 | | Welcome to Windows 7 Forums. Our forum is dedicated to helping you find solutions with any problems, errors or issues you are experiencing with Windows 7. The Windows 7 forum also covers news and updates and has an extensive Windows 7 tutorial section that covers a wide range of tips and tricks. | Windows 7 - Virtual Hard Disk - Create and Attach VHD Virtual Hard Disk - Create and Attach VHD How to Create and Attach a Virtual Hard Disk in Windows 7
Published by Brink
11-17-2008
| Virtual Hard Disk - Create and Attach VHD How to Create and Attach a Virtual Hard Disk in Windows 7 Information | | A Virtual Hard Disk is a created VHD file on your hard drive that acts as a separate hard drive disk in Computer. This will show you how to create and attach (mount), or only attach (mount) an existing, a VHD in Windows 7. | | Note | | Special thanks to Steven (dmex) for pointing out this new feature in Windows 7. | | Tip | | You can also use a VHD file for such programs as Virtual PC. | | Warning | | When you restart the computer, any attached VHD files you have will no longer be attached and appear in Computer. You will have to reattach them to have them back in Computer until the next restart. | | EXAMPLE: New Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) in Computer Here's How: 1. Open the Control Panel (All Items View). A) Click on the Administrative Tools icon, and click on Computer Management.
B) Go to step 3. OR 2. Open the Start Menu.A) In the Search box, type compmgmt.msc and press Enter. 3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes. 4. To Attach an Existing VHD File - NOTE: This is for a detached VHD file that you had already created in step 5 below, or from an existing VHD file.A) In the left pane, right click on Disk Management, and click on Attach VHD. (See screenshot below) NOTE: You can also click on Disk Management, Action on the menu bar, and Attach VHD. B) Click on the Browse button. (See screenshot below) C) Navigate to the VHD file location and select it, then click on the Open button. (See screenshot below) D) If you want the VHD to be read-only, then check the box, otherwise leave it unchecked. Click on OK. (See screenshot below) E) If the existing VHD file is unallocated, go to step 6. (See screenshot below step 6A)
F) If the existing VHD file is allocated, go to step 8. (See screenshot below step 8) 5. To Create and Attach a New Virtual Hard Disk -A) In the left pane, right click on Disk Management, and click on Create VHD. (See screenshot below) NOTE: You can also click on Disk Management, Action on the menu bar, and Create VHD. B) Click on the Browse button. (See screenshot below) C) Navigate to the location you would like to store the new VHD file, type in a name for the VHD file, and click on Save. (See screenshot below) D) Type in the maximum size you want the Virtual Hard Disk to be, and select the size to be MB, GB, or TB (1024 MB = 1 GB, 1024 GB = 1 TB). (See screenshot below)
E) Select (dot) if you want the new VHD size to be Dynamic or Fixed, and click on OK. (See screenshot below) F) Continue to step 6. 6. To Initialize the Virtual Hard Disk -A) Right click on the new unallocated VHD Disk # and click on Initialize Disk. (See screenshot below) B) Select (check) the Disk # from above for the new VHD. Select (dot) if you want the new VHD to have a MBR (Master Boot Record) or GPT (GUID Partition Table) partition, and click on OK. (See screenshot below) C) Continue to step 7. 7. To Create a New Simple Volume in the VHD -A) Right click on the new unallocated VHD and click on New Simple Volume. (See screenshot below) B) Click on the Next button. (See screenshot below) C) Type in how much of the maximum disk space (step 5D) you want for the size of this VHD partition, and click on Next. (See screenshot below) NOTE: If you do not use the maximum space, then you will have a second unallocated VHD partition left with the remaining available disk space.  D) Select the file system (NTFS or FAT32) you want the VHD partition to be. (See screenshot below)
E) Type in a name for the VHD to be displayed in Computer. (See screenshot below)
F) Check the Perform a quick format box, and click on Next. (See screenshot below) G) Click on the Finish button. (See screenshot below)
7. The new VHD is now created and attached. (see screenshot below)
That's it,
Shawn . |  Published by | | Administrator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 12,793 | |
 Tutorial Tools | | | | | | | | | |
11-17-2008
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#1 | | Windows 7 Ultimate Vista Ultimate x64 QLD, Cairns |
At first glance when you see Windows 7 it doesn't look allot different from Vista, But when you start to dig a little you start to see all of extra hidden features and this is only a Pre Beta, so it will more than likely have many more features with the final release.
