Creating a boot disk for system recovery. What you need to recover your hard drive

It happens that a computer user is faced with a serious problem - damage to the operating system. This situation often causes panic in many people, especially if the computer did not include an OS disk when purchased. This means you should urgently purchase new disk with software? But this is very expensive, and it’s also a shame if, when buying a computer, the user paid to install a licensed version.

Fortunately, this problem can be avoided, you just need to take care of the product in advance system recovery. To protect yourself from a sudden breakdown of Windows, you will need 2 tools: a boot disk and a system image. To begin with, you need to figure out what it even is.

System recovery disc, or otherwise a “boot disk,” is a tool that allows you to boot your computer if the system is damaged. However, having loaded Windows from such a disk, you should not rejoice, because the launch did not take place from the computer, but from a previously prepared recovery, and the OS itself still remains damaged. That is, if you remove this tool, the computer will stop turning on again.

The system image is the same copy that will allow you to restore missing or damaged files. At its core, a system image is an archive with a complete record of the state of the computer at a certain point in time. Every time you install any programs, drivers, or otherwise change Windows, you should create an image, this will allow you not to lose the latest changes during recovery.

To create these two very useful and important tools, you should follow the path: Start - Control Panel - Backing up computer data - "", and, following the instructions, create a boot disk and burn it to a disc. To store a system image, it is best to use external hard disk, since the image will take up a considerable amount of memory. It is best that the media used is defined specifically for this purpose.

The first step is to open “My Computer” and find the connected hard drive, select it right click mouse and find the line “format”. After the formatting window appears, you need to set the “formatting in NTFS” option and check the “quick format” line, so disk drive will be prepared for recording the system image. Then we return to the “Backup and Restore” window and select “Create a system image”, just as when creating boot disk, just follow the instructions. When prompted to select a location to save the image, you should simply select a pre-prepared external hard drive.

How to create a Windows backup

If you work with important data and the performance of the system, as well as the safety of information, is very important to you, then you have probably come across the concept of backup or backup. If you are a novice user or an average user and have never encountered this, then you should get acquainted with this useful and sometimes necessary feature. Backup can not only save your data in the event of a system failure or malfunction, but will also help you quickly and efficiently transfer your familiar operating system with all the settings and changes to another computer or hard drive.

You can make a back-up system using: third party programs, and using built-in Windows features 8. To create backup copy means Windows, you should go to the “Control Panel” and find the “Backup and Restore” item there. On the left you will see the option “Create a system image”. All that remains is to read the system messages and follow the instructions. This method is relevant for both Windows 8 and Windows 7. You can also create a system repair disk so that in the event of a system failure, you can restore your computer from the disk. There is nothing complicated, as you can see.

Now let's consider the option of creating a backup copy using third-party programs. Acronis program True Image is one of the most convenient and time-proven. To create a backup, select “Create an archive.” Next, select “My Computer” and the program will create a copy of your system, down to the partition hard drive. Consider in advance where you will store the backup: either connect an external hard drive, or create a partition on your hard drive of a suitable size.

Next, select the partitions you want to save, select the type created archive and wait. Following the instructions, backup copy Even a novice user can create it. Restoring your system through Acronis is also easy. To be able to restore the system even without reinstalling Windows, create a multi bootable USB flash drive With Acronis True Image on it. You can learn more about how to do this by reading relevant articles on the Internet.

To avoid putting your data at risk, we recommend that you regularly create and update system backups. By creating them, you don’t have to worry that the data may be lost forever, and in the event of a system failure, it can be painlessly restored to a working state.

If you previously created an image of the main hard section disk, then at any time if critical failures occur in Windows 7, it can be deployed. No data recorded in this section after deployment, copies will not be saved, but you won’t have to waste time searching and installing drivers and some necessary programs, installed into the system immediately after its installation.

Restoring Windows 7 from a working system

Archive required sections disc can be on any available media - DVDs, additional hard drive or an external hard drive with a USB interface. A separate partition on the same HDD is also suitable, but in this case data security is not guaranteed. If the device is damaged, some or all of the data on it may be lost, which fully applies to the created backup copy.

