Windows 7: Virtual Hard Disk - Create and Attach VHD

   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.

Special thanks to Steven (dmex) for pointing out this new feature in Windows 7.

   Tip

You can also use a VHD file created from such programs as Windows Virtual PC.

   Warning

The VHD is only attached for the current session. 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 any VHD file to have it display back in the Computer window again until the next restart.

If you disable the Disk Defragmenter service, then you will get the error below when you try to do anything in Disk Management. If you get this error, then make sure that the Disk Defragmenter service is set to only Manual.

1. Open the Control Panel (icons 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, click on Yes, then do either step 4 or 5 below.

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)
WARNING: Be sure to create a backup copy of the VHD file first to be safe in case of data loss.

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 (VHD file)

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)

8. The VHD is now attached and ready to access like a HDD. (see screenshot below)