How to Unattach and Delete a Virtual Hard Disk in Windows 7
InformationA 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 unattach, or unattach and delete, the VHD that you have already created and attached in Windows 7.Warning
- Unattach VHD - This will only remove the VHD from Disk Management and make it unavailable in Computer until the VHD file is attached again. It does not delete the VHD file.
- Delete VHD - This will remove the VHD from Disk Management and Computer, and also permanently delete the VHD file and all data stored on it.
- 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.
EXAMPLE: Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) in ComputerHere's How:1. Open the Control Panel (icons view).That's it,A) Click on the Administrative Tools icon, and click on Computer Management.OR
B) Go to step 3.
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. In the left pane, click on Disk Management. (See screenshot below step 5)
5. In the middle pane, right click on the Disk # of the VHD (left side in middle pane), and click on Detach VHD. (See screenshot below)6. To Only Detach the Virtual Hard DiskA) Uncheck the Delete the virtual hard disk file after removing the disk box. (See screenshot below step 8)7. To Detach and Delete the Virtual Hard Disk
B) Go to step 8.A) Check the Delete the virtual hard disk file after removing the disk box. (See screenshot below step 8)8. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)9. The VHD has been removed from Disk Management and Computer. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: If you did step 7, the VHD file will also now be deleted to.
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Create a Windows 7 VHD at Boot to Start with from Boot
- How to Create and Attach a Virtual Hard Disk in Windows 7
- How to Setup Windows 7 to Boot from a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk)
- How to Shrink a Partition or Volume in Windows 7
- How to Extend a Partition or Volume in Windows 7
- How to Delete a Partition or Volume in Windows 7
- How to Create a New Partition or Volume in Windows 7
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- How to Convert a VHD File to a ISO File
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Virtual Hard Disk - Unattach and Delete VHD
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New #3
I cannot detach it!
It is weird. I attached a VHD (a Windows Backup file), in Disk Management, that worked fine. But when I right-click it, there is no option to detach it, I cannot mfind that detach option anywhere.
How do I get that option?
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New #4
Hello Maiki, and welcome to Seven Forums.
Be sure that you are right click on the Disk # part on the left side (box in red under step 5), and not on the actual driver letter part with the partition.
Hope this helps,
Shawn
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New #5
Excellent advice.
I also couldn't find the Detach option. Thanks for clearing up the fact that the area to click is on the left part which actually has the drive #.
Kudos!
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New #7
Thanx
Hey mann, It's cool..................
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New #8
Administrator can n0t detach virual drives
I am using an account which is classified as an Administrator account. I have disabled the administrator account that tMicrosoft incoludes in windows 7. However I am unable to detach virtual drives, as you showed.
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New #9
Hello Kennie, and welcome to Seven Forums.
Could you post some screenshots of what you see instead of what's in the tutorial, and any message it gives you when you try to detach a VHD?
Virtual Hard Disk - Unattach and Delete VHD
How to Unattach and Delete a Virtual Hard Disk in Windows 7Published by Brink
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