cd c:recovery
dir /a:sh
cd YOUR_GUID_DIRECTORY (only subdirectory in c:recovery)
dir /a:sh
xcopy /h boot.sdi F:boot
echo F|xcopy /h Winre.wim F:sourcesboot.wim
cd c:windowsboot
xcopy /h dvdpcatbcd F:boot
xcopy /h dvdpcaten-USbootfix.bin F:boot
xcopy /h pcatbootmgr F:
attrib -r -s -h /s F:*
diskpart
list disk
select disk 1
list partition
select partition 1
active
list partition
exit
visit the site for full post and video. don’t worry, i have tasted it, it works.
For anyone coming to this page in the future — disregard the other reply to the parent comment. You just need to open the command prompt in administrator mode. You can accomplish this by opening the Start menu and typing “cmd.exe” (or finding the Command Prompt), right-clicking the result, and clicking “Run as administrator.”
Xin
12 years ago
Hi,
I was trying the follow the instructions above on my Toshia R835-P81 laptop. However, after changing the settings of folder option I still can neither view or edit my Recovery on GUI or CMD.
Could anyone tell me what’s going on here?
Thanks a lot!
Yes you can! I tried it for windows 10 and it works well. Burned iso file to usb and deleted everything except those mentioned by the author of this website. But you might not be able to do this for windows 7 these day. Because in recent years ‘windows 7 iso files’ come with windows 10 boot options.Therefor you can not use it to restore windows 7 backup image.
Bugalugs
12 years ago
Hi
I’ve just bought a new computer with windows 7, I tried going through these steps but there is no folder called ‘Recovery’ in my c drive (even after showing hidden files and showing protected os files). There was a folder called ‘System Recovery’ which I thought may have been the same thing, but after going through all the permissions changing and getting in it was empty!
Any idea what I need to do? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I also have a empty c:Recovery folder on a new win7 pro PC. I took ownership with full control; and also right click on Command Prompt and check “Run As Administrator”. A CMD window pops open; I typed dir recovery and it still shows no files in that directory. What do I do?
Check if the ‘Recovery” folder is placed in the D:/drive or in another drive letter location 🙂
Ronald
11 years ago
Thanks sir! Really helped me out.
Aku
10 years ago
I just tried this and it did not work:-(
KADC
10 years ago
I’ve “successfully” used Windows 7 USB Download Tool (though I had to run bootsect manually) which does essentially the same thing (plus more) and though my laptop will boot off an anti-virus boot USB created with AVG Antivirus it will not boot from the Windows 7 boot USB I just created. The laptop completely ignores this USB drive when booting though I can see it if I boot from another drive first. Any ideas what the problem might be?
Hamlett Maro
10 years ago
WORKS like a charm!! Thanks!
gamag
9 years ago
when I tried to make a dual boot (win7 and ubuntu..) with easyBCD, all booting gone… finally I found this source.. and This saved my WORLD.. This worked for me.. Thank you sooooo much..
Tom H
9 years ago
Followed your instructions exactly as listed, and it saved me (my system) Thanks for the help. And I used files from another computer but same operating sytem to do this.
apurv
9 years ago
Hey, I created the bootable flash drive but I used rufus. Now I want restore my flash drive to its original state. How do i do that?
Yasmin
9 years ago
Thanks so much! simple to do and it works! Now I can test Ubuntu on my netbook.
Martijn Noordermeer
9 years ago
I did exactly as you said, but I don’t have the file C:WindowsBootDVDPCATbootmgr. Am I doing something wrong?
My computer says it doesn’t recognize recimg as a command. What is the exact spacing and punctuation? Is there a space and a dash in front of CreateImage?
Thanks
Create system image first, then the recovery folder will be populated.
Type “backup” on Windows “Search programs and files” then click on “Backup and Restore”. After that click on “Create a system image” on the left hand pane.
zzzzzzzzzzz
9 years ago
Thank you for this post! I incidently erase data from windows’s 100mb partition. No recovery disk with me and only way to fix it was prepare recovery usb using ubuntu. I did it step by step and it worked. WELL DONE!
Marty
9 years ago
Hmmm – get ‘Invalid or damaged Bootable partition’ when I try to use it…is there something else needed to make your USB stick bootable?
Zaros
9 years ago
dont have a bootmgr file where else would it be? im trying to remove linux and dont have a cd drive to just copy
al3x
8 years ago
I tried to follow the instruction and it didn’t work, I’ve got cryptic “Damaged or missing isolinux.bin”. Weird.
Then I thought – wait, all these files on USB what about boot record, how did it get there?
You missed updating bootrecord.
