannot find it. I have software which only will run on an old Vista PC. It will not boot half the time and wants to go to startup repair. Like Tim, Michael and Corina, I need help for my old PC.

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I created system repair disc (6 discs total) few years ago. Now my hard drive FAILED (bad sector). How can i restore my Vista to a new hard drive using these system repair discs? Can somebody please give me a step by step procedure from BOOT? my technical level is LOW :) thanks a lot in advance. Youcam for windows 10 64 bit free download.

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Sounds great. But during the create disc process it asks for my install disk…which I thought was the point of this article: not having an install disk. I’m just planning to move to an SSD and understand I need the recovery disk to do the boot repair on the clone. That’s all I need. Thanks.

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Thank you very much – great blogs.

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My pc on window 8 instal but now it is automatic repair mode i have not window 8 diskplz tell me how can repair it

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I was able to follow the instructions and install recdisc on a 32-bit Vista computer using the Manual option. I verified that the version of recdisc on my computer is the version I installed today. However, when I run recdisc I get the following error message:
“The selected disc cannot be used. The disc which you selected does not contain a valid Windows installation. Do you want to try a different disc?”
When I hit the “No” button, I get the message:
“Unable to create a recovery disc. A recovery disc cannot be created without the Windows installation disc.”
Any suggestions?

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In Vista using the instructions for UAC on, it says the file location does not contain the file selected to be replaced.
Only shows folders no programs.
The old Recdisc.exe is visible using Win Explorer but not in Se7en.

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Hi Raymond, thanks for the information. However, on Windows Vista, recdisc asks to insert the Windows installation drive (after Create disc). Is it something I’ve done wrong, or is this version of Vista (Home Premium, SP2)?

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thank you. Easy to use n done!!

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Hi Raymond,
Would you please help me in the following matter! I run windows Vista Basic Home x32bit on an Acer Aspire. After I ran CCleaner, I cannot boot the system, message “An error occured while attempting to read the boot configuration data. File:BootBCD. Status: Oxc000000f”. I downloaded an iso file with vista, but the only option I got through Acer Recovery is to install Vista from scratch. I do not want to lose all my files!!! But Acer does not have an option to “Repair your computer” only to “Install Windows”. What should I do? I lost many nights trying to fix it! Please, please help!

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I have a Acer aspire v3-731 win 8 don’t know if win 8.1
My daughter put a login password on it and has forgot what it is!!!!!
I can get to other bios settings and change the boot sequence but I don’t have a recovery flash drive. I have spotmau and hirens disc but to no avail I can’t get the laptop to boot from the disc. I’m ready to throw this laptop in the pool…. Any suggestions….

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Quite informative. thank you

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Thanks Raymond, it worked great!

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thanks Raymond for this good informative blog!!

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Download our recovery and repair disk for Microsoft Windows 7 (also available for Windows 8, Vista, XP or Server editions) that can be used to access system restore tools.

It comes with our Automated Repair feature, option to access System Restore, tools to backup and recover your most important files, a built-in antivirus scanner and a command-line for advanced recovery options.

Looking for recovery disks for other Windows versions?

Contents

1. Compatible with PC manufacturers

Our recovery disk supports x86 and x64 platforms and all Microsoft Windows 7 editions, including 32-bit and 64-bit editions: Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, Home Premium, Home Basic and Starter.

Easy Recovery Essentials (or EasyRE), is a 55 to 135 MiB ISO image ready to be downloaded.

You can burn this ISO image to any CDs, DVDs or USB drives and boot from it to recover or repair your broken computer. We provided instructions on how to do this below, see Burn to CD, DVD or USB.

With the Easy Recovery Essentials you can (see list of features here):

• Automatically find and fix errors using Automated Repair
• Recover your PC from infections using its built-in antivirus
• Restore your PC to a working state
• Access and backup your most important data (like documents, pictures, music, videos and so on)

Easy Recovery Essentials comes with powerful tools that computer technicians or IT experts can use straight away:

• Fully-featured visual partition editor
• Scriptable command line
• Advanced recovery options
• Web browser

You can read more about EasyRE for computer repair professionals here.

What is a recovery and repair disk

Major PC manufacturers no longer give customers a real Windows 7 installation DVD along with their purchase of a computer.

A Windows 7 installation DVD can be used to recover your PC, not just install a Windows 7 copy. The DVD has a “recovery center” that gives you options to Automated Recovery (attempts to fix automatically any errors found), System Restore (restores your computer to the last working state) or you can access a command-line for advanced recovery options.

Instead, customers are expected to create a recovery media themselves – on a CD, DVD or USB drive.

Your computer’s hard drive might have a recovery partition added by the manufacturer, but what happens when your PC or Windows isn’t working or you’ve lost the disks you had?

If you can’t boot into Windows or your PC isn’t working, only a bootable recovery and repair CD/DVD/USB can save you.

Download recovery disk for Windows 7

Easy Recovery Essentials, our recovery and repair disk, uses a non-destructive repair process that can recover your PC without formatting your hard drive or reinstalling Windows.

It comes with our powerful Automated Repair feature, an antivirus scanner built-in, the ability to access System Restore, tools to browse the Internet (a web browser) and back-up your most important files (documents, videos, pictures, music and so on), memory diagnostics and a command-line tools for advanced options.

Some of its features include (see list of features here):

• One-click Windows repair
• System Restore
• Web browser
• File backup
• Antivirus scanner
• Partition editor

Update: Please note that this disk is no longer free, due to licensing restrictions imposed upon us.

