As everyone knows, today’s the year’s most awesome holiday: Pi Day. Happy Pi Day 2013 to one and all, please don’t forget to enjoy yourself whilst engaging in the geekiest activities you can think of. And, above all, remember to to eat pie!
Welcome to the future. Ever since 2000, EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) has struggled to replace the decades-old BIOS, and now, some 13 years later, it’s finally really here. More than ever before, new computers, laptops, notebooks, and other computing devices are being shipped that use an entirely new and very much different technology as the foundation that powers the actual hardware, sitting between your motherboard/CPU and the operating system.
EFI is pretty nifty and very powerful, and opens a lot of new and exciting possibilities for your computer. It lets Windows theoretically boot faster than ever before, and can protect your computer against malware and viruses thanks to enhanced security features like signed bootloaders. And for Windows users, EFI means GPT (GUID Partition Table) instead of MBR (Master Boot Record). Abbreviations got you confused? Don’t worry – it just means that your computer now supports hard disks that are bigger than ever before (more than 2TiB in size!).
A few years ago while working on another boot-related project, I had need of a scripted method of formatting a drive, silently and without user intervention (don’t ask).
After mucking around with the various IOCTL in the disk and volume management WIN32 APIs, I realized there was a much easier method. Windows has always shipped with a command-line format utility (aptly named “format”) that could technically be coerced err convinced to do the job.
The only problem with format.com is its (understandable) reluctance to actually wipe a disk without the user explicitly OKing it. At the same time, there are quite a few developers out there doing low-level work that does not involve viruses or other malicious intent that are in need of a scripted format run. And, of course, the expectation is that the developer will obtain the user’s permission beforehand.
However when all is said and done, there’s no clean way of formatting a disk behind the scenes. Enter AutoFormat for Windows.
I’ve been watching Star Trek reruns (thank you, Netflix!) for a while now, and something that caught my eye once I finished TNG and moved on to DS9 was the prevalence of “eBook readers” that have an uncanny resemblance to Amazon’s Kindle.
The devices in DS9 appear to undergo both heavy and subtle changes each time they make an appearance, but one edition of the eBook reader in Star Trek DS9: Profit and Loss bore an incredible resemblance to the (previous gen) Kindle Touch, down to the same gray polymer material, rounded edges, almost exactly the same thickness and dimensions – with the exception of being in color.
This article shows you how to create a recovery disk for Windows Server 2003, Server 2008 and Server 2012 or where to download our disk – Easy Recovery Essentials. We also have versions for Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2022 now available for download.
If you’re not able to create a recovery disk for your Windows Server edition (2003, 2008 or 2012), you can download our recovery and repair disk, Easy Recovery Essentials, to repair your Windows Server edition.
Download Easy Recovery Essentials
Features of Easy Recovery Essentials include:
Easy Recovery Essentials is an ISO download image ready to be burned directly to a CD, DVD or a USB flash drive.
It’s compatible with newer versions of Windows, up to Windows 8.1:
It’s also compatible with Windows XP:
To recover a Windows Recovery 2003 system you’ll need to boot into the Recovery Console (similar to Windows XP steps).
You need to have your original Windows Server 2003 installation CD to access Recovery Console, if you don’t have it installed on your computer.
If you’re not able to access Recovery Console, go to Download recovery disk for Windows Server.
Follow these steps to access the Recovery Console:
In Recovery Console, you can now run the bootcfg or chkdsk commands.
Your original Windows Server 2008 installation CD can be used a recovery disk.
If you already created a bare metal restore image using the Windows Server backup utility, you can restore your computer from that image.
Restoring Windows Server 2008 from a bare metal image will delete all personal files and replace your system with the backup image.
If you haven’t created a bare metal image (required to restore your computer) and can’t boot into Windows to do so, go to Download recovery disk for Windows Server.
Follow these steps to create a bare metal restore image that you can restore later using the installation CD:
In order to restore your Windows Server 2008 from this created bare metal image, follow these steps.
You need your original installation CD for the steps below. If you don’t have it, go to Download recovery disk for Windows Server.
Windows Server 2012 uses the Windows Server Backup utility, just as Windows Server 2008 does, which lets you create a bare metal image that you can use later to restore from.
Restoring from a bare metal image will delete all personal files and will be replaced with the image you are restoring from.
If you haven’t created a bare metal image (required to restore your computer) and can’t boot into Windows to do so, go to Download recovery disk for Windows Server.
