Download our recovery and repair disk for Microsoft Windows Vista (also available for Windows 7, 8, XP, 10, 11 or Windows 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 Vista
Looking for recovery disks for other Windows versions?
- Download Windows 7 recovery disk
- Download Windows 8 (and 8.1) recovery disk
- Download Windows XP recovery disk
Easy Recovery Essentials (or EasyRE) is a 55 to 135 MiB download image ready to be burned directly to a CD, DVD or a USB stick.
Features of Easy Recovery Essentials include:
- Automatically find and fix errors
- Works even when you can’t get into Windows
- Recover from virus infections
- Restore your PC to a working state
- Access and back up your important data
- Use your PC even when it doesn’t work
- Advanced tools for IT experts
Contents
Disk for recovery & repair
If you’re like most PC users, you probably got Windows Vista with a new PC or laptop. And if you’re like 99% of the population, you get your new machines from one of the major manufacturers.
Dell, Acer, HP, Toshiba, Lenovo, they all have one thing in common: they don’t give you a real Windows Vista installation disk with your purchase.
Instead, they bundle what they call a “recovery disk” (that’s if you’re lucky – otherwise you’ll have a recovery partition instead) with your machine and leave it at that.
It doesn’t matter that you just paid a thousand dollars for a machine that comes with a valid Windows Vista license – your computer manufacturer just don’t want to spend the money (or perhaps take on the responsibility) of giving you a Windows Vista installation DVD to accompany your expensive purchase.
The problem is, with Windows Vista, the installation media serves more than one purpose. It’s not just a way to get Windows installed, it’s also the only way of recovering a borked installation.
The DVD has a “recovery center” that provides you with the option of recovering your system via automated recovery (searches for problems and attempts to fix them automatically), rolling-back to a system restore point, recovering a full PC backup, or accessing a command-line recovery console for advanced recovery purposes.
Download recovery disk for Windows Vista
Easy Recovery Essentials repair process is non-destructive, recovering PCs without formatting or reinstalling Windows.
The powerful repair process can fix many issues that Microsoft’s own Startup Repair cannot. In addition to the industry-leading automated repair features, this disk will give you access to the following:
- System Restore
- Web Browser
- Partition Editor
- Antivirus Scanner
- Data/File Backup and Recovery
- Commandline/Terminal Access
Later update: Please note that this download is no longer free, due to licensing restrictions imposed upon us.
Download Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows Vista
Our recovery disk supports x86 and x64 platforms and all Windows Vista versions, including 32-bit and 64-bit editions:
- Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
- Windows Vista Enterprise (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
- Windows Vista Business (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
- Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
- Windows Vista Home Basic (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
- Windows Vista Starter (32-bit edition)
And all Service Packs:
- Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
- Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2)
This disk is a 120 MiB download in standard ISO format that you’ll need to burn to a CD or DVD before you can use it as a bootable recovery medium. You can also burn it on a USB stick.
You cannot use a recovery or repair disk to install or reinstall Windows Vista.
Burn to CDs, DVDs or USB sticks
NeoSmart Technologies has published a guide on how to burn an ISO image to CD or DVD with your favorite burning program, which you can read if you need more information or help on this topic. You can burnt it with ImgBurn, Alcohol 120% or ActiveISO:
You can also burn it on a USB stick if you don’t want to use CDs or DVDs. We published a guide on making a EasyRE recovery USB.
Compatible with PC manufacturers
This recovery and repair disk is compatible with desktops, workstations, laptops, notebooks, netbooks, ultrabooks and servers from major PC manufacturers, like Dell, HP, Asus, Acer or Lenovo plus more.
Dell, HP, Asus, Acer
Dell
The disk is compatible with all Dell laptops and desktop computers, including all its manufactured series like Adamo, Inspiron, Studio, Vostro, XPS, Latitude.
Do you have a Dell computer running Windows Vista? Read our Dell recovery and restore guide.
HP
The disk is compatible with HP computers: ENVY, EliteBook, Essential Home, Pavilion and x2 for laptops and ENVY, Essential Home and Pavilion for desktops and All-in-One Desktop PCs.
Do you have a HP computer running Windows Vista? Read our HP recovery and restore guide.
Asus
It’s compatible with notebooks, ultrabooks, laptops and desktops from ASUS.