If the OS, albeit with errors, is slow, but loads and works, and no recovery methods improve the situation, then you can deploy the archive image directly from under the loaded system. To do this:

All old information will be lost from the disk to which the save will be deployed. If it has value, then you can archive it in the next wizard window user files by clicking on the corresponding button below.

To go straight to Windows archiving, click “Skip”, after which a new window will open prompting you to continue the action after restarting the computer.

Working with the recovery tool

After the reboot, a pair of dialog boxes will appear in succession, prompting you to select a language and enter user credentials. Next you will have to work with the main parameters window:

Restoring the image if the system cannot be booted

If after turning on the computer the boot does not occur and boot into Windows in normal mode there is no way, try pressing F8 and opening the additional boot options window. From here you can get to the recovery options module if you select the very first troubleshooting item.

Further actions have already been described in the section describing working with this tool. But in case of critical failures, often pressing F8 and trying to go to boot options does not bring results. In this case, you cannot do without an installation or boot file. Windows disk 7 and the recovery environment located on it.

How to extract individual files from an image

Sometimes a system archive can be useful not only for deploying Windows 7 if it cannot be cured, but also for retrieving accidentally deleted important files, which have been archived. To do this it must be connected as virtual hard disk:

All that remains is to open the computer icon on the desktop again and make sure that a new one has appeared here virtual disk. You can work with it in the same way as with any partition, restoring any necessary information from there.

Features of creating and storing a backup copy

Before creating a copy of the system, you should decide on which drive(s) you will store it on. Users often use DVDs for these purposes, but you need to understand that then it will be possible to restore Windows 7 only by booting from a flash drive or other drive if the OS is no longer able to start on its own. You will have to do this because this disk is not bootable.

Often another problem arises unexpectedly. If after creation full image HDD standard If you modified its partitions using Windows, then when you try to restore the copy, an error window may appear. It will inform the user of the need to format the disk from which the recovery environment was loaded. Even returning the HDD partitions to the state before their sizes were changed will not correct the situation.

Unexpected failures occur in any operating system. Disk Windows recovery 7 can be created independently by writing necessary files to a suitable storage medium. For this procedure, the user will need about 10 minutes of time.

Restoring Windows 10 from Control Panel

The latest version of the operating system has many bugs and sometimes after updating it may not start for some users. A solution to this problem has been provided by Microsoft and a Windows 10 recovery disk can be created from the Control Panel.

If the creation of a Windows 10 recovery disk does not take place on your own computer, then you must definitely find out the bitness of the broken and temporarily used Windows, they must be the same.

Instructions on the question: how create a Windows 10 recovery disk:

After the program finishes, the flash drive can be used to restore Windows 10 and install it. Sometimes creating media using this method fails, in these cases you need to create a disk disaster recovery in other ways.

Some users may need to create a Windows 8 recovery disc. This can be done in the same way as described above.

Reinstalling Windows 10 with the official application

On the Microsoft website they suggest using separate application to create a bootable USB flash drive.

After these steps, you can use the USB flash drive to install or reset the system.

Windows installation flash drive from system image

To restore Windows 10 from a system image, you must first create this file. This can be done through the built-in application. To open it, go to " Control Panel» → « All Control Panel Elements» → «» → « System image backup».

In the next window you need to select the section “ Creating a system image».

In the window that appears, you need to select the media on which the image will be saved.

It is advisable to create a separate disk partition to store this data, as it will be needed to restore Windows 10 from an image. If you don’t have a flash drive at hand, you can reset the system settings from the created file on your hard drive.

After data archiving is completed, the user will be prompted to create a system recovery disk. Thanks to this, in the event of an unexpected error in the system, you can restore all the data that was on the archived disk.

Installation flash drive for Windows via UltraISO

First, you need to download the ISO file of the desired OS version from the Internet. Also, to create a Windows 7 system recovery disk, just like other versions, the user will need a program or its analogues ( Rufus, Wintobootik etc.) capable of writing system images to a USB drive.