Follow these steps to create a bare metal restore image:
Once you’ve created the bare metal image, you can restore it using your original Windows Server 2012 installation DVD:
It’s an easy-to-use and automated diagnostics disk. It’s available for Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista. It’s also available for Windows XP and Windows Server.
Read more at Windows Recovery Disks.
This article applies to the following operating systems:
We’re pleased to announce that we’ll be joining in the Cyber Monday fun: this year, all our system recovery and repair CDs at SystemDiscs.com are 15% off for Cyber Monday!
This one-day only sale is your chance to grab a copy of a system recovery CD and prepare for a rainy day. Protect against future damage with our powerful repair and recovery CDs, and burn a copy of Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows to keep handy for the next time your system won’t boot because of a virus, failed Windows update, or other unfortunate incident.
Today’s the big day: Windows 8 has hit the shelves and customers are flocking to buy the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system. In the back of everyone’s mind is the big question: what do I do to properly set up my Windows 8 installation, and in the (hopefully unlikely) situation of disaster, if I can no longer get into my Windows 8 PC, what can I do about it?
All of NeoSmart Technologies products are 100% Windows 8 ready. They’ve all been vetted and heavily tested against the latest version of the Windows OS and have been updated with all the features you require for peace of mind. They’ll help you get your system working the way you want it, and then God forbid something bad happen, get you back on your feet as soon as possible.
Yesterday, while at the Apple Store for a free replacement clamshell/LCD for my 15″ MacBook Pro Retina (sudden-onset ghosting issues, to use a medical term), I caved-in and got an Apple TV. It’s something I’d given plenty of thought to in the past, but was never really sold on. In the end, the $99 price tag and my growing frustration at streaming Netflix shows and movies from my desktop to my plasma HDTV won me over.
The initial experience was pretty much par for the course: beautifully packaged, incredible attention to detail, sexy product, and gorgeous cabling. I made sure to tuck the box away somewhere safe, because Apple boxes are too beautiful to throw away.
But that was where the bliss ended and the agony began. Because of the sheer tinyness of the Apple TV compared to all my other media products, and because lag is not a primary concern as it would be with a gaming device, this was the first time that I decided to connect one of my media products via wifi instead of over ethernet (XBox, HDTV, printers, and more – all connected to a gigabit router).
Download our recovery and repair disk for Microsoft Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 (also available for Windows Vista, 7, XP or Server editions) that can be used to access system recovery tools, giving you options of using an antivirus, System Restore, document and picture backup and recovery, automated system repair, and a command-line prompt for manual advanced recovery.
Download recovery disk for Windows 8/8.1
Our recovery disk is compatible with desktops, workstations, laptops, notebooks, netbooks, ultrabooks and servers from Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, Samsung, Lenovo, IBM, Toshiba, Compaq, Gateway or eMachines that have Windows 8 or 8.1 installed.
The disk is compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. It supports x86 and x64 platforms and works with EFI and MBR configurations.
Easy Recovery Essentials – or EasyRE – is a 50 to 135 MB ISO image that you can download and burn to any CD, DVD or USB drives.
With Easy Recovery Essentials you can recover and repair your computer.
Contents
It has become harder and harder to get recovery or installation disks for your computer as major PC manufacturers no longer distribute a recovery or repair CD/DVD with your purchase.
A Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 installation DVD can be used to recover your computer. You can use it to access many recovery options, use System Restore and automatically fix boot errors or blue screens.
But instead of giving customers real recovery CDs and DVDs with their purchase of a computer (like notebooks, laptops, desktop computers etc.), PC manufacturers (like Dell, HP, Samsung, Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba and others) usually require you to make the recovery media by yourself.
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.
Our recovery disk, called Easy Recovery Essentials, is an ISO image that you can download today and burn to any CDs, DVDs or USB drives.
You can boot from our disk to recover or repair your broken computer.
We provided instructions on how to do this below, see Burn to CDs, DVDs or USB drives.
With Easy Recovery Essentials you can:
Easy Recovery Essentials is used by computer technicians and IT experts for its many features:
Read more about EasyRE for computer repair professionals here.
Our recovery and repair disk uses a non-destructive repair process that can recover your PC without formatting your hard drive or reinstalling Windows.
Easy Recovery Essentials comes with:
Update: Please note that this disk is no longer free, due to licensing restrictions imposed upon us.
Download Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
Our recovery disk supports x86 and x64 platforms and all Microsoft Windows 8 editions:
Our disk is in ISO image format. You can burn the image to any CDs, DVDs or USB drives and then use it as a bootable recovery media.