It works for any computer that was manufactured by ASUS, if it runs Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or any of the following Windows Server editions: 2003, 2008, 2012.
Do you have an Asus computer running Windows Vista? Read our Asus recovery and restore guide.
Acer
It’s compatible with any Acer computer that has Windows installed, including these manufactured series:
- Aspire R, Aspire V3 and Aspire E for notebooks
- Aspire S7, Aspire S5, Aspire S3, Aspire P, Aspire M, Aspire V7, Aspire V5 for ultra-thin computers
- Aspire One for netbooks
- Aspire M and T, Aspire X and Predator G for desktops
Do you have an Acer computer running Windows Vista? Read our Acer recovery and restore guide.
Lenovo, Toshiba, Samsung
Lenovo
You can download the repair disk for any Lenovo computers, such as:
- ThinkPad, IdeaPad, Essential series for laptops
- Thinkcentre, Ideacentre and Essentials series for desktop PCs
Do you have a Lenovo computer running Windows Vista? Read our Lenovo recovery and restore guide.
Toshiba
It’s compatible with any Toshiba computers running Windows:
- Satellite, Qosmio, Portege, Tecra, Kira family series
- All-in-One desktop series
Do you have a Toshiba computer running Windows Vista? Read our Toshiba recovery and restore guide.
Samsung
The disk is compatible with Samsung line of laptops and desktops, including:
- ATIV Book, Gaming and Business PC series for laptops
- ATIV One for All-in-One desktops
IBM, Compaq, Gateway, eMachines
IBM
IBM personal computer business division was acquired by Lenovo in 2005.
This disk supports IBM desktop and laptop models, most notably the ThinkPad line.
Compaq
Compaq was acquired by HP in 2002, but some of its famous PC line series are still used by our customers.
Our disk works with Compaq notebooks and desktops PCs, including Compaq Presario series.
Gateway
Gateway Computer was acquired by Acer in 2007.
Our disk is compatible with Gateway Computers netbooks, notebooks and desktops PCs, such as:
- Series SX, DX and One ZX for desktop systems
- NE and NV series for notebooks
- LT series for netbooks
Do you have a Gateway computer running Windows Vista? Read our Gateway recovery and restore guide.
eMachines
eMachines PCs were manufactured up until 2004 when Gateway Computers brought the company. Gateway Computers was later acquired by Acer in 2007, but the eMachines PC brand was used until 2012.
If you own a computer from this computer brand, our disk is compatible with eMachines PCs.
Disk for Windows 7, 8, XP or Server editions
Windows 7
You can get our recovery disk for Windows 7. It supports all versions: Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, Home Premium, Home Basic and Starter.
Windows 8
You can also get the recovery disk for Windows 8.
Windows XP
Easy Recovery Essentials is available for Windows XP users and it supports all Service Packs: Service Pack 1 (SP1), Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Service Pack 3 (SP3).
Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2012
Easy Recovery Essentials supports Microsoft Windows Server editions: 2003, 2008 and 2012.
Support
Our disk supports all Windows service packs (Windows XP SP1, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1, Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 7 SP2, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2012 R2.
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.
@Don, this CDROM is really only intended to repair boot problems with Vista. For fixing problems after boot time, such as with the registry or applications, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Try the “Windows Vista Solution Center”, “Answers Home Page”, or “TechNet Vista Forums” and post your questions there.
Regards,
Dave
@Don, I should add that you should make sure you don’t have a virus that is causing your boot problems. Download and run the AVG virus recovery disc that I previously posted and run that to start, assuming you have another PC to burn the CDROM image.
Regards, Dave
Forget About Vista
Hi,
Basically I managed to collect 40 odd viruses on my Advent 7032 laptop, and had to wipe it all, including the OS. I managed to lose the recovery disk though, so I had to put Ubuntu onto the machine!
Would this work to get Vista back onto my laptop, and would the licence code etc. work?
Cheers!
Joe
@Joe Gleeson, this recovery disc won’t do anything to help you get Vista installed. You would probably be better suited just sticking with Ubuntu, or contacting Microsoft and trying to use that Vista serial number to purchase a Windows 7 upgrade disc instead.
Regards,
Dave
I have a problem with my finger print device and webcam for the past 1yr since I purchased my Laptop and I do not know what to do about it.
My operating syatem is wndow vista 32 bit
@adebola olotu, what have you done to try and fix it, and what makes you think the recovery disc can help you?
