Creating a new Veritas System Recovery Disk

Last published : Apr 02, 2026
As Microsoft no longer allows redistribution of WinPE, Veritas System Recovery 18 does not include a Veritas System Recovery Disk on a DVD media or as an ISO downloadable from the web. Veritas System Recovery 18 provides a new utility that is called System Recovery Disk Creation Utility using which you can create a system recovery disk on your computer. As a recovery disk is required to restore images created with Veritas System Recovery 18, it is imperative that you create a recovery disk using this utility. To restore the system volume images that are created using Veritas System Recovery 18, you need to create a Veritas System Recovery Disk using this utility. Veritas recommends that you create a recovery disk using this utility at the earliest. By default this utility is installed with Veritas System Recovery 18. Veritas recommends that you test the recovery disk on the computer on which you want the use it.
The System Recovery Disk Creation Utility provides two options to create a Veritas System Recovery Disk based on the disaster recovery needs. Using the Typical option, you can create a recovery disk on Windows 7 and later desktop operating systems, and Windows Server 2008 R2 and later server operating systems. Using the Advanced option, you can create a recovery disk on Windows Server 2008 and later server operating system, and Windows 7 and later desktop operating systems. This option requires the download and installation of the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) to create the Veritas System Recovery Disk. The Windows ADK can only be installed on Windows Server 2008 and later server operating systems, and Windows 7 and later desktop operating systems.
Note: The Veritas System Recovery Disk Creation Utility only runs on Windows 7 and later operating systems.
Veritas recommends that the recovery disk is created on the latest operating system available, such as Windows 10, Windows 2016, or Windows Server 2019. The Veritas System Recovery Disk can then be used to recover images of that operating system and all previous operating systems. However, a recovery disk created on an older operating system cannot be used to recovery later operating systems. For example, a Veritas System Recovery Disk created on Windows 2008 cannot be used to recover Windows 2012 images.
The Veritas System Recovery Disk Creation Utility allows creation of a 32-bit or 64-bit recovery disk on a USB thumb drive, as an ISO file, or in the LightsOut Restore format. If the Advanced option is used, Veritas recommends using the latest version of the Windows ADK that is available. A recovery disk created with an older version of the Windows ADK can only restore operating system supported by that ADK. For example, a Veritas System Recovery Disk created using Windows ADK for Windows 8.0 (Windows 8/2012 kernel) can be used to recover Windows 8/2012 and earlier operating systems. It cannot be used to recovery later operating systems, such as Windows 8.1/2012 R2 or Windows 10/2016/2019.
A license key is not required to create a Veritas System Recovery Disk. A license key is required if additional drivers need to be added, or if specifying the startup or network options.
To create a Veritas System Recovery Disk, you can launch the Create Veritas System Recovery Disk Wizard in the following ways:
  • Launch Veritas System Recovery 18, go to the Tasks menu and click Create New Recovery Disk.
  • On the Windows taskbar, click Start > All Programs > System Recovery Disk Creator.
  • In the Veritas System Recovery Disk Status dialog box, click Create Now.
    Note: TheCreate Nowbutton is displayed in theVeritas System Recovery Disk Statusdialog box when you launch Veritas System Recovery 18 and is available only until you create the Veritas System Recovery Disk. Note: If you are connected to a remote computer, theVeritas System Recovery Disk Creation Wizardis not available in Veritas System Recovery 18. You cannot create a Veritas System Recovery Disk.
To create a new Veritas System Recovery Disk
  1. On the Tasks menu, click Create New Recovery Disk.
The Veritas System Recovery Disk Creation Wizard is displayed.
  1. In the Welcome panel, review the information, and then click Next.
See Welcome Panel.
  1. In the Creation Options panel, select the disk creation option (TypicalorAdvanced) to create the Veritas System Recovery Disk and clickNext.
    Feature Description Typical Advanced
    Uses Windows ADK 10, version 1809 No Yes
    You require an Internet connection to download Windows ADK.
    See Download and install Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) .
    Platform support Creates a 32-bit or a 64-bit recovery disk depending on the operating system installed on your computer. Creates 32-bit and 64-bit recovery disks on the same computer.
    To create a 32-bit recovery disk, use this option on a 32-bit computer. To create a 64-bit recovery disk, use this option on a 64-bit computer.
    Windows operating systems that can be recovered The computer's operating system on which you create the Veritas System Recovery Disk and all earlier versions. All versions of Windows supported by the product.
    See Veritas System Recovery Disk recovery matrix . Use this option on the latest operating system to recover all Windows operating systems.
    Languages available in the recovery environment The language of your operating system. One or more of the 11 supported languages selected during Veritas System Recovery Disk creation.
    Temporary disk space required on local system Approximately 500 MB Approximately 500 MB for each recovery disk that you create. More space is required for each additional language that you select.
    An additional 3.5 to 5 GB disk space is required to install Windows ADK.
    PowerShell Cmdlets support in recovery environment (for example, Storage Space Creation Cmdlets) Not Available Available
    Time required for creation (approximately) 10 minutes 20 minutes
    If you select more than one language, approximately 10 minutes are added for each language.
    Can be customized on other operating systems Yes Yes
    See Veritas System Recovery Disk customization support matrix .
See Creation Options.
  1. In the Languages panel, select the languages that should be available in the recovery environment, and then click Next.
See Languages Options.
Note: The Languages panel is only available if you select theAdvancedcreation option.
  1. In the Veritas System Recovery Disk Storage Media/Destination panel, select the destination to save the recovery disk, and then click Next.
    Disk label Lets you specify the name that you want to use for the
    Veritas System Recovery Disk label.