There is the command on installation DVD
bootbootsect.exe
you need to run
bootsect.exe /nt60 F: where F: is your USB drive letter.
Mark
8 years ago
To take ownership of “Recovery” file using “CMD” (DOS prompt):
1. All users (full access):
icacls “C:” /grant Users:F
2. Specific User (full access):
icacls “C:” /grant :F
Ok so I own a toshiba satellite c655, and I’ve gotten a virus that doesn’t let me start up the computer at all anymore, so I decided to follow these steps to factory reset the laptop, so I did everything it said but when I plug the usb in and manually open up the recovery settings it won’t let me through saying that there is no bootable device, any solutions to this? Please reply and thanks for the help
RangerZ
8 years ago
I am not clear I am following this. I think that this is making a bootable USB, similar to a recovery CD, but also with the WINRE.WIN file that I can restore to the PC and do startup repair, etc. Is this correct?
Can I use this to fix boot problems (bootmgr not found) on OTHER machines (but not restore the WINRE.WIN)?
Can I use this to reinstall a Vista WINRE.WIM file on a machine that had been upgraded to Windows 7? It’s and HP desktop and the F11 Recovery no longer works after Win 7 was installed. Do I make the thumb drive under Win7 or Vista?
sathya seka
8 years ago
once i insert any pendrive in my pc ,first its shows short cut drive ,then after i clicking the icon my files are shown,wat problem is that,& auto play also not open plz tel me solution to recover this problem
Software
8 years ago
I’ve done all the above but when I try to boot from the USB I get the error:Unable to read this device. Why is that ?
Ncknr
8 years ago
I’ve done all of what was said from above, but when I boot the usb all I got was “Missing Operating System”? Can anyone answer what might be wrong?
From any Windows 7 DVD or ISO installation media extract the file ISO-DVD:bootbootsect.exe to the “Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool” directory.
Usualy it’s under C:UsersyourusernameAppDataLocalAppsWindows 7 USB DVD Download Tool
Insert a USB Key in your PC and remember the drive letter that has been assigned (eg E:)
Run as administrator the command prompt and execute the following commands (according the drive letter):
set temp=E:
set tmp=E:
recdisc
Clic on the button Create disc, this should generate a error because the CD/DVD drive is empty.
Does not close the recdisc “Create a system repair disc” application and the error window.
You should have a new ISO file on your USB key , select it and right clic on properties and wait until you got the size that should be ~166MB
Remove manualy the USB key from your PC (does not use the eject function of Windows).
Close the recdisc “Create a system repair disc” application and error window.
Insert the USB key in your PC and copy the ISO file to your C: hard disk
Execute the “Microsoft Windows USB/DVD Download Tool”
Select the ISO file on your C: hard disk and create your USB repair key
On my Windows 7 SP1 netbook, which does not have a CD or DVD drive, recdisc never created the iso file in the Temp folder. Immediately upon executing recdisc, the error window appears: “Windows did not find a CD/DVD burner.” That window appears over another window for selecting the CD/DVD driver. On that window the “Create Disc” button is grayed out. In other words, contrary to the instructions given by djm38fr, you aren’t given the opportunity to click on the button “Create Disc” and no iso file is created.
I didn’t found a file called bootmgr … But i’ve found boot.sdi, elfsboot.com and BCD. What can i do now ?
Alex
7 years ago
I did. Everything work. Windows 7 Pro.
Thank you, Alex
notsysadmin
6 years ago
Followed the destructions and all boots well. On first screen to choose language I have no mouse pointer, and keyboard does not work. I have tried several iterations of remove and plug back in for both the mouse and keyboard, as well as power cycling several times. Keeps blocking me at the same spot. Ideas, suggestions, anything i might be blatantly overlooking?
Chouinx
6 years ago
many thanks for this useful tutorial : ))
Milton Alvis
6 years ago
I believe the phrase:
“and copy the bootfix.bin file to the folder boot from the USB flash.”
should read:
“and copy the bootfix.bin file to the folder boot of the USB flash drive.”
lgdoc
6 years ago
Thanks!
I need to know if this tutorial could be used with W10??
Otherwise where could I find a tutorial for W10??
Spot on guide. Excellent description and graphics.
I’ll be back.
Thank you
Caio
5 years ago
It worked perfectly.
