Restore Windows Vista without a CD: how it works

You can often fix your system by restoring Windows Vista. This also works without a CD. Simply download and burn a recovery CD. You can use it to restore Windows, even if it no longer starts, to repair it or to reinstall it completely. We'll show you how it's done.

Repair Windows Vista without CD using System Restore

• If you can still access your PC, first try a system restore in the usual way. You can read how this works in this practical tip.
• If this is not possible or does not bring any improvement, you will find detailed instructions for repair or recovery using the recovery CD in the next three sections.

Step 1: Download and burn the recovery CD

If you still have the original Windows Vista CD, skip this paragraph and go to step 2. If you no longer have them, follow these instructions:

1. Download the file for the recovery CD from Microsoft.
2. When the download is complete, open the file and install the tool. After installation, an ISO file is saved on your desktop. It must first be burned to CD.
3. If you have already installed a burning program, use this. If this is not the case, download the "CDBurnerXP" program. How to use the software to burn a recovery CD:
4. If the "CDBurnerXP" is downloaded and installed, it starts automatically. Click on the "Burn ISO Image" button and in the new window on the "Browse" button. Select the ISO file. Finally, you can create the CD using the "Burn medium" button.
5. If the recovery was successfully burned to CD, insert it into the drive and restart your computer.

Step 2: Open the recovery menu with the recovery CD

To use the recovery CD, your computer must be set to boot from the CD drive first. Switch on the PC and the recovery CD is started, jump to step 3. If Windows starts as usual, follow these instructions:

1. When you switch on your computer, a start screen appears on which you can read which key you have to press to enter the BIOS menu. Depending on the manufacturer, you usually have to press the "F2", "F8", "F10", or "DEL" keys.
2. If you are in the BIOS menu, you will usually find the menu item "Boot" at the top.
3. Select the "Boot Device Priority" item there.
4. Specify here that the "CD-ROM" is started before the "Hard Drive".
5. You can now exit the BIOS. Your computer will then restart and boot from the CD.

Step 3: repair Vista through the recovery center

1. It may take some time for the recovery center to start. Click on "Next" in the lower right corner of the start screen.
2. At the bottom left you will see the "Computer Repair Options" item. Choose this.
3. Here you have several options to choose from (see picture). You should start "System Restore" first. If this does not work, you can restore Windows from a backup using a "system image restore". If you want to repair your system, you have to start with the "System repair" option and continue with the "Windows memory diagnostics".
4. Select one of the options and follow the further instructions. If you want to completely reinstall Vista, go back to the start page of the recovery center and follow the instructions there.

Solution: "Home server not found"

If you get a message during the restore that the home server was not found, the problem is with incompatible drivers. Unfortunately, this problem occurs more often.

1. First get the driver for your network card. This usually slumbers on the second partition of your hard disk ("D:"). If you cannot find it on your hard drive, download it from the manufacturer. The name and manufacturer of the hardware can be found in the Device Manager under "Network adapter".
2. Then copy the driver to an empty USB stick. In the end, only one EXE file should be on it. Also make sure that it is the 32-bit driver.
3. Now carry out steps 2 and 3 again. If you get to the "Determine hardware" option, do not simply click "Next" but "Install driver".
4. If the driver is installed and you get to the next step without complications, the problem is solved. If the driver is not recognized, format the USB stick and check again whether it is the correct driver for 32-bit systems. Using a different USB port can also help.