Nice work Shawn.
| My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Home Brew OS Windows 7 Ultimate Vista Ultimate x64 CPU Core 2 Duo E8500 3.16Ghz @ 3.8Ghz Motherboard eVGA 750i FTW Memory 2x2Gigs Patriot PC2-6400 LL Graphics Card Inno3D GeForce GTX260 216 SP Monitor(s) Displays ASUS VW222U 22" 2ms Response time Screen Resolution 1680x1050 Keyboard Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard Mouse Logitech G9 Gaming Mouse PSU HYTEC 600W & Thermaltake 650W Toughpower Power Exp Case Thermaltake Armor LCS (Liquid Cooling System) Cooling Liquid Cooling System Hard Drives SATA 150GB
SATA II 250GB
USB IDE 750GB Ext. |
11-17-2008
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#2 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail Texas |
I can't wait to see what other features Windows 7 may have either.
Thank you Mr GRiM. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 23" 1920x1080 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower w/ 250 mm Front & 120 mm Rear fan Cooling Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Copper CPU heat sink w/120 MM Hard Drives 2 x 750GB (RAID 0) Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 10.58 Mb/s Download and 1.12 Mb/s Upload Other Info Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
** Samsung CLX-3175FW Printer
** D-Link DIR-855 Router
** Motorola SB6120 Cable Modem
** ASRock ION 330 server |
04-11-2009
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#3 | | |
My English is not good 
Please help, after 4e ->error
thanks you!
And, why did admin band my Ip 118.71.66.77? | My System Specs | | |
04-11-2009
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#4 | | Windows 7 x86 Milton Keynes, United Kingdom |
Excellent work as always Shawn. I noticed this option a couple of days ago & thought to myself 'I wonder if there's a tutorial on it yet' & 'Wouldn't it be great to write 1?'. Guess you're just 3 steps ahead of every1 LOL | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number E-Systems EI 3101 OS Windows 7 x86 CPU Intel Celeron M430 1.73GHz Memory 1.25GB Graphics Card Intel 943GML with 128MB shared memory Sound Card On-board Realtek HighDef audio Screen Resolution 1280x800 Hard Drives 40GB S-ATA, 80GB External USB |
04-11-2009
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#5 | | |
Thank you very much, can you help more? My English is not good  | My System Specs | | |
04-11-2009
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#6 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail Texas |
Hello Son,
It looks like you mave some group policy setting set preventing you from doing this. Are you part of a domain?
If needed, this can help with translations. Google Translate | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 23" 1920x1080 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower w/ 250 mm Front & 120 mm Rear fan Cooling Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Copper CPU heat sink w/120 MM Hard Drives 2 x 750GB (RAID 0) Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 10.58 Mb/s Download and 1.12 Mb/s Upload Other Info Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
** Samsung CLX-3175FW Printer
** D-Link DIR-855 Router
** Motorola SB6120 Cable Modem
** ASRock ION 330 server |
04-11-2009
|
#7 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail Texas |

Quote: Originally Posted by Orbital Shark Excellent work as always Shawn. I noticed this option a couple of days ago & thought to myself 'I wonder if there's a tutorial on it yet' & 'Wouldn't it be great to write 1?'. Guess you're just 3 steps ahead of every1 LOL LOL, thank you. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 23" 1920x1080 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower w/ 250 mm Front & 120 mm Rear fan Cooling Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Copper CPU heat sink w/120 MM Hard Drives 2 x 750GB (RAID 0) Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 10.58 Mb/s Download and 1.12 Mb/s Upload Other Info Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
** Samsung CLX-3175FW Printer
** D-Link DIR-855 Router
** Motorola SB6120 Cable Modem
** ASRock ION 330 server |
04-11-2009
|
#8 | | |
Thank you! Do you have any software to fix the error? | My System Specs | | |
04-11-2009
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#9 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail Texas |
Do you have enough free space on the selected drive to create the VHD on? | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 23" 1920x1080 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower w/ 250 mm Front & 120 mm Rear fan Cooling Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Copper CPU heat sink w/120 MM Hard Drives 2 x 750GB (RAID 0) Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 10.58 Mb/s Download and 1.12 Mb/s Upload Other Info Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
** Samsung CLX-3175FW Printer
** D-Link DIR-855 Router
** Motorola SB6120 Cable Modem
** ASRock ION 330 server All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:24 AM. |  |