User scenarios when a user starts the Create Recovery Disk Wizard

Last published : Apr 02, 2026
When a user starts the Create Simplified Disaster Recovery Disk Wizard, the wizard first internally checks whether Windows ADK is already installed on the system. Refer the table for a high-level sequence of events.

Table: User scenarios when a user starts the Create Recovery Disk Wizard

Windows server version If Windows ADK is not installed If Windows ADK is installed
Windows 2008 SP2 If Windows ADK is not installed, the recovery disk wizard downloads Windows ADK 8.1 from the Microsoft Web site. After Windows ADK 8.1 download and install, the recovery disk wizard starts creating the SDR disk. If Windows ADK is installed, the recovery disk wizard verifies if the Windows ADK version is 8.1. If ADK 8.1 is installed, the wizard informs the user that this is not the latest ADK version but the user can proceed with the SDR disk creation.
If the Windows ADK version is below 8.1, the wizard displays a warning message to the user to download Windows ADK 8.1 from the Microsoft Web site, and then proceed with the SDR disk creation. Wizard does not support creating a new SDR disk using ADK 8.0.
Windows 2008 R2 If Windows ADK is not installed, the recovery disk wizard downloads Windows ADK 10 from the Microsoft Web site. After Windows ADK 10 download and install, the recovery disk wizard starts creating the SDR disk. If Windows ADK is installed, the recovery disk wizard verifies if the Windows ADK version is 10.
If the Windows ADK version is below 10, the wizard displays an informational message to the user to download Windows ADK 10 from the Microsoft Web site and then proceed with the SDR disk creation. Wizard does not support creating a new disk using ADK 8.0 or ADK 8.1.
Windows 2012 Same as Windows 2008 R2 Same as Windows 2008 R2
Windows 2012 R2 Same as Windows 2008 R2 Same as
Windows 2008 R2
Windows 2016 Same as Windows 2008 R2 Same as Windows 2008 R2