Thank you very much.
toodamcomplicated
5 years ago
thank you kind individual i shall be thinking of you for days to come for the great advice and also my dog thanks you too his name is linclon.
nobody cares
5 years ago
Just say you THANK YOU VERY MUCH 🙂
Bob
5 years ago
Well done, worked great for me.allowed me access to C drive.
command prompt = able to move save data off drive
Didn’t resolve base issue (Corrupt files = reinstall)
Good Job
baodad
5 years ago
Hugely helpful! Thanks so much for sharing this!
hamid
5 years ago
Thank you very very much for giving us such a useful instruction. I really enjoyed using it because it was so handy and next time it will be fast and easy. Besides these day windows 7 comes with windows 10 boot menu inside the iso file and it has become impossible to recover win7 system image with windows 7 installation usb.
Chad Treatman
4 years ago
So at the end of the post, you say to check the created USB bootable drive to ensure it works and you show the Startup Recovery screen as an example of when it works, but… what if it DOESN’T work? Followed your tutorial to a T and it doesn’t work.. I’m not a computer stooge, by any means, but I’m clearly not a whiz.. just need some help on this one
Gus
4 years ago
Nicely, professionally written document – straight forward. But does not work. While booting up, I get “Invalid Partition Table” error. I press enter, I then enter into my usual easyBCD operating system select menu. Tried formatting the Usb with fat32 and NTFS, with no avail. Then I created a Acronis boot usb drive using the same Usb stick, and it worked great. Went back quickly to the original Window 7 repair usb – no luck. Anyone have any ideas?
Derick Botha
3 years ago
Thank you very much
I can not start my windows yet, but I can at least get into the dosprompt!
I am extremely grateful!
Troy
2 years ago
Your paths were missing the slashes
C:WindowsBootDVDPCAT
should be
C:\Windows\Boot\DVD\PCAT
C:WindowsBootDVDPCATen-US
should be
C:\Windows\Boot\DVD\PCAT\en-US
Well a nice post with simple guidelines, but you can make this rescue usb just with some command lines, you can visit http://www.alittlegeek.com/create-a-windows-7-system-recovery-usb-disk/, here are those :
cd c:recovery
dir /a:sh
cd YOUR_GUID_DIRECTORY (only subdirectory in c:recovery)
dir /a:sh
xcopy /h boot.sdi F:boot
echo F|xcopy /h Winre.wim F:sourcesboot.wim
cd c:windowsboot
xcopy /h dvdpcatbcd F:boot
xcopy /h dvdpcaten-USbootfix.bin F:boot
xcopy /h pcatbootmgr F:
attrib -r -s -h /s F:*
diskpart
list disk
select disk 1
list partition
select partition 1
active
list partition
exit
visit the site for full post and video. don’t worry, i have tasted it, it works.
cd c:recovery
…results in…
Access is denied!
you have to have the thing installed and then you have to right click the file and click take ownership
For anyone coming to this page in the future — disregard the other reply to the parent comment. You just need to open the command prompt in administrator mode. You can accomplish this by opening the Start menu and typing “cmd.exe” (or finding the Command Prompt), right-clicking the result, and clicking “Run as administrator.”
Hi,
I was trying the follow the instructions above on my Toshia R835-P81 laptop. However, after changing the settings of folder option I still can neither view or edit my Recovery on GUI or CMD.
Could anyone tell me what’s going on here?
Thanks a lot!
You could simply copy the folder to the flash drive, get the files you need out of it, and then delete it..?
Yes you can! I tried it for windows 10 and it works well. Burned iso file to usb and deleted everything except those mentioned by the author of this website. But you might not be able to do this for windows 7 these day. Because in recent years ‘windows 7 iso files’ come with windows 10 boot options.Therefor you can not use it to restore windows 7 backup image.
Hi
I’ve just bought a new computer with windows 7, I tried going through these steps but there is no folder called ‘Recovery’ in my c drive (even after showing hidden files and showing protected os files). There was a folder called ‘System Recovery’ which I thought may have been the same thing, but after going through all the permissions changing and getting in it was empty!
Any idea what I need to do? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Bugs
To access recovery folder, must access this as administrator. Right click command prompt icon and select run as admin.
I also have a empty c:Recovery folder on a new win7 pro PC. I took ownership with full control; and also right click on Command Prompt and check “Run As Administrator”. A CMD window pops open; I typed dir recovery and it still shows no files in that directory. What do I do?
Check if the ‘Recovery” folder is placed in the D:/drive or in another drive letter location 🙂
Thanks sir! Really helped me out.
I just tried this and it did not work:-(
I’ve “successfully” used Windows 7 USB Download Tool (though I had to run bootsect manually) which does essentially the same thing (plus more) and though my laptop will boot off an anti-virus boot USB created with AVG Antivirus it will not boot from the Windows 7 boot USB I just created. The laptop completely ignores this USB drive when booting though I can see it if I boot from another drive first. Any ideas what the problem might be?