You cannot use a recovery or repair disk to install or reinstall Windows 8.
We published a guide on how to burn an ISO image to CD or DVD. Our recovery ISO image can be burnt to any CDs or DVDs and USB drives.
You can burn it with your favorite burning program. We published step-by-step instructions and guides on how to do this for any CDs or DVDs:
You can opt for a recovery USB instead: follow our guide on how to make a EasyRE recovery USB drive here.
Our recovery and repair disk works with any desktop computers, workstations, laptops, notebooks, ultrabooks, netbooks or servers computers from all major PC manufacturers:
It’s also compatible with older or no longer available PC brands, such as:
If your computer runs Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, you can download Easy Recovery Essentials.
Our recovery disk is compatible with Dell computers:
Do you have a Dell computer running Windows 8? Read our recovery and restore guide for Dell.
Easy Recovery Essentials work with your HP computer. It’s compatible with the following series of HP PCs:
Do you have a HP computer running Windows 8? Read our recovery and restore guide for HP.
Easy Recovery Essentials is compatible with Asus computers.
Do you have an Asus computer running Windows 8? Read our recovery and restore guide for Asus.
Our recovery disk can be downloaded by Acer customers. The disk is compatible with all Acer series and models:
Do you have an Acer computer running Windows 8? Read our recovery and restore guide for Acer.
Easy Recovery Essentials is compatible with Lenovo computers:
Do you have a Lenovo computer running Windows 8? Read our recovery and restore guide for Lenovo.
Easy Recovery Essentials is compatible with any Samsung laptops or desktops:
Easy Recovery Essentials is compatible with all Toshiba series and models:
Do you have a Toshiba computer running Windows 8? Read our recovery and restore guide for Toshiba.
These PC manufacturers were either acquired by another company or they are no longer on the market. Our recovery disk is compatible with these PCs, if your computer runs the supported Windows versions:
IBM
Lenovo acquired IBM’s personal computer division in 2005.
Easy Recovery Essentials is compatible with IBM computers and laptops (like the ThinkPad series) and Lenovo computers (see Lenovo).
Compaq
HP acquired Compaq in 2002.
Easy Recovery Essentials is compatible with Compaq desktops and laptops (including the Presario series) and HP computers (see HP).
Gateway and eMachines
eMachines was acquired by Gateway Computers in 2007. In 2007, Gateway Computers was acquired by Acer. The eMachines brand was used until 2012.
Easy Recovery Esssentials is compatible with Gateway computers:
Do you have a Gateway computer running Windows 8? Read our recovery and restore guide for Gateway.
Easy Recovery Esssentials is compatible with eMachines PCs and Acer computers (see Acer).
You can download Easy Recovery Essentials for other versions of Windows, such as Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP or the Windows Server editions.
Windows 7
Read more about our recovery disk for Windows 7.
Our recovery disk supports Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit) and its editions: Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, Home Premium, Home Basic and Starter.
Download the disk for Windows 7.
Windows Vista
Read more about our recovery disk for Windows Vista.
Easy Recovery Essentials supports Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit) and its editions: Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, Home Premium, Home Basic and Starter.
Download the disk for Windows Vista.
Windows XP or Server editions
If your computer runs Windows XP or Windows Server, you can download Easy Recovery Essentials.
Our disk supports Microsoft Windows XP, including the Service Pack updates:
Download the disk for Windows XP.
You can download the disk for any of the following Windows Server editions:
Download the disk for Windows Server.
Please don’t ask for help below, it’ll get real cluttered real soon!
Open a support thread at https://neosmart.net/forums/ and we’ll help you resolve your problem ASAP.
Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows, the ultimate and easiest-ever Windows system repair CD that automatically finds and fixes problems with your Windows PC, has been officially released!
Back in April, we first announced the beta of Windows Recovery Essentials: our software to automatically detect, diagnose, and repair a multitude of common and uncommon issues that could prevent Windows from running or cause a BSOD on boot. It’s been a little longer than we originally anticipated, but over the months the Windows Recovery Essentials has been renamed to Easy Recovery Essentials (EasyRE for short), graduated out of beta going to a soft release, and is now being officially announced as grown up and ready to help everyone out of a tight spot!
EasyRE is available for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, for all editions and platforms. We are working hard on making a Windows 8 version available ASAP – we are expecting to see that version released sometime in the next week or two.