Try searching with google for “Windows Vista Solution Center”, “Answers Home Page”, or “TechNet Vista Forums” and post your questions there.
Regards,
Dave
I run Vista Home Premium 32 Bit on my HP Pavilion Laptop.
Ever since loading Vuze software I have had a Boot problem.
I’ve used the Vista Recovery disk very successfully.
My problem is at times (after a Windows update primarily) I get the Boot failure all over again.
I have to use the recovery program in order to use my computer too frequently.
Will the AVG Rescue program fix this problem?
@Roger, no AVG won’t fix that problem. It’s only a virus scanner, and you don’t have a virus.
I actually have the exact same problem. I have to keep the damn recovery disc with me and use it usually after every software update for the same reason.
I also have Vuze (a bittorrent file transfer program) installed. I wonder if that’s the cause? Can you try and uninstall vuze, re-run the recovery disc, and wait until the next windows update and see if it happens again?
I’ve contacted Microsoft and Toshiba (maker of my laptop), and they can’t (or won’t) fix it, and have just told me to reinstall. I can tell you that’s the last time I buy a Toshiba.
It’s probably also the last time I buy a Windows product.
Regards,
Dave
Im trying to completely wipe my compaq presario vista home basic laptop and reinstall windows vista any clue how i do that i tried burning a recovery cd but that didnt work.
@Mike, at least try reading a little bit before posting — it is for recovering an existing installation that is having boot problems only. It cannot reinstall.
Regards,
Dave
why dew dey sey they have window vista 32bit recovery but whatever i download doesnt work – why would i want 2 download a picture – i need the actual recovery disk – these greedy congolmerates so dam greedy – u think recovery disk would be automatic with laptop purchase – does anyone have the real recovery disk or no were i can find one on-line – vex vex vex
I’d just like to express my gratitude for making this recovery disk available.
Burning the ISO to cd with ImgBurn did the trick and all is good again.
Hi,
I have hp pavilion dv5-1138nr. I am getting Serial Number Not Found error at Startup and In BIOS serial number and product number showing all zeroes. My MAC address also showing all zeroes, but my wireless networking is working good. Please if any body get the slution for this problem, please notify me. Thanks in advance
Thanks for the download. One newbie question , Can I use this recovery software when ever Vista installed in my computer failed ? or is there any other backup software like ghost installed in my computer ?
OK I understand, This recovery disc help to recover the hard disk content in case of any OS crash. This recovery disc roll back me to the installation time settings where no other software were installed. Anyway thanks for this file.
Thank you for the Rescue disc. I have not been able to get it to work. When I get to the “repair sytem” option, it opens a browser in a “sources” subadirectory and asks for drivers which I do not know where or how to find or where they might be located.
Is there an easy no-brainer way to get this to work? or a set of step by step instruction for folks unfamiliar with all this?
Thanks for your help.
Mike
Hi.
I have been having the dreaded \Boot\BCD error on my HP G70 notebook.
It was bought from PC World and no….. they didnt give me a VISTA installation disc.
I have read a load of the posts on this thread but I cant seem to see simple instructions for the simple people like me.
I have downloaded and burnt both ISO files (wasnt sure which I needed to use) and have tried to boot from both of them following the first instructions (set boot from cd/dvd as the first means to boot) but still get the same screen of black death….
Can anyone please post some more indepth help on what I am doing wrong?
Thank you
Steve
I have exactley the same problem as Mike aylah. Ie it does not find the sytem and asks for the drivers need to be loaded. I have just downloaded the disc.
Any help would be appreciated.
Many thanks
Nigel
Stephen, read here: http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/Recovering+the+Vista+Bootloader+from+the+DVD
Fixed my PC. You are the virtual man! Thank you!!!!
hey can i use the windows vista 64 bit(x64)disc recovery in the windows vista home premium..it corrupted last time.when i start it..can i use this to repair the corrupted system 32??
ahhhmmm…..can i use the two windows vista recovery 32 bit and 64 bit?….cause i didnt know what is the bit of my laptop (gateway windows vista premium sp1)
Download and try both. If it’s the wrong one, it’ll say so with a “not compatible with your system” message.
ahh….ok 2x…i thought something wrong will happen if i put a wrong one…its just for safety tnx a lot(^^,).