To restore Windows 7 via an ISO image, you need to do exactly the same steps, but at the stage of selecting an image file to burn, you need to use an image of the seven or other versions of the OS. This same one the method will work, if you are wondering how to restore Windows XP or another version of this OS.

Creating an installation disk

If for some reason a laptop or PC does not want to accept a bootable USB flash drive, for example, on very old devices or if the USB ports are malfunctioning, then in these cases you can use a DVD-R or DVD-RW disc.

Due to the fact that the volume disk media is limited, then you need to find an image up to 4.7 GB (volume for DVD-R and DVD-RW). Such files contain only the base assembly without additional data and applications. Official images of all Windows OS occupy a volume of 2–3 GB. But amateur versions have a basic set of popular programs and improvements, so they can take several times more.

How to make an installation disk

To do this you will need a floppy drive, DVD and UltraISO. The program can be replaced with another one that can write information to disk.

Now you need to wait for the transfer of information to the optical disk to complete.

Multiboot flash drive

Such a multifunctional device is necessary for computer technicians. It is much more convenient to restore Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 and other versions from one universal flash drive. This solution is called a multiboot device. To create it you will need a program WinSetupFromUSB. It uses a minimalistic bootloader that allows the boot disk to be used with several system images at once.

Initially, you need to download WinSetupFromUSB and ISO images of the desired systems. After starting the program, a window with settings appears in front of the user.

It needs:

1. Select the drive to install on.
2. Check the box " Auto format it with FBinst" This allows you to format the media to the desired format before starting installation.
3. Select FAT32 format. It should be taken into account that this file system does not recognize images larger than 4 GB in size. At installing NTFS some computers will not be able to see the flash drive and it will not work.
4. Select the type of operating system that will be installed.
5. In Explorer, assign a system image file.
6. Press the button " GO» and confirm the actions in the new warning windows.

After this, the process of installing files on the specified media will begin. Installation details can be viewed by checking the "".

After completing the installation of one system image, you can immediately begin mounting the next OS. Now you can restore Windows XP and other versions of the operating system using a single flash drive or a separate hard drive.

When recording a second OS distribution, you need to uncheck " Auto format it with FBinst" Otherwise, the previously recorded system will be deleted from the drive.

In addition to the installation version of Windows, you can download the Linux distributions and many useful programs like Acronis, antivirus and backup bootloaders. To do this, you need to first download the necessary ISO files and when installing on the drive in the WinSetupForUSB program, select the “ Linux ISO/ Other Grub4dos compatible ISO»

After installation is complete, immediately check the functionality of the programs on the flash drive by checking the “ Test in QEMU».

For the drive to be recognized by the computer, it must be inserted into a USB 2.0 port connected directly to the motherboard.

When launched in the BIOS, a minimalistic GRUB4DOS window will appear in front of the user, in which you need to use the keys to select the operating system to be launched or the installed program.

To create a multiboot flash drive, they also use the program MultiBoot. It includes Grub4Dos installer, formatter and WinSetupUSB. The only difference from the previous creation method is that it is more beautiful graphic menu when starting the media and already built-in recovery programs, Acronis, etc.

How to run an installation flash drive or disk

After creating a Windows 7 recovery disc on your laptop or PC, you need to run it. To do this, insert the storage medium into the device. After this, turn off your computer.

To restore the system, you must first configure Device BIOS so that he can start the flash drive or disk. To do this, you need to press a certain key in the first 2 seconds after turning on the computer. It differs for different manufacturers. You can read more about this in the instructions for the device. Approximate use of keys to enter the BIOS on different branded devices:

• Acer, Lenovo, Asus, Sony - F2 or Ctrl + Alt + Esc
• HP - F10
• Samsung - Del
• Dell devices - F1 or Del

To ensure the BIOS boots on the first try, click on the desired key 3–5 times. After this, a blue menu will appear on the screen with items on English. U personal computers The BIOS may look more attractive.

To boot from installation disk you need to go to the section " "Boot" and change the download priority there (“ Boot Device Prority"). In the same section you need to find a previously made flash drive or disk with recovery files and move the media to the first boot position using the F5 and F6 keys.

