
This tutorial will show you how to mount and attach either a VHD or VHDX file as a drive in the Computer window for all users in Windows 8.
Published by Brink
- ByLine
- How to Mount and Attach a VHD or VHDX File in Windows 8
- Synopsis
-
This tutorial will show you how to mount and attach either a VHD or VHDX file as a drive in the Computer window for all users in Windows 8.
How to Mount and Attach a VHD or VHDX File in Windows 8

This tutorial will show you how to mount and attach either a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) or VHDX (Hyper-V Virtual Hard Disk) file as a drive in the Computer window for all users in Windows 8. Mount and attach is the same.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to mount/attach a VHD or VHDX file in Windows 8.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to mount/attach a VHD or VHDX file in Windows 8.

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 have 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.
Signing off or switching user, will not affect any mounted/attached VHD or VHDX file(s).
You will have 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.
Signing off or switching user, will not affect any mounted/attached VHD or VHDX file(s).
1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for what you would like to do.
2. Double click/tap on the .vhd or .vhdx file that you want to mount, and go to step 4 below.
3. In File Explorer, select (highlight) the .vhd or .vhdx file that you want to mount, click/tap on the Manage (Disc Image Tools) tab and on Mount button in the ribbon, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)
4. Right click or press and hold on the .vhd or .vhdx file that you want to mount, click/tap on Mount, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)
5. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.
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 Attach VHD. (see screenshot below)
4. Click/tap on Browse, navigate to and select the .vhd or .vhdx file (ex: Ultimate.vhd) that you want to mount, click/tap on Open. (see screenshots below)
5. If you want the mounted .vhd or .vhdx to be read-only while it's attached as a drive, then check the box, otherwise leave it unchecked. Click/tap on OK. (see top screenshot above)
6. The .vhd or .vhdx file is now mounted and attached as a drive. The drive(s) will also open in a separate File Explorer window(s). (see screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, the Ultimate.vhd I mounted (Disk 1) is a Windows Virtual PC .vhd file that had two partitions on it, so it created two drive letters (F and G) in my Computer window.
7. When finished, you can close Disk Management if you like.
1. For how, see: How to Create and Attach a VHD or VHDX File in Windows 8
That's it,
Shawn
Last edited by a moderator:
My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- 64-bit Windows 10
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- System Manufacturer/Model
- Custom self built
- CPU
- Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
- Motherboard
- ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
- Memory
- 16 GB (8GBx2) G.SKILL TridentZ DDR4 3200 MHz
- Graphics Card(s)
- ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
- Sound Card
- Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 3 x 27" Asus VE278Q
- Screen Resolution
- 1920x1080
- Hard Drives
-
1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus M.2,
250GB Samsung 960 EVO M.2,
6TB WD Black WD6001FZWX
8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
- PSU
- OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
- Case
- Thermaltake Core P3
- Cooling
- Corsair Hydro H115i
- Keyboard
- Logitech wireless K800
- Mouse
- Logitech MX Master
- Internet Speed
- 1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
- Browser
- Internet Explorer 11
- Antivirus
- Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
- Other Info
-
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
Linksys EA9500 router,
Arris SB8200 cable modem,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Lumia 1520 phone