i own a sony vgn fz280e notebook and it will not boot into windows. on start the vaio screen comes up and then sometimes it says “the file is possibly corrupt. the file header checksum does not match the computed checksum.” other times it does nothing, just goes to a cursor in the upper left screen and other times it will go to the windows boot screen and i’ve tried entering from there in safe mode too with the next going to an error screen saying that the program is corrupt or missing. at this it tells me to put in the windows installation disk and then i can repair…
is this download what i need to fix my situation??
thx,
i have a big problem here i followed all this instrcution and burnt the recovery disc, i have sony vaio with vista home premium in it, i dont know how may be because of virus my computer does not boot and says problem because of recent change of hardware of software and also says critical system driver is corrupted or missing, when i insert the cd i have burnt it says no bootmngr im really in a deep trouble can any one help me please
Hi Dave,
On June 25TH I wrote about my problems with booting my computer started when I had installed Vuse. I removed Vuse with uninstall and only had the problem one more time the following morning.
Now it’s July 10TH and my computer has booted up fine every since then with no more failures.
I still keep my recovery disk handy just in case.
I’ll give an update on my success down the road, good or bad.
Thank you so much for this recovery disk!
Windows ISO image lacking install.wim
I have installed vista Service Pack 1 on my dell inspiron 1520 but it was having some problems so i uninstalled Service Pack 1 but it corrupted my windows vista
Error- !! OxcO0190036 !! 8931/65853 (system.data.oracleclient.dll)
I have tried all – safe mode , repair and all of them but nothing has worked
Then i downloaded windows vista recovery disc form torrent and i burnt it by Imgburner as well as Nero but both times same message occurred INSTALL.WIM missing !!!
Help me on this soon as i have important data on hard disk and tell me how to recover my laptop from it
How about something that is not a torrent?
Thanks for this download. Anyway we can easily create a recovery disc for Windows vista installed in our computer. In system tools using backup we can create the recovery disc.
Can this be downloaded and burned from a windows XP? My vista is having the boot configuration error and I’m currently using my XP as a replacement, however I need to know it can support these files at least to have them burned onto a CD.
Well, that was a waste of my time. Why can’t HP just supply the discs????? I paid too much money for this pc to have to PURCHASE the discs for recovery!
hey GUro how to reformat my PC ?? i have already windows vista hamo basic and i want to invert it a windows Xp,, what should i do? pls response ,, quikly ,, i need your help,,,
I have installed vista Service Pack 1 on my dell inspiron 1520 but it was having some problems so i uninstalled Service Pack 1 but it corrupted my windows vista
Error- !! OxcO0190036 !! 8931/65853 (system.data.oracleclient.dll)
In safe mode laptop stuck on system32\drivers\crcdisk.sys
I have tried all – safe mode , repair and all of them but nothing has worked
At Command Prompt – typed sfc/scannow but message came Windows Protection Resources can not allo to perform this operation
Then i downloaded windows vista recovery disc form torrent and i burnt it by Imgburner as well as Nero but both times same message occurred INSTALL.WIM missing !!!
Help me on this soon as i have important data on hard disk and i don’t want to loose my data in anyways. Please Guide me
Tried the download of the recovery CD but all that happened was the computer got to the Title Screen where the bar moving across the screen and under it say’s “Microsoft Corporation” And that’s it… Its been stuck like that for an hour or so and if I reboot and try again.. I get the same result?
I’m using an Acer Aspire 5515 Laptop.. Windows Vista 32 bit.. Computer simply will not start..
If I try to start it normally I get the BSOD and error about Reg files missing and or corrupted.. Can anyone help me get this thing started?
Thank you in Advance.
TC
hey it says error code 0x80070002
and file F:\source\intall.wim is missing dies anyone know how to fix this
@TC, you almost definitely have a hardware error. Perhaps faulty memory. Check out memtest86. It’s a memory testing program that also does a good job of finding other faults. Download it and burn it to a CDROM, much like you did with this Vista recovery CDROM from here:
http://memtest.org/
Once it has passed that test, come back and ask your question again.
@GC, you can’t use this Vista RECOVERY CDROM to install Vista. It can only be used to recover an existing installation.