After this you need to find the section “ UEFI Boot Support" or " Boot Mode» and there set Enabled or UEFI Boot.

After these settings, you need to go to the “ Exit" and select the item " Exit & Save Changes».

It will start loading from the disk installation version Windows. Depending on the OS version, the boot menu may differ in appearance.

Using a recovery disk, you can perform not only a complete reinstallation, but also partial repair of damaged files via the command line, or restore damaged download files.

Select from the program menu desired method recovery and wait until the utility finishes. The main thing is that the device does not turn off during recovery; it is better to connect it to the network. If this is not done, then during recovery a malfunction may occur and hard error disk. Similar problem will have to be resolved by physically repairing the device.

Resetting the system on laptops

To restore the system on laptops, there is a built-in reset of OS settings. To restore Windows 7 without a disk, you need to run standard remedy recovery.

To do this, after starting the device, hold the power button or a specific key combination for 5-10 seconds. Next, to restore the system using the built-in program, select desired item in the menu that appears and wait until the program finishes.

The laptop will restore Windows XP if it was originally installed on it. The same will happen with all other OS versions. If at the time of purchase it was old version operating system, it will be restored.

There are many different ways to restore a system after a breakdown or infection. The most simple method is complete reinstallation OS using an installation disk, which is created in 10 minutes and can then be used on any device to repair them.

Video on the topic

Standard ability to create rescue disk Windows 10 recovery was inherited from the “seven”. They create such a disk in case there are difficulties in the operation of the OS that prevent loading and contains such tools as:

• Automatic troubleshooting of problems that prevent the system from loading;
• Restoring from a previously created image (backup);
• Return the OS to the rollback point.

How to create a rescue disk regular means Windows 10 and how to actually use it if you have problems booting the system? We will discuss these issues in detail below.

When is a recovery disk necessary?

A recovery disk can only be created for computer devices that include a CD/DVD drive. Unlike bootable media with resuscitation software from third party developers, most of which provide for recording on a flash drive, the emergency disk can only be written to a CD/DVD disc. But this is by no means an infringement on the capabilities of owners of devices without a CD/DVD drive. The fact is that the recovery disk is not the only means of accessing regular capabilities Windows resuscitation. IN system environment recovery can be achieved by using a Windows 10 installation disc, which can also be created using a flash drive.

To revive the current OS using its installation disk, no financial costs will be required. The distribution kit with Windows 10 on the Microsoft website is available completely free of charge. It is supplied via the Media utility Creation Tool, you need to download and run it.

The utility will download the Windows 10 distribution in a single process and immediately create a bootable USB flash drive. If you encounter problems booting the system, you need to boot from the flash drive and, at the stage of starting the installation of the new OS, select the item indicated in the screenshot below. Access to the toolkit does not require entering a product key.

As you can see, the rescue disk is so necessary tool you can hardly name it. However, its presence is welcome if there is no other computer in the house with which you could quickly create a bootable USB flash drive with installation files systems.

Preparing to restore Windows

An emergency recovery disk is created for a specific Windows bit depth 10. In this case, a universal rule applies, as for programs installed inside the system - 32-bit bit depth is suitable for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 10. While a 64-bit rescue disk is useful only in the case, respectively , 64-bit version.

A rescue disk will be of little use if a rollback point has not been created within the OS itself or a system image (backup copy) has not been prepared.

Creating a recovery disc

The emergency recovery disk is part of the standard toolkit for backing up OS files. This functionality is located in one of the sections of the control panel. You can get to the backup section not by wandering around the control panel, but by simply in a simple way– using intra-system search. In Windows 10, the search button is located right in the taskbar, so it’s a sin not to take advantage of this convenience.

Enter in the search field key query the section you are looking for and get directly to system parameters backup.

Click the "Create a system image" button. Select a CD/DVD drive in the drop-down list if there are several of them. Next, click the “Create Disk” button.

We will see a notification that, in particular, talks about the OS bit depth.

Creation is complete.

The Windows 10 recovery disc is suitable for computer devices both based on regular BIOS firmware, and with BIOS UEFI.

Now you can put the rescue disk somewhere in a secluded place. His further fate is to wait for a critical system failure.

