System Repair Disc - Create in Windows 8

How to Create a "System Repair Disc" (CD/DVD) in Windows 8​

   Information

This will show you how to create a system repair disc (CD/DVD) in Windows 8 to use to boot to the system recovery options that can be used to help recover Windows 8.

   Note

A system repair disc is not the same as OEM factory recovery/restore/repair disc.

A system repair disc cannot be used to install Windows 8.

A created 32-bit system repair disc can only be created in a 32-bit Windows 8, and used to repair a 32-bit Windows 8.

A created 64-bit system repair disc can only be created in a 64-bit Windows 8, and used to repair a 64-bit Windows 8.

   Warning

Windows 8.1 no longer supports being able to create a system repair disc CD/DVD using the method in this tutorial.

If you like, you can also boot from your Windows 8.1 installation media or from a created recovery drive (USB) for the system recovery options.

EXAMPLE: System Recovery Options
NOTE: After you boot from the system repair disc, you will need to select your language and keyboard layout (if displayed) for Windows 8, then select Troubleshoot to see the system recovery options.

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Here's How:

1. Insert a blank unformatted CD or DVD into your CD/DVD drive, then do either step 2 or 3 below.


2. Press the :winkey: + R keys, type recdisc, press Enter, and go to step 4 below.


3. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Recovery icon.
NOTE: You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this step.

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A) Unplug all USB flash drives.​

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B) Click/tap on the Create a recovery drive link. (see screenshot below)​

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C) If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​

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D) Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)​

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E) Click/tap on the Create a system repair disc with a CD or DVD instead link, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: You will not see this link if you have a USB flash drive connected. You'll need to either use step 2 or disconnect all USB drives and start over with step 3.​

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4. Click/tap on Create disc. (see screenshot below)

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5. The system repair disc will now start to be created. (see screenshot below)

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6. When finished, remove your CD/DVD, label it properly for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 8 Repair Disc, and click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)

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7. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

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8. If you used step 3, then you can now close any remaining opened windows from it.


That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Boot to the "System Recovery Options" in Windows 8
• How to Create a Recovery USB Flash Drive in Windows 8
• How to Boot to the Advanced Windows "Startup Settings" in Windows 8

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Thanks for answering, Shawn. Yes, it is a blank unformatted DVD RW. The installation disc is on DVD-R 16x, of which I'm out of.

I didn't realize the installation disc could be used to recover. I just didn't want to go on without some kind of recovery. I've been installing programs and realized I should some.

Any ideas what that error is? Just would like to know and learn. Thanks again.

 

[Brink]

Yeah, really no need for one if you have a installation disc.

It's a bit of a general error that it could not use what you selected to create the disc on. It could be a issue with the DVD-RW. If the blank DVD-RW was not seen by Windows in the Computer window before trying to create the repair disc, then that will give you this error.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Yea, no need to get excited over this....It's Beta. I have what I need now. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[besb]

Brink not a great problem, as stated you can use an installation disc, but I still cant create a repair disc even following your tutorial.
The error changed from 8007002 with the original recdisc.exe to 80004005 with the downloaded 64 bit version.
I checked the versions and the downloaded one was created 17/02/2012 with version no. 6.2.8250.0 is this correct.
The original installed version was 19/05/2012 6.2.8400.0 i.e. when i installed rp.

 

[Brink]

Hello Besb,

The older version number for the download is correct since we must use that one from a previous verion of Windows 8 since the one in RP no longer works.

I just double checked, and it works fine on a new setup of Windows 8 64-bit RP using the tutorial's 64-bit download.

You might temporarily disable or uninstall any 3rd party security program and try again to see if it may be causing the error. In addition, triple check the steps to make sure that you did them exactly.

 

[SIW2]

Beb,

Is F8 working for you to get winre to boot?

