Windows recovery disk -- when no CD drive

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  1. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #11

    Interesting approach. I've got 32 bit here and think I'll install 64 bit into a virtual machine and make a 64 bit repair disc. But that's for tomorrow as too much else to do today.

    I need the 64 bit machine when explaining to those with 64 bit machines.
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  2. Posts : 5,941
    Linux CENTOS 7 / various Windows OS'es and servers
    Thread Starter
       #12

    karlsnooks said:
    Interesting approach. I've got 32 bit here and think I'll install 64 bit into a virtual machine and make a 64 bit repair disc. But that's for tomorrow as too much else to do today.

    I need the 64 bit machine when explaining to those with 64 bit machines.
    Hi there
    remember also that so long as "Virtualisation" is enabled in the BIOS you CAN run a 64 Bit guest VM on a 32 bit Host Windows 7 system -- at least with vmware you can.

    A lot of people don't actually know this but IT DOES WORK.

    Remember however the limitation is that your 32 bit HOST system will only see a Max of 4GB RAM so your 64 Bit Virtual machines will probably have to have a max of 1 GB.

    But this is still fine for creating install and recovery discs for W7 x-64.

    Cheers
    jimbo
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  3. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #13

    Will first try SIW's suggestion for creating.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #14

    I also have found UltraIso, the trial version which is free, to be quite easy to use.
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  5. Posts : 5,941
    Linux CENTOS 7 / various Windows OS'es and servers
    Thread Starter
       #15

    karlsnooks said:
    I also have found UltraIso, the trial version which is free, to be quite easy to use.

    Hi there
    We've drifted a bit -- there's NO problem creating a Windows INSTALL disk on a USB -- the problem is AFTERWARDS to create a RECOVERY DISK on the machine that DOESN'T have a DVD device.

    I couldn't use another machine since all my other machines are running either Ultimate or Enterprise W7 64 Bit while the Netbook is running 32 bit W7 PRO.

    Creating a 32 bit W7 PRO virtual machine and making a conventional recovery disk worked fine -- this was transferred to a bootable USB stick -- does the job just fine.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer

  6.    #16

    A Recovery Disk is a CD not a DVD.

    The link and methods I provided (twice) require no OD to be on the computer at all.

    Download the Repair ISO and write it to stick using any of methods given.
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  7. Posts : 5,941
    Linux CENTOS 7 / various Windows OS'es and servers
    Thread Starter
       #17

    Hi there (gregrocker)
    DVD / CD was used here "Interchangeably" as I was referring to the lack of the actual hardware to write to either a DVD or a CD.

    While your tutorial is fine -- I'm not sure that downloading this type of file is strictly legal in accordance with the EULA for Windows -- although MS as of yet haven't requested that the download files be removed from the site.

    I appreciate the tutorial but since I have Vmware -- I've solved the problem using the basic Windows discs (or ISO's) that I'm licensed for using the Virtual machine method above.

    Your method is 100% fine if you don't mind downloading these repair ISO's.

    Each to their own on that one.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer

  8.    #18

    Glad you got it sorted, Jimbo.

    That tutorial linking the Win7 Repair CD download is written by our very own Administrator Brink.

    It is posted several times every day and has helped hundreds if not thousands recover unbootable Win7.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1
    Win 7 Ult 64 Bit
       #19

    Great technique!!!!!


    karlsnooks said:
    Interesting. I've never tried that approach, but that would certainly work.

    Here's my spiel on putting the system repair disk on to a usb:
    WIN 7 SYSTEM REPAIR DISC ON A BOOTABLE USB


    Putting a Win 7 System Repair Disc on a bootable USB consists of three steps:
    1. Create a System Repair Disc
    2. Prepare a USB stick
    3. Copy the System Repair Disc to the USB

    Step 1. Create a System Repair Disc
    START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disc button

    Step 2. Prepare a USB stick
    The stick is prepared by running CMD.EXE as an administrator (also known as an elevated command prompt) and then using DiskPart to prepare the USB stick.

    Elevated command prompt = Run CMD.EXE as administrator
    · WIN key
    · Type CMD.EXE (do not hit Enter key)
    · In the Programs list, Right-Click on CMD.EXE
    · Click on Run as administrator
    · YES button

    Use DiskPart to prepare the USB Stick
    · type DiskPart, Enter key
    · type List disk, Enter key
    note the numeral of the disk you want to clean
    for example purposes, I’ll be using the numeral 2
    · type Select disk 2, Enter key
    · type Detail disk, Enter key
    this info will let you know if you selected correctly
    · type Clean ALL, Enter key
    your entire disk is being overwritten with zeros.
    This can take a considerable amount of time
    · type Create Partition Primary, Enter key
    This will create a primary partition
    · type Format fs=ntfs, Enter key
    This formats the partition using the ntfs format.
    · type Assign, Enter key
    This assigns the next available volume letter to the volume.
    · type Active, Enter key
    This marks the current partition as active. Verifies that partition is capable of being a bootable partition.
    · type EXIT, Enter key
    This exits the DiskPart program.
    · type EXIT, Enter key
    This exits the command shell.

    Step 3. Copy the System Repair Disc to the USB stick
    Insert the System Repair Disc in the CD/DVD drive.
    Using Windows Explorer, copy the entire contents to the USB stick.


    You now have a bootable System Repair Disc on a USB stick.

    ======================================
    =========================================
    This was an ABSOLUTE life save for me because all of my DVD or CD drives were broke or useless. And I was no where near any shape to get to a store to buy a new one, so THANK YOU for saving the day!
    Again - Neat Technique! Very impressed!!!!!
      My Computer


 
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