Booting from a rescue disk

Let's say Windows 10 won't boot. The time has come to use emergency means. We take out the recovery disk and set it to BIOS loading from a CD/DVD drive. We confirm by pressing any key that the device is loaded from the CD/DVD.

The interface is Russian, but you can choose any other keyboard layout. In our case, we’ll simply confirm the Russian one.

Select an action – section “Diagnostics”.

In the next window we will see everything available tools reviving Windows 10.

Startup Recovery

You can try to solve the problem with Windows 10 not booting first using the boot troubleshooting method. This is the mode automatic elimination problems that prevent the OS from starting.

You shouldn't place much hope on this tool. Just like the in-system troubleshooting tool, the boot troubleshooting tool won't do much good. After a short diagnostic of the computer, in most cases it will be stated that it is unable to solve the problem.

Rollback to a restore point

Rollback point is the most convenient tool that allows you to do so with minimal data loss. Naturally, it is necessary that rollback points are periodically created - either manually by the user himself or automatically (using a task scheduler). The process of creating a rollback point takes much less time than the process of creating a system image (backup). And the rollback point saves space on your PC. However, a rollback point is more vulnerable than a backup copy, which can be stored on an alternative hard drive and will be very useful if the main drive fails.

To roll back to an earlier state of the OS in the event of serious problems with the system, boot from the rescue disk, go to the additional parameters and select the first option.

Select the current rollback point from among the existing ones. The most complete list of them will be available after setting the option to display other points. Click “Next”.

Click “Finish” in the rollback confirmation window.

We further confirm the launch of this process.

Once the system rollback is complete, the computer must be restarted. After the reboot, we will find the system exactly in the state in which it was at the time the rollback point was created.

Restoring from a system image

If it was previously created using the standard backup functionality, and the OS suddenly stops loading, it’s time to use this image by booting from the recovery disk. Having reached, as indicated above, the menu additional parameters, accordingly, choose the second option.

We leave the default image found by the system or select another using the appropriate option in the first window. Click “Next”.

Click “Finish”.

Confirm the decision with the “Yes” button.

As with the rollback point, the system will be returned to the state it was in when the image was created.

Have a great day!

When your PC stops booting from its hard drive, you may be in a bind - unless you created a bootable rescue disk or device.

A recovery disk doesn't just start your PC, it also includes tools that can help you fix what's wrong with your system. Creating a recovery disc takes minutes.

Recovery disc options for all versions of Windows

There are various ways creating autonomous, emergency, boot-recovery disks. When using Windows 7 and 8, creating good recovery discs is quick and easy. Vista and XP also provide tools for creating recovery discs, but the process requires a little more effort.

There are also numerous third-party boot disks - both paid and free - that work with all versions of Windows. The best of them have recovery and return to work capabilities that far exceed their own. Windows tools.

Of course, you can boot your PC using the original Windows installation CDs or DVDs, and they provide some basic recovery tools. But most PCs now come with installation files located in a special partition on the hard drive. Such files will not be accessible unless you take the time to create an emergency boot disk. In other words, the recovery partition will be useless to you in emergency, in which it will be impossible to boot the PC!

Even if you've taken the trouble to make system image backups, you may still need a rescue disk on hand to restore the most recent image.

In Part 1 (of which there are two) of this article, I'll look at a long series of emergency recovery discs for XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. I'll start with the features of Windows 8 and work my way back to XP. I'll also start with the built-in Windows tools and then mention some excellent third-party products - most of them free!

Next week, in Part 2, you'll learn how to use these disks to boot your PC and how to access the recovery tools they contain. I'll also share some advanced tips and tricks.

Windows 8: Create a Recovery Disk tool

Windows 8.0 and 8.1 both include a built-in Recovery Media Creator program. This tool allows you to easily make a bootable flash drive or external USB device. recovery disk. You can also create bootable CDs or DVDs using Windows 8.0.

The standard recovery device (or CD/DVD) from Windows 8 contains a bootable recovery image - a simplified special version Windows 8 - which will launch the PC. It also includes tools for repairing and restoring basic Windows 8. It may also include tools for resetting or updating the system based on system image, such as those provided by computer manufacturers.