WORKS like a charm!! Thanks!
when I tried to make a dual boot (win7 and ubuntu..) with easyBCD, all booting gone… finally I found this source.. and This saved my WORLD.. This worked for me.. Thank you sooooo much..
Followed your instructions exactly as listed, and it saved me (my system) Thanks for the help. And I used files from another computer but same operating sytem to do this.
Hey, I created the bootable flash drive but I used rufus. Now I want restore my flash drive to its original state. How do i do that?
Thanks so much! simple to do and it works! Now I can test Ubuntu on my netbook.
I did exactly as you said, but I don’t have the file C:WindowsBootDVDPCATbootmgr. Am I doing something wrong?
Sorry, I looked in the wrong folder… Now let’s look if it works…
Best Windows Tutorial Yet A++++ Works Great!
You’re making this unnecessarily complex.
3 easy steps
1. Create a bootable recovery disc (CD).
Start -> in the “Search programs and files” box, type “system repair disc” and press enter.
2. Quick format USB, file system type NTFS.
3. Copy everything from the CD to the USB.
Done.
unnecessarily you said, ok.
what do you mean by disc? there is no DVD in ultrabook. now what?
unnecessarily you said, ok.
what do you mean by disc? there is no DVD in ultrabook. now what?
xcopy /h boot.sdi F:boot
Win wants to know, is F:boot a file name or a directory name?
If you don’t have a Recovery folder you can make one by doing this:
Open SEARCH, type in cmd or command prompt, right-click on it and click on “Run as administrator”
Then type this:
mkdir C:RecoveryFolder (Creates the folder “RecoveryFolder” in the C drive, you can do this manually)
After that, create the Recovery .wim file by typing this:
recimg -CreateImage C:RecoveryFolder
The name RecoveryFolder can be any name you like.
Greats,
A 14 y/o boy…
My computer says it doesn’t recognize recimg as a command. What is the exact spacing and punctuation? Is there a space and a dash in front of CreateImage?
Thanks
Create system image first, then the recovery folder will be populated.
Type “backup” on Windows “Search programs and files” then click on “Backup and Restore”. After that click on “Create a system image” on the left hand pane.
Thank you for this post! I incidently erase data from windows’s 100mb partition. No recovery disk with me and only way to fix it was prepare recovery usb using ubuntu. I did it step by step and it worked. WELL DONE!
Hmmm – get ‘Invalid or damaged Bootable partition’ when I try to use it…is there something else needed to make your USB stick bootable?
dont have a bootmgr file where else would it be? im trying to remove linux and dont have a cd drive to just copy
I tried to follow the instruction and it didn’t work, I’ve got cryptic “Damaged or missing isolinux.bin”. Weird.
Then I thought – wait, all these files on USB what about boot record, how did it get there?
You missed updating bootrecord.
There is the command on installation DVD
bootbootsect.exe
you need to run
bootsect.exe /nt60 F: where F: is your USB drive letter.
To take ownership of “Recovery” file using “CMD” (DOS prompt):” /grant Users:F
1. All users (full access):
icacls “C:
2. Specific User (full access):” /grant :F
icacls “C:
Reference:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753525.aspx
That’s “C:MyFolder”
Ok so I own a toshiba satellite c655, and I’ve gotten a virus that doesn’t let me start up the computer at all anymore, so I decided to follow these steps to factory reset the laptop, so I did everything it said but when I plug the usb in and manually open up the recovery settings it won’t let me through saying that there is no bootable device, any solutions to this? Please reply and thanks for the help
I am not clear I am following this. I think that this is making a bootable USB, similar to a recovery CD, but also with the WINRE.WIN file that I can restore to the PC and do startup repair, etc. Is this correct?
Can I use this to fix boot problems (bootmgr not found) on OTHER machines (but not restore the WINRE.WIN)?
Can I use this to reinstall a Vista WINRE.WIM file on a machine that had been upgraded to Windows 7? It’s and HP desktop and the F11 Recovery no longer works after Win 7 was installed. Do I make the thumb drive under Win7 or Vista?
once i insert any pendrive in my pc ,first its shows short cut drive ,then after i clicking the icon my files are shown,wat problem is that,& auto play also not open plz tel me solution to recover this problem
I’ve done all the above but when I try to boot from the USB I get the error:Unable to read this device. Why is that ?
I’ve done all of what was said from above, but when I boot the usb all I got was “Missing Operating System”? Can anyone answer what might be wrong?
Did u get the solution of this problem ?
Os not found…
error loading operating system, any thoughts ???
Install “Microsoft Windows USB/DVD Download Tool” from http://wudt.codeplex.com/
From any Windows 7 DVD or ISO installation media extract the file ISO-DVD:bootbootsect.exe to the “Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool” directory.
