how to add win7 vhd to my pc

[conqrr]

hello
i am new here,

i am running xp and am not allowed to change my os or dual boot(coz of pc manufacturer), lets call this pc A
i have a windows 7 vhd image installed in another computer( call it pc B) by the following method
Dual Boot Your PC With Windows 7 on a VHD | geekEleet
now i place this vhd in my c drive on pc A, how do i configure a vista boot disk(Multibooters - Vista Boot Floppy ) to start the vhd from my pc A.
this way it wont affect the boot manager of pc a in any way and i can use win7 on it.

how do i do this???

 

[limneos]

Hello conqrr

First off, Vista's bootloader does not support VHD bootting. To make it support it, you must copy Windows 7's bcdedit.exe and \bootmgr to your Vista installation and overwrite the one of Vista.

Afterwards, you just add the required entries to the bootloader like you did to DUAL BOOT etc. Of course, you need to change the bootloader, no matter what.

 

[Brink]

Hello Conqrr, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You can use this method to boot the VHD.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/625-boot-vhd-using-windows-7-a.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[conqrr]

i am very close now, just one thing, i said i am using xp not vista!!!

can i install only vista boot manager on xp and then boot the vhd??
is it possible?

 

[unawave]

First off, Vista's bootloader does not support VHD bootting.

Correct.

To make it support it, you must copy Windows 7's bcdedit.exe to your Vista installation and overwrite the one of Vista.

Not quiet correct. "bcdedit.exe" is the program to edit the boot manager entries. "bootmgr" is the new boot manager that can handle VHD files. So you need both: "bootmgr" AND "bcdedit.exe".

Whilst an installation of Windows 7 with existing Vista installation the program "bootmgr" from Vista will be replaced with the newer version of Windows 7 (date and size has changed after Windows 7 installation). Then your only need the new "bcdedit.exe" from Windows 7.

 

[conqrr]

well i have said i dont have a vista installation, its only xp.

 

[unawave]

@conqrr:
You should interrupt the installation of Windows 7 in VHD file on PC "B" after first reboot. Because in step two and three the hardware detection of PC "B" starts. In first step Windows 7 installation copied only the necessary files to VHD file and boot manager is prepared for first reboot (Windows 7 as "default" boot option). Then copy necessary files to floppy and VHD file to PC "A". Whilst booting from floppy it should boot from VHD file and finishing installation with correct hardware detection.

 

[limneos]

Not quiet correct. "bcdedit.exe" is the program to edit the boot manager entries. "bootmgr" is the new boot manager that can handle VHD files. So you need both: "bootmgr" AND "bcdedit.exe"

Indeed, unawave, thank you for the correction, edited the original post accordingly.

 

[Brink]

i am very close now, just one thing, i said i am using xp not vista!!!

can i install only vista boot manager on xp and then boot the vhd??
is it possible?

Conqrr,

If the other options do not work for you, then see if you can do the tutorial below to create a VHD on your XP installation at boot with the Windows 7 installation DVD.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2953-virtual-hard-drive-vhd-file-create-start-boot.html