If your PC contains a manufacturer-installed recovery image available for use (usually on its own dedicated partition), Recovery Media Creator (RMC) can also add the image to the bootable recovery disk. If necessary, you can completely restore your system solely from the recovery disk. (You can even put a custom recovery image on your recovery drive. I'll cover that in Part Two.)

The Recovery Disk Builder tool is very easy to use. And here's how much:

• While in account administrator, click Win+W(key with Windows flag and key W) or swipe to open the Charms bar.

• Enter Creating a recovery disc(recovery drive) in the search box (in Windows 8.0, use Search, Settings), then click the Create a recovery drive icon when it appears. The Recovery Disk tool will open (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. Creating a recovery disk in part of Windows 8 is step by step wizard, which is easy to use.

• If your system has a recovery partition, specify whether you want to include the recovery image in the boot or recovery disk you create.

If checkbox Copy the recovery partition from your computer to the recovery drive(Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive) appears black and clicks, you can burn the recovery image provided by your PC manufacturer to the recovery drive. Simply check the box to enable this option.

If this checkbox is grayed out and doesn't respond when you click it, then you obviously don't have the option to burn the factory image to the recovery drive. However, don't be discouraged, disk being created recovery will still contain a bootable, stripped-down recovery Windows image 8 and also standard array funds for recovery.

• The Recovery Disk Builder will then tell you how much disk space the recovery files and system image will take up if its entry is checked. Insert a USB device into your PC that is at least the size required. Please note that the device may be used only as a bootable recovery disk; everything else on the device will be deleted.
• If you have connected more than one USB device, then RMC will show a list available devices. Select the one you want to use as your recovery drive and click Next. The next dialog box will warn you that everything on the selected USB device will be overwritten. When you're ready, click Create.
• Boot image recovery, recovery and repair tools, and the factory system image (if selected) will be copied to the recovery drive. This may take a few minutes.
• If you have specified a factory image copy, RMC will now give you the option to remove the OEM recovery partition from the hard drive to free up space. Delete or save the section - the choice is yours.
• Click Finish.
• Remove the USB device and store it in a safe place.

For more information about the Create a Recovery Disk tool included with Windows 8, visit Microsoft support - .

Windows 7: Create a System Repair Disk tool

Windows 7 was the first Windows system to include an automated tool for creating bootable rescue CDs or DVDs. The tool doesn't have as many features as the Windows 8 version—you can't add an OEM recovery image, for example—but it's just as easy to use. Just a few clicks and your recovery disk is ready!

And here's how much:

Figure 3. Backup and recovery

• Insert a blank CD or DVD into the optical burner on your PC.
• While you're logged in as an administrator, open the app Backup and Restore. Click Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore(Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore).
• On the left side of the window, click Create a system repair disk(Create a system repair disc).
• Confirm if optical drive chosen correctly. Click Create disk(Create disc) (see Figure 4), and follow the suggested steps.

Note: If Windows 7 can't find the files it needs, it will prompt you to insert a Windows installation disc.

To receive additional information Microsoft offers a video tutorial on its Windows 7 page.

Vista: Enabling and Using Create Recovery Disk

The beta version of Vista SP1 came with an excellent utility Create Recovery Disk (Create a recovery disk) (recdisc.exe) (see Figure 5). But for reasons known only to Microsoft, the utility was cut in all versions produced. File recdisc.exe still exists in Vista, but it doesn't function!

Nevertheless, enthusiasts liked it working version utilities. So they prepared the files and made them available for download - along with practical recommendations. This is not an officially sanctioned solution, but it has been openly discussed and recommended by Microsoft MVP on the Microsoft Answers forum. For example, look Microsoft theme Answers " " (Creating a system repair disc for Windows Vista).

Get recdisk.exe not difficult, but the steps are too long to detail here. A thread on the third-party forum "VistaForums" titled " " (How to Create a Vista Recovery Disc) contains best instructions with practical recommendations that I know. The only thing I would add to practical guide, this is a standard note: before making any system changes, make a backup.

