How to Create an Emergency Recovery Disk in Windows Easily?

Emergency recovery disk is quite helpful when your computer fails to boot unexpectedly. Therefore, it is a wise move to make it before anything bad happen.

Delia

by Delia Updated on December 28, 2022

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The case: want to make an emergency recovery disk

Emergency recovery disk, also known as emergency repair disk (ERD), is a special disk which contains important system files and settings. A Windows emergency recovery disk can help users troubleshoot and fix problems with their PC, even if it won't boot.

 

My system won't boot, but I can't make an emergency repair disk because I can't boot. Can I make an ERD from my disk on another system, like XP? I've got the boot disks, but need the ERD to repair.

Your computer may refuse to boot due to hard disk crash, system crash or software conflicts. In such scenarios, an emergency recovery disk can help you to restore the operating system to normal status. If your PC cannot boot, an emergency recovery disc will help you to boot it as well.

How to create an emergency recovery disk in Windows

Want to create a Windows emergency recovery disk? There are two efficient ways for your reference.

Solution 1. Creating an emergency repair disk with Windows built-in tool

Windows users can use Windows built-in tool to create an emergency recovery CD/DVD or USB drive. It should be noted that you are only allowed to use CD/DVD as the media for system restore in Windows 7. If you don't have CD/DVD, you can use ISO image file to create an emergency recovery disk in Windows 7.

Here we take CD/DVD as an example to create a Windows 7 emergency recovery disk. Before you do, make sure you have plugged CD or DVD into a well-functioning computer. Then you can follow these steps:

Step 1. Type Backup and Restore in the search box and click it.

Step 2. Click Create a system repair disc in the pop-up window.

Step 3. Select your CD/DVD and click Create disc. Then you can get a Windows 7 emergency recovery disk.

However, the emergency recovery disk made by Windows built-in tool may not boot other computers except the one that created it. Then, you can turn to a third party software to restore system from disc.

Solution 2. Creating an emergency repair disk with the best alternative

To create an emergency recovery disc, you can use the best free alternative – AOMEI Backupper Standard. Almost all types of CD/DVD and USB can be supported by this freeware. With this powerful utility, you can create ASUS recovery disk, create dell recovery USB, and make Lenovo recovery disc, etc.

What’s more, this software supports Windows 11/10, Windows 8.1/8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and XP. If you want to create an emergency recovery disk in Windows 10, this freeware can also give you a hand.

This useful software also provides system backup and system restore. You can use these practical features to protect your personal data. By the way, AOMEI Backupper is praised by lots of people because of its simple interface and easy steps.

Before creating, you need to connect the media (CD/DVD or USB) to the well-functioning computer. Now, you can refer to the following steps. Download the freeware first.

Download Freeware Win 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

Step 1. Install and open this software.

Install Now

Step 2. Select Tools from the left side. Then click Create Bootable Media.

Create Bootable Media

Step 3. Choose a Bootable Disc Type in this interface. It's recommended to choose Windows PE, because it provides more operations than Linux. Then click Next.

Windows Bootable Disc

Step 4. Select your bootable media (here is Burn To CD/DVD). Then click Next to get your WinPE emergency disk.

Burn To DVD

Step 5. Now you can insert the WinPE emergency disk to the computer where Windows refuses to boot. Press certain key (refer to the PC's manual or website) to enter into BIOS, choose the bootable CD and click Enter

You can set the WinPE emergency disc as the first boot device in BIOS settings. Then you can access the system in the Windows PE disc and realize backup and restore by this software.

Notes:

  • If you want to create a bootable partition on hard disk directly, you can turn to OneKey Recovery.

  • If you want to restore system later, a system backup image is necessary in advance. If you want to do system clone instead of system backup, you can turn to AOMEI Backupper Professional.

Summary

Now you have learned two efficient ways to create an emergency recovery disk. It’s recommended to use AOMEI Backupper to create your system repair disc, because it will give you more advanced settings.

If you want to create a Windows Server 2012 recovery disk or a Windows Server 2016 recovery disk, you can use AOMEI Backupper Server.

Delia
Delia · Editor
Delia owns extensive experience in writing technology-related blog posts, and has been a part of AOMEI since 2020 to provide expertise in data security and disaster recovery. She works with Windows operating systems, SQL databases, and virtualization platforms such as VMware and Hyper-V, specializing in troubleshooting and advising on data protection and migration.