Virtual Hard Drive VHD File - Create and Start with at Boot

spydaz · 08 Jul 2009

wivelden said:

Right..I installed Windows 7 into a VHD and it boots to it fine. What I would like to know is if I can move the VHD file to an external USB drive and boot to it. The idea is that if my internal drive goes out I could still boot to the VHD. Now I know there isnt a bootmgr in the VHD so how can I set one up on say a USB Flash drive and point it to the VHD on a partition on my external USB drive?

I already have the partition setup on the external drive as a 20GB partition and have copied the VHD file to it..I would just like to know how to get it to boot to it. Thanks in advance..

There IS a way, With the Windows PE 3.0 for windows 7 automated installation kit. to Run a PE Environment from a USB KEY, by editing the BCD configuration data. Technically the same could be done from a .Wim / VHD but the computer loading the KEy would have to have the equivelent RAM to host the whole os in ram... unless the bcd data on the host machine pointed to the usb key as a menu item, but if the key was not inserted then that os would not load..... ITS PoSSiBLE, i will check it out!

mukul · 22 Jul 2009

Hi,

How can I delete the installed Win7 from my system? I cannot upgrade it to the latest released version

. It says "vhd installation cannot be upgraded".
Also, how to restore vista boot manager to its original state after deleting Win7 from my dual boot system?

I followed this guide and got Win7 working.

Regards
Mukul

garysgold · 22 Jul 2009

Delete the vhd, and then type msconfig into the start menu search bar and hit enter. On the boot tab select the entry for the vhd and delete that also.

spydaz · 22 Jul 2009

mukul said:

Hi,

How can I delete the installed Win7 from my system? I cannot upgrade it to the latest released version

. It says "vhd installation cannot be upgraded".
Also, how to restore vista boot manager to its original state after deleting Win7 from my dual boot system?

I followed this guide and got Win7 working.

Regards
Mukul

To delete the vhd Use Admistrator CMD PROMPT:
BCDEDIT /DELETE {GUID}

The guid must be the guid that referes to the vhd installation.
This will delete the entry in the bcd edit file.
This will enable you to delete the old VHD File.

Now that your Boot Partition HAS BEEN UPRGADED. You should still be able to boot the previous windows vista... BUT IF WANT THE OLDER BOOTLOADER.....
then you would have to use the original startup vista installation disk. when booted into the setup, you would have to delete the system partition where the Win7 Bootloader IS..IN THE DISK MANAGEMENT PART OF THE SETUP.
Then X off the corner of the screen Bringing you back tho the INSTALL NOW SCREEN.
GOTO REPAIR MY COMPUTER.....
Here the repair will efectively put the bootloader BACK into the Original Vista Partition....Restart It should be working....

IF THIS DOES NOT WORK.. You will have to do an Upgrade install on the old vista installation, fixing the problem after the bootloader partition from the windows 7 has been deleted.

If this Fails: Quickly do a default install of the win7, get back the bootloader.... Instal WIndows AIK... Capture the VISTA INSTALLATION TO EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE... Format hardrive and Install basic vista, and apply old image.

LOL.

Hopefully that should give you some direction...
I have had many a simular situation.....

spydaz · 22 Jul 2009

or even just delete the vhd, Create a new one with ImageX /apply install.wim [image] SAMENAME.VHD.
to set up a sysprep new install of win7 and replace with old VHD...
Because THe New Functionalty of the win7 Bootloader should be KEPT.
AS A VERY USEFULL TOOL even if you dont upgrade, you can still attatch VHDS..... You can always Make a WindowsPE environment for any BCDWORK. or VHD / IMAGE WORK... IE: HyperV / Win2k8 , as a guy who loves reinstalling and multi boot stuff... Best boot loader yet...
Still comming to grips with all the different type of CONFIGS(loads which are not public yet) there are loads of guide on the common stuff....
But MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO I INSTALL THE MAC OS< ONTO MY PC NOT VMWARE... HOW WOULD I CONFIGURE THE BOOTLOADER... & FOR DUAL BOOT LINUX.....

spydaz · 22 Jul 2009

spydaz said:

There IS a way, With the Windows PE 3.0 for windows 7 automated installation kit. to Run a PE Environment from a USB KEY, by editing the BCD configuration data. Technically the same could be done from a .Wim / VHD but the computer loading the KEy would have to have the equivelent RAM to host the whole os in ram... unless the bcd data on the host machine pointed to the usb key as a menu item, but if the key was not inserted then that os would not load..... ITS PoSSiBLE, i will check it out!