If all this is beyond your capabilities, try using a third-party boot disk as described below.

Windows XP: Requires a third party tool

XP does not have a built-in ability to create a bootable emergency recovery disk.

For many years the best alternative was UBCD4Win(stands for "Ultimate Boot CD for Windows"). But creating that boot disk is a long and complex process that requires some technical prowess and access to a full XP installation CD.

UBCD4Win is still in use, and still free, but I no longer recommend it. Now there is a better solution.

Hiren's Boot CD includes an amazing array of free tools - about 100 in total ().

The CD itself is based on Linux, but you don't need to know Linux; V text type there is an application simple menus to select the tools you will run. (See Figure 6.)

Figure 6. Hiren's BootCD includes an array of approximately 100 free repair and recovery software tools.

Strangely, Hiren's BootCD also contains a stripped-down "Mini-XP" based on the gray system. It is intended as a disaster recovery tool for use by owners of licensed, paid copies of XP - not as a replacement for purchasing a license or standard installation XP. Within its limited tasks, it works great. When your regular (licensed and paid for) Windows XP system won't boot, MiniXP with Hiren's BootCD can help you get it running again.

You can get Hiren's BootCD on his . But finding a working download link may not be easy - the page contains several distracting alternative download links for inappropriate tools.

All Windows Versions: Free Recovery Discs

If the built-in Windows tools are not available or do not work for you, there are many free alternatives boot disks recovery. Like Hiren's BootCD, most of them are made on Linux based and comes with a wide range of pre-configured maintenance and repair tools.

Here are four of the best:

• Trinity Rescue Kit(free or voluntary paid) - specifically designed for recovery operations on Windows machines, but can also be used in questions Linux recovery. A simple keyboard-text menu system is used here by default; a command line is also available in Linux.
• Ultimate Boot CD(free;) - contains more than 100 easy-to-use recovery and diagnostic tools, an interface with a keyboard-text menu.
• SystemRescueCd(free) - allows the use of basic recovery tools in a hybrid text-graphic Linux environment.
• Ubuntu Rescue Remix(free; , offers a range of open-source tools source code data recovery and technical computer forensics tools. However, this product relies almost entirely on the Linux command line, which may make it difficult for those accustomed to mouse-based interfaces.

Automated Easy Recovery Essentials

Tools Easy Recovery Essentials from NeoSmart Technologies deserve a separate discussion. They are favorably mentioned in almost every Internet forum dedicated to Windows recovery.

This is partly because the tools are quite good and can work in all Windows versions- XP, Vista, Win7, Win8, Windows Server.

But the popularity of these tools developed in part because they were free. Although many online discussion forums still refer to NeoSmart drives as free, they are actually now commercial products. Prices in the US start at $20 for the home version of Easy Recovery Essentials and end at $75 for the Server version. You can find a list of all versions and prices on .

For a really modest price you will get bootable iso image, which you can download and burn to a CD, DVD or USB device. Once launched, Easy Recovery Essentials enables highly automated recovery capabilities. In fact, many complex recovery operations can be launched with one simple click, without requiring any further user input.

To get an idea of ​​how easy it is to use these tools, watch the NeoSmart demo video. NeoSmart also offers a money-back guarantee.

Which recovery product is right for you?

I suggest you start with the tools available in Windows if possible. They handle most common tasks and maybe everything you need. They provide routine operations, as well as some unusual ones. Hey, you already paid for them!

If Windows tools don't provide what you need, try free bootable recovery discs at Linux based. Although the Linux environment may be unfamiliar to most Windows users- especially tools command line Linux - there is usually enough documentation to help you work through any rough edges.

If neither the built-in Windows tools nor the free Linux-based ones work for you, then commercial tools may be ideal. NeoSmart's Easy Recovery Essentials tools in particular work well, are very easy to use, and come with a money-back guarantee.

Next week: You'll learn how to use these recovery discs to boot up your computer and access the tools they contain. I'll also suggest some additional tips and recommendations. Stay tuned!

Found a typo? Highlight and press Ctrl + Enter