This tech tip shows how to create a system recovery disc from your computer. This works with Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and 8.1, and 10. Follow these specific step-by-step instructions on how to do this.
Note: You must make the disc for each specific OS. Windows 7 and Windows 8, etc. will not interchange. A couple of other things worth mentioning here. This is NOT an install disc. You cannot repair install Windows with this disc. It is not the same as the OEM disc. You can only use the disc that you created for the specific build of windows such as 32-bit for 32-bit and 64-bit for 64-bit. You can find out which "bit" version you have by looking at the system properties page. In Vista and Windows 7 right-click on the Computer icon and click properties. In Windows 8 and 8.1 click the start button and start typing system properties. PC info will be at the top of the system properties screen. Windows 10 you can click on the start menu button and start typing system properties then click on About This PC. That will take you to the system properties.
Windows 8 and 8.1, as we have said before, is its own beast. The option to make a system recovery disc is no longer available in Windows 8. There is an option to make an USB recovery drive to get the system recovery options.
If you would like to make an installation USB key, there are different steps that need to taken for this. The first part of this tip is only for the CD/DVD method. You will see additional information for creating an USB recovery drive after the CD/DVD info.
Windows Vista, 7, and 10
How to create the system recovery disc:
Open the start menu and type recdisc.exe and press enter.
Or you can go to Backup and Restore in the control panel and click on Create a System Repair Disc on the left.
Make sure you have a blank, unformatted CD or DVD. Insert the disc in the drive and click Create Disc.
When it finishes, click close.
There will be a window that pops up that says:
Using the system repair disc
You can use the system repair disc to access system recovery options that can help you recover your computer from a serious error."
Click the close button.
The original Create a system repair disc window will come back up. If you would like to make another disc, repeat the steps above. If not, then click the red X.
Remember to label your disc!
That should do it.
Now if you every need to use this disc, below are the steps to boot to the CD/DVD.
Windows Vista/7
Turn the computer on and at the bottom of the brand/logo screen it will tell you what button to press to get to the boot menu. I will attach the boot menu shortcuts I have below.
Use the arrow keys to select your CD/DVD drive and press enter.
Windows 8/8.1/10
You will have to know the specific boot key for your make of computer. Keep clicking the shortcut key and your boot menu will come up. If you can get to windows, you can also hold down shift and the restart button on the log in screen. This will give you a bunch of options. Click the option Use a Device. Now you can either use your disc or USB flash drive and boot from it.
When you boot from the CD/DVD, there will be a box that comes up that asks you to:
Choose a Recovery Tool
There will be five options to choose from depending on what problems are going on with the computer.
Startup Repair
Automatically fix problems that are preventing Windows from starting.
System Restore
Restore Windows to an earlier point in time.
Windows Complete PC Restore
Restore your entire server or personal computer from a backup image.
Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
Check your computer for memory hardware errors.
Command Prompt
Open a command prompt window.
There are two buttons below this that give you the option to Shut Down or Restart.
The Windows 8/8.1 USB recovery drive is almost the same exact thing as a system repair disc, but on an USB drive. This drive can be used to re-install windows 8 IF this was an OEM Windows 8 system, and when you created the USB recovery drive you checked the box that said "Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive." This is if the computer came with Windows 8 from the factory. Your recovery media will be Windows 8 and you will have to again upgrade to 8.1. The same rules apply with the 32-bit and 64-bit windows as stated above in the first paragraph.
Windows 8 and 8.1 USB recovery drive instructions
You must have an USB flash drive that is at least 8GB in size (It will tell you exactly the size you need in step 5).
Click the start menu button and start typing recoverydrive.exe.
Click on recoverydrive. User Account Control pop up will come up asking for your permission to access the recovery media center. Click the Yes button.
Now the Recovery Drive window will be open. Make sure the "Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive" box is checked and click next.
Now we are at the Connect an USB flash drive window. It will tell you exactly what size you need now.
The next window wants to make sure that you understand that everything on the flash drive will be deleted and to make sure that you have backed up all your files that were on this flash drive. Click the create button.
When your media has been created, it will then ask you if you would like to "Delete the recovery partition" from the computer. I would strongly advise against this. Two backups are better than one.
Click finish and you're done. Put this flash drive in a safe place where it will not be used for anything else. This flash drive is the same as a recovery disc, and I would advise you to not use it for anything else but this.
Boot Shortcut Keys
Asus - F8
Sony - F2
Gateway - F10
Gigabyte - F12
Dell - F12
HP/Compaq - Escape
Acer - F12
eMachine - F10
Toshiba - F12
Fujitsu - F12
- All Rights Reserved. Feel free to print with this footer and share it personally with your friends.
Commercial reprint available, with permission.