Regards,
Dave
Thanks Dave.. I’ll give it a shot.. Although I thought the same thing at first until I took the memory out one by one and then placed the sticks back in one by one and moved them around and all that.. Still same problem.. I’m running the memtest right now as we speak to see what that says. I did run the vista memtest but it is not as in depth as memtest v4.10 so lets see what we get.. If the test comes back good I’m going to be stuck for sure then..
TC
Dave.. I ran the Memtest86 v4.10
*****Pass Complete, No Errors, Press Esc to Exit*****
Any other Ideas wold be greatly appreciated..
Just so you know.. Its a Acer Aspire 5515. Win Vista 32 bit OS…
Thanks in Advance..
TC
@TC, is it possible either the CDROM drive or the vista recovery media is defective or just a bad burn? I assume you burned it on another computer since your Acer won’t boot. Maybe burn it again? It just doesn’t make sense for it to not be able to boot from that unless there’s a hardware or media problem.
You may also try to use a Linux recovery CDROM and mount your hard disk so you can at least recover your data. Check out http://www.sysresccd.org/ for one such version. You really need Linux expertise for this, though, so check out the website there for instructions. You’ll also need another hard disk or remote system to copy the data to, obviously.
Regards,
Dave
Dave
Seems we think alike on this one. I did in fact try it twice and still nothing. I don’t understand why and it makes me crazy to think about it too long. I’m not sure about the Linux thing but if it will work on vista and allow me to access the hard drive then at least I can restore to system back to when it was new and still keep the data.
With the Vista 32 bit recovery disk it shows that its booting from there because it says.. Windows is loading files.. the status bar goes all the way across the screen and then that’s it.. It hangs at the Microsoft Corporation Screen and it will stay like that for as long as I leave it that way..
I’m still thinking about the Linux thing.. Never touched Linux before.. But then again. Its already broke so how much more bad can things get right… I’ll let you know how it turns out..
Thanks
Again.
TC
@TC, if it seizes during the initial boot from the Vista rescue CDROM, then it’s possible you have a bad hard disk. Download the disk check program from the manufacturer of your hard disk, and have it run through that to test for bad sectors on the hard disk.
If you haven’t used Linux before, it would be worth it to read a bit about how to use the rescue CDROM before trying to recover your data.
I would also be sure you don’t have a bad disk before continuing.
Regards,
Dave
Hi,
I’m very fascinated by seeing a “self-bootable” version of Vista recovery disc on this site. However i have very important questions related to my current system.
My “Vista Home Premium” came with my Toshiba notebook. Now i need to delete a registry key prior to Vista logon because of a malicious rootkit through “reg” command in command prompt. So,
1) Is “reg” (reg delete) included in this disc and appliable to the existing Vista registry?
2) Is Vista versions differ on that disc? I mean; Is Vista Premium or Vista Ultimate is OK with the same bootable disc of yours?
I really need reply especially regarding to the first question.
Best Regards,
kimi
i need Windows Vista Recovery Disc my computer is compac my vista copy is orginal
I tried boot from the cd but getting a error messages
windows cannot open the required file E:/sources/install.wim the file does not exist
I downloaded and burned the ISO fine. I turn my computer on (a lenovo y530 notebook) and load the disc and that works fine as well. The problem comes in when I hit the setup part. After I hit the install at the beginning, it asks for my product key. I have tried both entering it and not entering and hitting the “Next” button. No matter what I always get this error:
Windows cannot open the required file D:\Sources\Install.wim. The file does not exist. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code: 0x80070002
What am I supposed to do to fix this? Any help will be appreciated, Thanks.
It may also help to note that I am installing from the latest version of Linux (Ubuntu), which now I can’t even open anymore so that doesn’t help.
Yep, same failure as Stephen. After I looked at the files on the CD, that file (D:\Sources\Install.wim) really doesn’t exist.
@Stephen, @Andrey, it’s because it’s a recovery disc, not an install disc. You can’t use this CDROM to install, only recover a system that fails to boot due to corrupt boot record information.
Regards,
Dave
I really appreciate you effort, but I still get the message “NTLDR is missing” even if I boot using your disc. I press F12 and choose the CD/DVD drive with the recovery disc in it. I have tried both with 32 bit and 64 bit version. I have also tried the computers own recovery program with no success. It’s a Fujitsu Siemens computer, by the way. It looks like I need to install Windows 7 on this machine as well. Vista sucks and Windows 7 should therefore be free!