    Select the platform of the recovery disk This option is only displayed if you select the Advanced option to create a Veritas System Recovery Disk.
    Select the 32-bit, 64-bit, or both platforms for which you want to create the Veritas System Recovery Disk.
    Select a drive to create a Veritas System Recovery Disk on a USB device Lets you save your new Veritas System Recovery Disk to a USB device.
    Select the media drive in which you have inserted in the USB device.
    The existing data on the USB device is not
    formatted during Veritas System Recovery Disk
    creation. If you have a recovery disk created on the same USB drive, the new recovery disk overwrites the older recovery disk.
    Note: Veritas recommends that only privileged users or an administrator should have the rights to access the USB folder. Veritas also recommends that the recovery media files be managed only by trusted users. This is to ensure that the files are always safe and no one can tamper with them.
    If you attach an unsupported volume to your computer, the Show Unsupported Devices link is displayed. When you click the link, the Unsupported Devices dialog box with a list of the unsupported volumes and the reason for the unsupported volume is displayed.
    A Veritas System Recovery Disk does not support the super formatted USB disk.
    Note: You cannot create a 64-bit Veritas System Recovery Disk if your computer has a 32-bit operating system.
    Save the Veritas System Recovery Disk as an ISO file Lets you save your new Veritas System Recovery Disk as an ISO file.
    Click Browse and specify the path where you
    want to save the ISO file.
    You can manually burn the saved ISO file to a CD/DVD/Blu-ray.
See Veritas System Recovery Disk Storage Media/Destination Options.
  1. In the Licensed Features panel, enter the license key of the product and then click Next.
    Use the license key that is activated on this computer Enables the cold backup feature in the recovery environment using the product license key that is provided.
    Note: By default, this option is not available when you create a Veritas System Recovery Disk using the Veritas System Recovery Management Solution Mode.
    Use the following license key Enables the cold backup feature in the new Veritas System Recovery Disk by typing a product
    license key.
    Prompt for a license key Prompts you for a product license key at the
    time you want to enable features in the
    Veritas System Recovery Disk.
    Note: By default, this option is selected when you create a Veritas System Recovery Disk using the Veritas System Recovery Management Solution Mode.
See Licensed Features Options.
  1. In the Storage and Network Drivers panel, review the list of any storage or network drivers to be included, add, or remove storage and network drivers, and then click Next.
    Storage and network drivers Lets you review the list of any storage or
    network drivers to be included.
    Add Lets you add additional drivers.
    The location that you specify should contain
    the fully extracted installation package for
    the driver you add. If you have more than
    one missing storage or network driver, you
    can click Add for each missing driver.
    See Adding a Storage or Network Driver .
    Remove Deletes the drivers from the driver list that is displayed on the wizard.
    Reset Resets the list to the original list of storage and network drivers that is detected on the computer on which the Veritas System Recovery Disk creation utility is run.
See Storage and Network Drivers Options.
  1. In the Startup Options panel, select the time zone, display language, keyboard layout language for the Veritas System Recovery Disk, and then click Next.
    Time zone Sets the time zone to use for the Veritas System Recovery Disk.
    Display language Sets the default display language for the Veritas System Recovery Disk.
    Keyboard layout Lets you select the default keyboard layout
    to use when you boot from the Veritas System Recovery Disk.
See Startup Options.
  1. In the Network Options panel, select the dynamic or static IP, save the Windows firewall settings to the Veritas System Recovery Disk, and then click Next.
    Automatically start network Automatically starts network services when you recover the
    services computer through LightsOut Restore. Select this option if you want to enable network services in a recovery environment.
    Dynamic IP Connects to a network without the need for additional
    network configuration. You can click this option if you
    know there is a DHCP server available on the network
    at the time you restore.
    Static IP Connects to a network with a particular network
    adapter and specific address settings. You should select
    this option only if you know there is no DHCP server (or the
    DHCP server is unavailable) when you want to recover data.
    Use Windows firewall settings Applies the local computer's firewall settings to the recovery environment. For example, if you turn on the firewall for your local computer and then select this option, the firewall settings are applied for the recovery environment too.
See Network Options.
  1. In the Setup LightsOut Restore panel, select the Enable LightsOut Restorecheck box to enable the LightsOut Restore boot option and boot menu display time, and then clickNext.
    Boot menu label Indicates the title that appears
    on the Windows boot menu for LightsOut
    Restore.
    Display boot menu for seconds Specifies how long you want the
    boot menu to display.
    The default is 10 seconds.
See Setup LightsOut Restore Options.
  1. In the Summary panel, review all of the options that you selected, and then click Finish.
The Progress panel displays the progress status and the approximate time that is required to create theVeritas System Recovery Disk. The Result panel displays a success result if the recovery disk is created successfully or a failed result if the recovery disk is not created successfully.
When a Veritas System Recovery Disk creation fails or is stopped, the recovery disk creation process is stopped. In some cases some files are left mounted in a temporary (folder name, SymSrdTemp) location and the files cannot be deleted. The WimCleaner.exe utility unmounts any such mounted system files and deletes the temporary folder (SymSrdTemp). Veritas System Recovery provides the 32-bit version of the WimCleaner.exe utility.
The utility is at the following location: <VSRInstallPath>\Utility\WimCleaner.exe. You can double-click the exe file to run the utility or use the command prompt to run the utility.
Note: Veritas recommends that you test the recovery disk after it is created. It ensures that you can use the Veritas System Recovery Disk to start your computer and can access the drive that contains your recovery points.
See Testing the Veritas System Recovery Disk.
  1. Click Close to close the wizard.