Usualy it’s under C:UsersyourusernameAppDataLocalAppsWindows 7 USB DVD Download Tool
Insert a USB Key in your PC and remember the drive letter that has been assigned (eg E:)
Run as administrator the command prompt and execute the following commands (according the drive letter):
set temp=E:
set tmp=E:
recdisc
Clic on the button Create disc, this should generate a error because the CD/DVD drive is empty.
Does not close the recdisc “Create a system repair disc” application and the error window.
You should have a new ISO file on your USB key , select it and right clic on properties and wait until you got the size that should be ~166MB
Remove manualy the USB key from your PC (does not use the eject function of Windows).
Close the recdisc “Create a system repair disc” application and error window.
Insert the USB key in your PC and copy the ISO file to your C: hard disk
Execute the “Microsoft Windows USB/DVD Download Tool”
Select the ISO file on your C: hard disk and create your USB repair key
On my Windows 7 SP1 netbook, which does not have a CD or DVD drive, recdisc never created the iso file in the Temp folder. Immediately upon executing recdisc, the error window appears: “Windows did not find a CD/DVD burner.” That window appears over another window for selecting the CD/DVD driver. On that window the “Create Disc” button is grayed out. In other words, contrary to the instructions given by djm38fr, you aren’t given the opportunity to click on the button “Create Disc” and no iso file is created.
same results as marc caplan
I didn’t found a file called bootmgr … But i’ve found boot.sdi, elfsboot.com and BCD. What can i do now ?
I did. Everything work. Windows 7 Pro.
Thank you, Alex
Followed the destructions and all boots well. On first screen to choose language I have no mouse pointer, and keyboard does not work. I have tried several iterations of remove and plug back in for both the mouse and keyboard, as well as power cycling several times. Keeps blocking me at the same spot. Ideas, suggestions, anything i might be blatantly overlooking?
many thanks for this useful tutorial : ))
I believe the phrase:
“and copy the bootfix.bin file to the folder boot from the USB flash.”
should read:
“and copy the bootfix.bin file to the folder boot of the USB flash drive.”
Thanks!
I need to know if this tutorial could be used with W10??
Otherwise where could I find a tutorial for W10??
For Windows 10, use this tutorial: How To Create A Recovery Drive In Windows 10.
I wish that i could get this to work for me. I followed the instructions but all I get is an “Invalid Partition Table” message rather than a boot
Fantastic article, very well done. Thank-you.
Another possibility (not yet tried) :
http://ccm.net/download/download-9707-a-bootable-usb#q=windows+7+recovery+usb&cur=2&url=%2F
it’s a rufus-alike
Spot on guide. Excellent description and graphics.
I’ll be back.
Thank you
It worked perfectly.
Thank you very much.
thank you kind individual i shall be thinking of you for days to come for the great advice and also my dog thanks you too his name is linclon.
Just say you THANK YOU VERY MUCH 🙂
Well done, worked great for me.allowed me access to C drive.
command prompt = able to move save data off drive
Didn’t resolve base issue (Corrupt files = reinstall)
Good Job
Hugely helpful! Thanks so much for sharing this!
Thank you very very much for giving us such a useful instruction. I really enjoyed using it because it was so handy and next time it will be fast and easy. Besides these day windows 7 comes with windows 10 boot menu inside the iso file and it has become impossible to recover win7 system image with windows 7 installation usb.
So at the end of the post, you say to check the created USB bootable drive to ensure it works and you show the Startup Recovery screen as an example of when it works, but… what if it DOESN’T work? Followed your tutorial to a T and it doesn’t work.. I’m not a computer stooge, by any means, but I’m clearly not a whiz.. just need some help on this one
Nicely, professionally written document – straight forward. But does not work. While booting up, I get “Invalid Partition Table” error. I press enter, I then enter into my usual easyBCD operating system select menu. Tried formatting the Usb with fat32 and NTFS, with no avail. Then I created a Acronis boot usb drive using the same Usb stick, and it worked great. Went back quickly to the original Window 7 repair usb – no luck. Anyone have any ideas?
Thank you very much
I can not start my windows yet, but I can at least get into the dosprompt!
I am extremely grateful!
Your paths were missing the slashes
C:WindowsBootDVDPCAT
should be
C:\Windows\Boot\DVD\PCAT
C:WindowsBootDVDPCATen-US
should be
C:\Windows\Boot\DVD\PCAT\en-US
C:WindowsBootPCAT
should be
C:\Windows\Boot\PCAT
Thanks for the tutorial, it is appreciated.
Thank you for highlighting this issue. We fixed the paths.