Have a look at system32\recovery\reagent.xml

see what the path is , something like this:

<WinreBCD id="{58638d55-bc11-11e1-a5d9-001966657855}"/>
<WinreLocation path="\Recovery\58638d55-bc11-11e1-a5d9-001966657855" id="377265" offset="1048576" guid="{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}"/>
<ImageLocation path="" id="0" offset="0" guid="{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}"/>
<OsInstallLocation path="" id="0" offset="0" guid="{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}" index="0"/>
<CustomImageLocation path="" id="0" offset="0" guid="{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}" index="0"/>

 

[besb]

Brink, I was happy I had followed the tutorial correctly as I could see the older version required.
Uninstalled Avast (still installed as I done an upgrade from 7 )and repeated from step 4 onwards disc created with no problems.
Thanks again.
SIW2,
xml below (note I have not created an image with this system as yet just testing creation of the recovery disc will try recovery and f8 later)
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8' standalone='yes'?>
<WindowsRE version="1.0">
<WinreBCD id=""></WinreBCD>
<WinreLocation path="" id="0" offset="0"></WinreLocation>
<ImageLocation path="" id="0" offset="0"></ImageLocation>
<OsInstallLocation path="" id="0" offset="0" index="0"></OsInstallLocation>
<CustomImageLocation path="" id="0" offset="0" index="0"></CustomImageLocation>
<InstallState state="0"></InstallState>
<OsInstallAvailable state="0"></OsInstallAvailable>
<CustomImageAvailable state="0"></CustomImageAvailable>
<IsAutoRepairOn state="1"></IsAutoRepairOn>
<WinREStaged state="0"></WinREStaged>
<ScheduledOperation state="4"></ScheduledOperation>
<OperationParam path=""></OperationParam>
<OsBuildVersion path=""></OsBuildVersion>
<OemTool state="0"></OemTool>
<BootKey state="0"></BootKey>
</WindowsRE>

 

[SIW2]

OK, try this:

Open an elevated command and type

reagentc /disable

(press enter )

reagentc /enable

(press enter)

 

[Brink]

Besb,

I'm happy to hear that you got it created. I hope the system image will go smoothly.

 

[rdwray]

I had a MBR problem because of a duplicate boot entry and tried to repair it myself and messed up. The MBR was recreated in a separate partition of a drive that I have Win 7 installed on during the Win 8 installation. When I tried to copy the MBR from a cloned drive, it came up with "Device: Unknown" (different drive issue) on all partitions and would not boot. I tried every option that Win 8 gave to try and recover from the problem and nothing worked. Then I used the Win 7 disk and it repaired the MBR on the first try and all was fine. So why didn't the Win 8 disk do the same thing?

 

[Brink]

Not sure why rdwray. Most likely due to Windows 7 being installed first, so it was a Windows 7 MBR.

 

[rdwray]

Not sure why rdwray. Most likely due to Windows 7 being installed first, so it was a Windows 7 MBR.

What I was trying to say was that Win 8 recreated the MBR because it was the owner because the ID of the current and Win 8 were the same.

 

[fdk]

when i try this using a dvd i got an error towards the end {io device-error-(0x8007045d)}?anyone got an idea why?

 

[Brink]

Hello fdk,

Could be an issue with the DVD itself. Check to see if it has any scratches or smudges on it. Try another blank unformatted DVD in case it was just an issue with the other one.

How does it work for creating a recovery USB flash drive?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html

 

[fdk]

i created it selecting a usb flash drive without any problems,i used imations 16x dvd's, actually i tried 2 dvds purchased from the same store,both failed

 

[Brink]

Are those DVDs supported by your DVD burner?

Personally, I would recommend to stick with the USB. It's much faster and more reliable.

 

[fdk]

well i just checked my dvd drive is an 8x dvd writer,and the dvd i got was 16x, is this a problem?

 

[Brink]

That shouldn't be an issue. That just means that the DVD can handle being burned or read up to 16x. Since you DVD drive is only 8x, that won't be an issue.

The main thing for you is what type of DVD is it, and if the DVD drive supports it. For example DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RW, etc.....

 

[fdk]

12.7" SATA Tray Load DVD+/-RW is my optical drive and the dvd is a DVD-R, the error occurs in the very end