YEP YOU CAN : BUT YOU NEED A 25GIG KEY CORSAIR, THE KEY needs be formatted ntfs.
you also need to use the admin command prompt:

Goto the boot folder on the win7 disk: Use the command BOOTSECT NT60 [usbDrive]:
This will make it bootable. "Giving the USB A GUID"
When the installtion of windows, or PE env, or Windows install disk, IT WILL NOW BOOT FROM USB AS HDD

darkassain · 22 Jul 2009

spydaz said:

But MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO I INSTALL THE MAC OS< ONTO MY PC NOT VMWARE... HOW WOULD I CONFIGURE THE BOOTLOADER... & FOR DUAL BOOT LINUX.....

i did it the old boot.ini way (there are numerous tutorials on how to do it in vista...)
the same tutorial applies in 7 too..

spydaz · 22 Jul 2009

I will look up this way and check back...

spydaz · 25 Jul 2009

Brink said:

Wivelden,

Sorry, but Windows 7 cannot be installed or booted from an removable drive. It can only be done from an internal drive.

OK HERE IT GOES . LOLOLOOLOLOLOLOL VERY HAPPY

Firstly,
SET UP THE USB KEY/HDD DEVICE With The Windows PE 3.0 (Win7)
Then Either Boot up into the PE Environment Or Windows 7 Environment
Open evelated as Adminstrator CMD PROMPT

Here i setup my variables ---- I keep all little scripts in text files as REUSABLE CODE ----

set drive=I: /// enter drive where vhd is stored
set VHD=\Win7_RC1x64.vhd /// enter vhd file name
set description="VHD BOOT"

bcdedit /store i:\boot\bcd /enum
bcdedit /store i:\boot\bcd /copy {default} /d %description%
Bcdedit /store i:\boot\BCD /set <GUID> device = vhd=[%drive%]%VHD%
Bcdedit /store i:\boot\BCD /set <GUID> osdevice = vhd=[%drive%]%VHD%
Bcdedit /store i:\boot\BCD /set <GUID> detecthal yes

syntax used:

BCDEDIT /STORE <DRIVE><PATH OF STORE> /Other normal bcdedit cmds

With this you can have a dual boot USB device If you just want the VHD BOOT then just delete the entry.

bcdedit /store i:\boot\bcd /delete {GUID} <<< old PE:

and delete the relevent <old PE stuff>

REMEMBER TO KEEP \BOOT <<<<< This is where the BCD files are <<<

>>>> Thanks for the journey <<<
I had been wondering how to do this then after some carefull thought...
IF you can boot PE / Windows Install IT MUST BE POSSIBLE! Only constraint is the size of the key must be able to HOUSE the VHD...

Im not sure if microsoft want you to boot off a usb key... But If its possible YOU CAN....

PS: Ive watched all of microsofts videos too. They say that it cant be done!!!!!! <Reverse psycology> LOL.... they dont want you to do it....

Really this wuld only boot your own pc. as the vhd will be driver specific, Unless you was using a SYSPREPED VHD.... which once booted will work anywhere, lol. In its syspreped state the vhd file is only avge 8gig, but fully installed it will expand to 25 gig.... So Size constraints exist for usb key devices... but as for usb harddrives YES... No problems... then you could have multiple installs / vhds....

QUESTION : CAN Linux be installed to a vhd ? <<< Can it be syspreped <<<< can a linux live disk be copied to vhd ? <<<<
I Know that you can definatly tripple boot from the usb hdd / key >>> TODAY ive amazed myself>>>>>

boredwin7tester · 29 Jul 2009

Will this process work if the original operating system before creating the VHD is windows xp?

another Windows 7 tester

Virtual Hard Drive VHD File - Create and Start with at Boot

How to Uninstall ??

Windows XP?