Our recovery disk supports x86 and x64 platforms and all Microsoft Windows 7 editions:

• Windows 7 Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
• Windows 7 Enterprise (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
• Windows 7 Professional (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
• Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
• Windows 7 Home Basic (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
• Windows 7 Starter (32-bit edition) (Starter is available only in 32-bit)

It works with any Windows 7 that has Service Packs installed:

• Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

The disk is in ISO image format that you can burn to any CDs, DVDs or USB sticks and then use it as a bootable recovery CD/DVD/USB. We provided step-by-step instructions how to burn the ISO image below.

It’s a 120 MiB download file.

You cannot use a recovery or repair disk to install or reinstall Windows 7.

Burn to CD, DVD or USB

NeoSmart Technologies has published a guide on how to burn an ISO image to CD or DVD. This ISO image can be burnt to any CDs or DVDs and even USB drives.

You can burn the ISO with your favorite burning program. We published step-by-step instructions and guides on how to do this:

If you prefer to have a recovery USB instead, follow our guide on how to make a EasyRE recovery USB drive here.

Compatible with PC manufacturers

Our recovery and repair disk works with any desktop computers, workstations, laptops, notebooks, ultrabooks, netbooks or servers computers from all major PC manufacturers, Dell, Asus, IBM and more.

It works with older or no longer on the market PC brands, such as Gateway Computers or eMachines PCs.

Dell, HP

Dell recovery disk

This disk is compatible with Dell PCs and its manufactured series:

• Adamo
• Inspiron
• Studio
• Vostro
• XPS
• Latitude

Do you have a Dell computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Dell.

HP recovery disk

Easy Recovery Essentials works with your HP computer, including any of these series and models:

• ENVY
• EliteBook
• Essential Home
• Pavilion
• x2 models

Do you have a HP computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for HP.

Asus, Acer

Asus recovery disk

It works with any Asus computer model that runs any of the following Windows versions:

• Windows 8
• Windows 7
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP
• Windows Server 2003, Server 2008 and Server 2012

Do you have an Asus computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Asus.

Acer recovery disk

Acer users can download our disk. It’s compatible with all Acer models:

• Desktops models: Aspire M and T, Aspire X and Predator G
• Notebooks models: Aspire R, Aspire V3 and Aspire E
• Netbooks and ultra-thin computer models: Aspire S7, Aspire S5, Aspire S3, Aspire P, Aspire M, Aspire V7, Aspire V5
• Netbooks models: Aspire One

Do you have an Acer computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Acer.

Lenovo, Toshiba, Samsung

Lenovo

Lenovo computers are supported by our disk, including any of the following series:

• Laptops models: ThinkPad and IdeaPad
• Desktops models: Thinkcentre and Ideacentre

Essentials series for laptops and desktop PCs are also supported.

Do you have a Lenovo computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Lenovo.

Toshiba

The disk is compatible with any Toshiba computer model: Satellite, Qosmio, Portege, Tecra, Kira family series and All-in-One desktop series.

Do you have a Toshiba computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Toshiba.

Samsung

Samsung users can download our disk. It is compatible with any Samsung laptops or desktops:

• ATIV Book, Gaming and Business PC series for laptops
• ATIV One for All-in-One desktops

IBM, Compaq, Gateway, eMachines

IBM

Lenovo acquired IBM’s personal computer division in 2005. You can download Easy Recovery Essentials if you own a IBM computer.

It is compatible with IBM desktops and laptops models, like the ThinkPad series.

Compaq

The Compaq company was acquired by HP in 2002.

Easy Recovery Essentials Windows Vista Iso

It is compatible with Compaq notebooks and desktops, including the Compaq Presario series.

Gateway and eMachines

Gateway Computers was acquired by Acer in 2007. If you happen to have a Gateway computer, you can download our disk. It is compatible with its manufactured series:

• Series SX, DX and One ZX for desktop systems
• NE and NV series for notebooks
• LT series for netbooks

Do you have a Gateway computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Gateway.

eMachines computers were available on sale until 2004 when Gateway Computers (above) brought the company. Gateway was acquired in 2007, but the eMachines brand was used until 2012.

If you own a computer from eMachines, you can download our disk as it is compatible with eMachines PCs.

Disk for Windows 8, Vista, XP or Server editions

Easy Recovery Essentials is compatible with other Windows versions, not just 7.

Windows 8

Read more about our recovery disk for Windows 8. It supports Windows 8 and its update, Windows 8.1.

Download for Windows 8.

Windows Vista

Windows Vista Recovery Removal

Read more about our recovery disk for Windows Vista. Easy Recovery Essentials supports all Windows Vista editions, from Vista Starter to Vista Ultimate, and the 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Download for Windows Vista.

Windows XP and Server 2003, 2008 and 2012

Windows XP is supported by Easy Recovery Essentials. This includes Service Packs of XP too: SP1, SP2, SP3.

Easy Recovery Essentials supports all Windows Server editions, such as Server 2003, Server 2008 and Server 2012 and the updated versions: Server 2003 R2, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012 R2.

Support

Easy Recovery Essentials supports all Service Packs (SP) of your Windows:

• Windows XP SP1, XP SP2, XP SP3
• Windows Vista SP1, Vista SP2
• Windows 7 SP1, 7 SP2
• Windows 8, 8.1
• Windows Server 2003 R2, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012 R2

Download Easy Recovery Essentials from here.

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Open a support thread at https://neosmart.net/forums/ and we’ll help you resolve your problem ASAP.