How To Guide: Create a Windows Vista Recovery Disk

One of the coolest new features of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is the ability to create a Windows Vista Recovery Disk which allows you to run the most basic feature set of Windows Vista that can be used to correct problems and errors.

Below is the screenshot for the Windows Vista Recovery Disk taken from istartedsomething.

This is different from the Windows System Restore which is usually given by computer manufacturers because it restores Windows Vista to factory settings.

To be able to create a Windows Vista Recovery Disk click on the Start menu, All programs, Maintenance, and Create a Recovery Disc.

1. Cathy Kiser, November 14, 2007 at 10:53 am

   This page says to “create a Windows Vista Recovery Disc click on the Start menu, All programs, Maintenance, and Create a Recovery Disc.” On my Windows Vista, I get as far as maintenance and there is no “create a recovery disc”.

   What do I do?

2. Justine, November 20, 2007 at 3:05 pm

   I have the same problem as the one you have listed. I think this is due to the windows version. I use Windows Vista Business.

3. Charles, December 5, 2007 at 12:30 pm

   The reason yo cant find it is because they have not released SP1 yet its till in beta

4. Jeff, December 14, 2007 at 1:01 am

   I use the home premium version which does allow you to create the recovery disc, but they only allow you to do it once, if you started the process and stop it mid stream the process gets placed in a file and the link to “create a recovery disc” disappears as did happen with me when I tried to use a DVDrw. Windows would not accept this type of disc (for my own protection, because it could be “accidentally” overwritten) and I was forced to suspend the process until I could obtain DVDr discs. Now that I have the “proper” disc, I can’t find the *$%& file that the process was placed in to continue. This may shed light on some of your problems, if someone could shed light on my problem and tell me where that file is, I would be happy.
   Regards Ya’ll

5. Esmail Baroomand, January 5, 2008 at 3:11 am

   please direct me how to create recovery cd for windows vista. i can not find create recovery cd option in start menu-all programs-maintenance. please explain why i can not find it.

6. Emily Castillo, January 17, 2008 at 9:35 pm

   I need help on creating Windows Vista Recovery Disk. In the maintenance menu the only thing is “Backup & Restore Center” there is nothing about recovery disk.

7. rockstar, February 2, 2008 at 6:06 pm

   Same problem..but i got my system in german language ..very hectic to translate and do the things ..still its a big failure ..can any one suggest with images..

8. jay, February 28, 2008 at 6:33 pm

   I need help to run 2 operating sytems on my computer I currenly have Vista but I wand to install windows XP also cam you help on how to do this Thanks

9. DK, March 3, 2008 at 11:47 pm

   Start
   All Programs
   Maintenance
   Help & Support
   Recover Factory Settings
   Create Recovery Disks

10. Alice, March 15, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    “Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore is not included with Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Home Premium.
    “

11. Gary, March 21, 2008 at 12:36 am

    The file in question is recdisc.exe……..It does not work.
    I am running the final version of SP1, Vista Premium, and there is NO “Create Recovery Disk” shortcut.

12. Jason, March 31, 2008 at 5:26 pm

    Same ting here, i updated to SP1 and the “Create Recovery Disk” option isn’t in the start menu/maintenance.

    I try to run recdisk.exe and it doesn’t open anything.

    Anyone know how to create a recovery disk yet?

13. Fercin, April 1, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    You can find the option recovery disk in all programs>>Recovery Manager and Create a Recovery Disk good luck

14. Steve, April 8, 2008 at 8:47 pm

    Ferci, the Recovery manager /Create a recovery disk can be found, but as Jason said, the recdisc.exe doesn’t work. It goes it a loop, where after telling you how many disks to use, it doesn’t activate the “next” button, therefore gives only option of “cancel” or “go back” and the loop statrs again.
    Any suggestions?

15. yon, April 18, 2008 at 12:58 pm

    hi, i am having the same problem of creating a windows recovery cd. can anyone help? i dont have the create recovery disk option in my menu. btw i’m using vista home basic.
    help is very much appreciated. thank u guys

16. Deepak, April 25, 2008 at 10:13 am

    hi, i just got my new HP laptop. i found this link which has screenshots on how to create recov discs. i havent tried this yet.. hope this helps..

    http://www.wikihow.com/Create-Recovery-Discs-for-Windows-Vista-in-HP-Recovery-Manager

17. seth, April 28, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    well, it is there, just search for recovery disc and voila.

    if the options stay blank, insert a cdr of dvdr, DVDRW dont work, but they wont tell you untill after.

    My problem now is how to freakin install my vista on my new much faster HDD.
    The Helpdesk said “just boot from the disk and everything will be clear”

    Ya right, nowhere do they ask “install windows” just “recover to preset bla-dee-bla”.

    I just want to re install that stupid dumb VISTA, anybody help me out?

18. seth, April 28, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    well, it is there, just search for recovery disc and voila.

    if the options stay blank, insert a cdr of dvdr, DVDRW dont work, but they wont tell you untill after.

    My problem now is how to freakin install my vista on my new much faster HDD.
    The Helpdesk said just boot from the disk and everything will be clear.

    Ya right, nowhere do they ask install windows just recover to preset bla-dee-bla.

    I just want to re install that stupid dumb VISTA, anybody help me out?

19. Dean, August 16, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    Mate, Its only a recovery disc,

    not a full windows installation disc, you wont be able to install to a fresh harddrive by it.

20. Peter, September 27, 2008 at 7:38 pm

    DEAN!!!!

    “Mate, Its only a recovery disc” is not an answer! But a fustration.

    We all know you install the operating in this case VISTA which at the moment is because you never get the correct hardware drivers everytime in order for the computer to function efficiently.
    Apart from “BACKUP” at scheduled times one would feel at least temporaroly happy knowing in an event of a CRASH (God forbid). Taadaa a “Recovery Disk” would minimise the 4 hour install operating sys, hardware update, application executables software blahblahblah.

    The question should be, Can VISTA “create a recovery disk”? It is important! If not I am going back to XP Pro which can “CREATE RECOVERY DISK”.

21. Chatchalee Anderson, October 2, 2008 at 6:13 pm

    Hi
    I am so fed up with window vista, since i update it to service pack 1 I have had problem with it ever since. i am only a novice when it comes to dealing with computer and plus i am a woman and english is not my first languge. Everytime I phone technition support i got through a call centre somewhere from Idia. I have notthing against them but I found it hard to communicate because of langauge barrier. Any body has the problem that you computer became freezable and had to turn it off and restart again. Tried system restore in safe mode and only solved temporaly. After you turn the computer of and then turn it on i faced the same problem. Any suggestion.

22. John Adamson, October 6, 2008 at 5:44 pm

    VISTA sucks…

    Just had to say that…

    Go back to DOS 5.1, at least that worked….

    Since most of WinBloz is DOS anyways..

    Have a nice day, John

23. Steve, May 17, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    Hi,
    I have a HP desktop and a Dell desktop, both have vista home premium, The HP has the recovery Manager but the Dell do not have the recovery manager or create a recovery disk. My question is ” is the recovery disk that I created from HP will work for Dell laptop?

24. Mike, March 10, 2010 at 6:10 am

    Get real dude! Microsoft rules.

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