Choose the Windows Vista installation from the list. Click the Next button. The System Recovery Options window appears. Choose the Command Prompt option. Say hello to the Recovery Console. When you’re done using the command prompt, close its window. Choose the option Restart from the System Recovery Options window. The computer restarts. Startup Repair is a Vista recovery tool that can fix certain problems, such as missing or damaged system files, that might prevent Vista from starting correctly. When you run Startup Repair, it scans your computer for the problem and then tries to fix it so your computer can start correctly.
One of the most useful tools for fixing problems in Windows 7 and Windows Vista is the Recovery Console, as long as you know where it is and how to activate it.
The Recovery Console is available from either the F8 start-up menu or any Windows installation or recovery disc. Here are the steps to take for starting the Recovery Console from the F8 boot menu:
- Restart the computer.
- After the start-up message appears, press the F8 key.You must press F8 before Windows starts.
- Choose the option Repair Your Computer.At this point, your computer may start a custom recovery program, such as the Rescue and Recovery tool available on Lenovo PCs. If so, you should either attempt to access the Recovery Console by using this utility.
- Click the Next button.You may be prompted to choose a keyboard layout and language. You usually have no need to change these options.
- Choose your username.If you know the administrator’s password, you can choose Administrator. The password should be the same as on your own user account, though it may not be.Select only an account that has administrator access.
- Type your password and click OK.A window appears on the screen, listing several repair and recovery options and tools. Your PC may not have these same options. For example, Dell Factory Image Restore appears only on Dell computers. (On other computers, you may find the Recovery Manager option, which is pretty much the same thing.)
- Choose the option Command Prompt.The command prompt window opens. You’re now ready to use the Recovery Console commands.
- When you’re done using the command prompt, close its window.
- Choose the option Restart from the System Recovery Options window.The computer restarts.
In some cases, the preceding steps may not get you to the Recovery Console. You may instead find a special recovery program or another utility. Don’t give up! It’s still possible to access the Recovery Console by using a Windows installation or update disc or the recovery disc that came with your computer. Follow these steps:
- Insert the Windows or system recovery disc into your PC’s optical drive.
- Restart the computer.
- Choose the option to boot from the CD or DVD.
- Work your way through the installation process until you find the option Repair Your Computer.Don’t worry: Nothing is changed on your computer until you choose to reinstall Windows. But you’re not doing that.
- Press the R key to choose the option Repair Your Computer.
- If prompted, don’t choose to repair any start-up or boot issues or errors.You can return to fix any errors later.
- Choose the Windows Vista installation from the list.
- Click the Next button.The System Recovery Options window appears.
- Choose the Command Prompt option.Say hello to the Recovery Console.
- When you’re done using the command prompt, close its window.
- Choose the option Restart from the System Recovery Options window.The computer restarts.
The Recovery Console isn’t a friendly place. Go there only when you know what you’re doing or when you’re following directions, like the ones given here.
Maybe your Windows Vista won't boot or it could be infected with some kind of virus. Perhaps Windows Vista puts up a blue screen of death every time you execute some commands. Some tech guys will probably tell you to format your hard drive, reinstall Windows Vista and all your programs, and then restore your data. There are a lot of software available, by which you can create and restore a backup of your hard drive, but many of the old methods doesn't work in Vista, especially the 'repair install'. By booting into Vista, inserting the Windows Vista CD/DVD and selecting Upgrade Installation, you can reinstall Vista system without wiping your personal data. That is a system recovery. And Windows Vista also provides the facility to create system back up. You can easily create Windows Vista hard drive back up from Control panel -> Back up your computer option.
Part 1: How to recover data from Windows Vista Hard drive?
Whenever you meet the situation like virus or blue screen, the most important thing is your data. In this case you need to recover data from your hard drive first. Here are steps to recover data from Vista hard drive.
- Download Wondershare Data Recovery and install on your computer.
- Run the program and start with default wizard mode.
- Choose which types of files you want to recover and choose location as 'I can't remember'.
- Choose Deep scan or raw file recovery as your wish.
- Start scanning and when the process is over, preview each file, and then choose that you want to recover and click 'Recover'.
- Wait for the results and review on your computer.
Part 2: How to use recovery DVD to recover system of Vista hard drive?
You have replaced your hard disk or have erased all files from the hard disk and now wish to re-install Windows Vista. Follow these simple steps to use recovery disc to recover to its original state.
The System Recovery Options menu
A complete System Recovery Options menu will be displayed (see below).
Your computer will take around 30-45 minutes. After this process, you will see that your computer will be how it was when you first took it out of the box.
Most RM Windows Vista computers contain a special hidden recovery partition on the hard drive. This can be used to repair your current system by using the F8 key while booting.
In Windows Vista, we can also use 'System Recovery' Option to recover the hard drive. Menu -> Type 'Recovery' in Search box -> Click Recovery Manager and follow the simple instructions to recover the Windows Vista Hard drive. The System Recovery Options menu contains several tools that can help you recover Windows from failure. You can repair the files and perform System Restore, and restore computer and system using backups that you have made previously. This will wipe out your hard drive and reload it as if it were a new laptop.
Part3: Why does Vista Hard Drive easily lose data?
Vista hard drive is different from other Windows hard drive. It is more easier to lose data. List out the reasons why Vista hard drive easily loses data one by one.
- Windows Vista tends to utilize more often (after boot up and other times during the usage).
- Features that drive hard drive & RAM crazy in Windows Vista like Superfetch, Search Indexer, Windows disk defragmentor, Malware Scanner etc.
- Windows Vista seems to gobble up most of RAM, which is a huge concern for users.
- Windows Vista got very poor driver support. Vista users have expressed their concerns and annoyance over bad driver support. They are bumpier than it should have been.
- Vista's drive model changes have been headache to hardware manufacturer, because it requires complex development and some of them have been designed from scratch for Vista. So, some of them got bad driver support.
- As a part of Windows Vista's system protection feature, Vista maintains system restore points and create shadow copies, which can take up to 15% of your drive. So, you can se your drives constantly shrinking, which can result data loss.
- The disk thrashing's long term affects include wear and tear on your hard drive though and data loss.
- The problem with Vista's System Protection is that while Shadow Copies are held on all editions of Vista, the 'Previous Versions' tab is only available to Vista Ultimate and Business users.