How to create and set up a virtual hard disk on Windows 10

On Windows 10, a virtual hd (VHDX or VHD) is a file that can employ a ".vhdx" or ".vhd" extension and acts like a physical hard drive, only with the difference that this is a file stored on a real deejay.

Using either format (.vhdx or .vhd) for a virtual drive, y'all tin can store whatsoever files, including documents, pictures, videos, boot files, and an entire OS installation. The only differences betwixt the two formats are that a .vhdx file supports a maximum size of 64TB, features resiliency against power failure, and provides meliorate performance.

Typically, a VHD comes in handy to add extra storage to a Hyper-V virtual machine, and thank you to its ability to back up other OS installations, yous can even use this storage virtualization engineering to create a dual-boot organization without modifying an existing sectionalisation.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to create and gear up upwards a virtual hard disk to shop files on Windows x.

• How to create a VHDX or VHD on Windows ten
• How to ready upward a VHDX or VHD on Windows 10
• How to mount a VHDX or VHD on Windows 10

How to create a VHDX or VHD on Windows x

In lodge to create a VHD on Windows 10, practice the post-obit:

1. Open up Start.
2. Search for Disk Management and click the top result to launch the experience.
3. Click the Activity button.

4. Click the Create VHD option.

   

5. Click the Browse push button and locate the folder you want to shop the virtual disk.
6. In the "File name" field enter a name for the drive.
7. Use the "Save as blazon file" drop-down menu and select Virtual Disk files (*.vhdx) . Or select Virtual Disk files (*.vhd) if you lot're planning to create a VHD file.

8. Click the Save button.

   

9. Under "Virtual hd size," specify the size of the drive in megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), or terabytes (TB).
10. Under "Virtual hard disk format," select the VHDX option. (While using a VHDX format is recommended, you can also select the VHD format, just use information technology but if required.)

11. Under "Virtual difficult disk blazon," select the Dynamic expanding option. (If you lot take selected the VHD format in the previous stride, it's recommended to select the Fixed size option when selecting a blazon.)

    

12. Click OK.

Once y'all consummate these steps, you'll accept created a VHD that you can then set up and use with any compatible version of Windows.

How to set upward a VHDX or VHD on Windows 10

Using the above steps, you created a VHD, but it's empty without any data or file organization. To get in useful, you need to initialize the disk, create a partition, and format the drive using these steps:

1. Right-click the newly created drive button on the far-left side, and click the Initialize Deejay pick.

   

2. Select the deejay from the listing.
3. Check the MBR (Master Kicking Record) pick. (You could likewise select the "GPT (GUID Partition Tabular array)" option, merely this pick isn't supported by all versions of Windows.)

4. Click OK.

   

5. Right-click the Unallocated space, and select the New Elementary Volume option.

   

6. Click Side by side.
7. Specify the size of the division. (Leave this choice unchanged if yous're planning to use all the bachelor space for the partition.)

8. Click Next.

   

9. Using the drop-down menu, select the drive letter of the alphabet you want to assign to the drive.

10. Click Side by side.

    

11. Nether the Format this book with the following settings department, make certain to apply the following options:

    • File Organization - NTFS.
    • Allocation unit size - Default.
    • Book label - Use the name of the drive file, but you can enter any proper noun.
    • Perform a quick format - Formats the drive faster.
    • Enable file and folder compression - If it's not required, don't select it (optional).

12. Click Next.

    

13. Click Finish.

After completing these steps, the VHDX or VHD will be initialized, partitioned, and formatted. The VHD will mountain automatically, and you can at present admission and save files using File Explorer.

How to mount a VHDX or VHD on Windows x

Although during the setup procedure, Windows 10 volition automatically mountain a VHDX or VHD file to your device, that won't always be the case.

If you're creating a VHD for another device, or you're storing the file on an external hard bulldoze, you'll demand to know the steps to properly attach and detach the virtual drive.

Mounting

To mountain or adhere the virtual hard disk drive, do the following:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Disk Management and click the top issue to launch the experience.
3. Click the Action button.

4. Click the Attach VHD option.

   

5. Click the Browse button, and locate the .vhdx or .vhd file.

   

   • Quick Tip: If y'all are only viewing and extracting files from the drive, yous tin likewise check the Read-only option to prevent accidental deletion or temper with the virtual drive'south content.
6. Click OK.

After completing these steps, yous can admission the VHD like any other drive using File Explorer.

Dismounting

It's important to save whatever files and applications located in the VHDX or VHD file earlier dismounting or detaching to prevent data loss.

1. Open Kickoff.
2. Search for Deejay Direction and click the top issue to launch the experience.

3. Right-click the bulldoze push button on the far-left side, and select the Detach VHD pick.

   

4. Ensure you're detaching the correct drive, and then click OK.

   

Once you lot complete these steps, the VHDX or VHD file will no longer exist mounted, and it'll no longer show up in File Explorer.

While this guide is focused on Windows 10, the power to apply a VHD has been available for some time, and yous tin use the same instructions on Windows 8.1.

More than Windows ten resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows x, visit the post-obit resources:

• Windows ten on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows ten help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Fundamental

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-create-and-set-vhdx-or-vhd-windows-10

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