When Vista Service Pack 1 was in the beta phase, Microsoft included a small software utility called “recdisc.exe” that could create a bootable Vista DVD and mount a recovery environment. Although it still requires a Vista disc, it’s exactly what is needed to restore or recreate a user’s files and settings from an external backup.
There has yet to be any official word why this file was left out of Service Pack 1. In fact, a dummy version of this file was placed in the Windows/Win32 subdirectory during the SP1 upgrade.
One could suspect that Microsoft does not want us to be able to create a bootable disc in Vista. This is an odd position since the premium, non-home versions of Vista can create whole-hard-drive backups. The PC manufacturers, those same manufacturers that are no longer including Vista discs with new machines, may have asked Microsoft to withhold this capability. For one thing, they sell recovery discs. It also seems that their answer to every technical problem is to go back to the original configuration – unneeded applications, trial software, network and ISP solicitations, and all that junk.
Since Microsoft declined to release this utility, I can’t give you a link pointing to it. However, if you’ll do a Google search for
recdisc.exe
you’ll find some download links for it. Recdisc.exe seems to be “hard-wired” into the System32 folder. It won’t work if you download it to your desktop and simply double-click it there. Vista will ask for your permission and then . . . nothing happens.
Instead you’ll need to copy it to the System32 folder, and you’ll need to overcome the resistance that Vista puts in our way when we try to mess with things in the Windows folder. Here’s what’s involved.
1. Start at “Computer” and navigate to C:/Windows/System32.
2. Locate the recdisc.exe program (or type “recdisc” in the search box to find it rapidly).
3. Right-click the icon and select “Properties.”
4. Click the “Security” tab.
5. Click the “Advanced” button. This will open the “Advanced Security Settings” dialog.
6. Click the “Owner” tab.
7. Click the “Edit” button. This will open another dialog labeled “Advanced Security Settings.”(Click through Vista’s asking permission if it occurs.)
8. Select your user name by highlighting it.
9. Click OK to take ownership of the file.
10. Back in the second dialog, click on the “Permissions” tab.
11. Look at your user name. Does it say “Full Control” under the Permission column? If it does, stop here.
12. If it does not, click your user-name and then click the “Edit” button.
13. To the right, click the “Full control” check-box under the “Allow column.”
14. Click OK, and the dialog should now show that you have “Full control” over the file.
15. Click OK until you close all the dialogs.
Now you can delete this file, copy it, move it, or do whatever you want with it. My suggestion is that you right-click it and rename it to recdisc.exe.save and leave it in the System32 folder. This is just in case Microsoft really is planning to use it in an update someday.
Now you’re ready to drag ‘n drop the recdisc.exe file that you found on the Internet into your System32 folder.
This is optional, but while you’re there, you might want to right-click the new recdisc.exe file and select “Send to Desktop.” This will create a shortcut on your desktop giving you ready access to the program.
To use it, simply double-click the icon to run the program. Have your Vista disc handy because it will soon ask for it.