VHD or VHDX File - Create and Attach in Windows 8

How to Create and Attach a VHD or VHDX File in Windows 8

Information

This tutorial will show you how to create a fixed or dynamically expanding VHD or VHDX file any size you like saved to where you like, and to attach/mount it as a drive in the Computer window for all users in Windows 8.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to create and attach a VHD or VHDX file in Windows 8.

Note

VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) - Supports virtual disks up to 2400 GB in size. For more details and information, see: Download: VHD Specs - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details

VHDX (Hyper-V Virtual Hard Disk) - Supports virtual disks up to 64 TB (65536 GB) in size, and is resilient to power failure events. This format is not supported in operating systems earlier than Windows 8. For more details and information, see: Download: VHDX Format Specification v1.00 - Microsoft Download Center - Confirmation

Warning

Mounted VHD or VHDX files will only stay attached as a drive for the current session of Windows 8. When you restart or shut down the computer, any attached VHD or VHDX files will automatically be unmounted/detached as a drive from Computer.

You will just need to mount/attach the VHD or VHDX file(s) again to have it displayed as a drive in the Computer window again until the next restart. No need to create another new VHD or VHDX file.

Signing off or switching user, will not affect any mounted/attached VHD or VHDX file(s).

Here's How:

1. Open the WIN+X Power User Tasks menu, and click/tap on Disk Management. (see screenshot below)

2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

3. In Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc), click/tap on Action (menu bar) and on Create VHD. (see screenshot below)

4. Select (dot) if you want to create a VHD or VHDX file, click/tap on the Browse button. (see screenshot below)

5. Navigate to and open the folder or drive that you would like to save the VHD or VHDX file to, type in a name you want fo the VHD or VHDX file, and click/tap on Open. (see screenshot below)

6. Type in the maximum size you want the VHD or VHDX file to be, select the size to be MB, GB, or TB (1024 MB = 1 GB, 1024 GB = 1 TB), select (dot) if you want the new VHD or VHDX file to be Dynamically expanding or a Fixed size,and click/tap on OK.. (see screenshot below)

7. In Disk Management, right click or press and hold on the new "Unknown" Disk # (ex: Disk 1), and click/tap on Initialize Disk. (see screenshot below)

8. Select (dot) MBR (Master Boot Record) or GPT (GUID Partition Table) for what partition you would like the attached VHD or VHDX file to have, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

9. In Disk Management, right click or press and hold on the new "Unallocated" space (ex: on Disk 1), and click/tap on New Simple Volume. (see screenshot below)

10. Click/tap on the Next button. (see screenshot below)

11. Click/tap on the Next button to create a partition using all of the available "Unallocated" space. (see screenshot below)

12. Select what drive letter you would like to be assigned to the attached VHD or VHDX file, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

13. Type in a volume label you want to be displayed for the drive (attached VHD or VHDX file) in Computer, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: It is recommened to leave the Perform a quick format box checked to save time.

14. Click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)

15. The new VHD or VHDX file is now created and attached as drive for all users to be able to use. (see screenshot below)

16. If the disk has been successfully formatted and ready for use like in step 15, then you could just click/tap on Cancel. (see screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

VHD or VHDX File - Create and Attach in Windows 8

Attachments

asus

Member

My Computer

System One

Brink

Administrator

My Computer

System One