How to create a bootable VHD in Windows 7


Create a Bootable VHD

1. Turn on the Windows Vista system and place the Windows 7 installation DVD in the system. When the system starts, select the option to boot from the DVD.

2. When the initial installation screen appears prompting you to select a language, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method, press Shift+F10. This will launch a command-prompt window with the prompt.

X:\Sources>

X: is mapped to the DVD drive, and it is pointed to the Sources folder in the drive.

3. At the command prompt, type diskpart and press Enter. After a moment, the command prompt will change to DISKPART>.

4. Type the following command, and press Enter to create a 40GB expandable virtual disk file.

 Create vdisk file = c:\Windows7.vhd maximum=40960 type=expandable

You can name the .vhd file anything you want, enter a different maximum size, or omit the type=expandable statement to create a fixed-size file. If you choose a fixed size, it will take several minutes to complete and will show the progress. After the file is created, Diskpart will display the message "Diskpart successfully created the virtual disk file."

5. Type the following command and press Enter.

 Select vdisk file=c:\Windows7.vhd

Diskpart will indicate it has successfully selected the virtual disk file.

6. Type the following command and press Enter:

 Attach vdisk

Diskpart will indicate it has successfully attached the virtual disk file.

7. Type Exit and press Enter to exit Diskpart.

8. Type Exit and press Enter to exit the command-prompt window.

9. You will now see the Install Windows screen you saw before pressing Shift+F10. Make sure the correct language, time and currency, and keyboard or input method are selected and click Next.

10. Click the Install Now button.

11. Review the license terms, select the check box I Accept The License Terms, and click Next.

12. Click the Custom (Advanced) type of installation.

13. The Where Do You Want To Install Windows screen will appear with at least two disks showing. Below the physical disks and partitions, you will see the virtual disk file represented as a disk with a total size of 40 GB and free space of 40 GB (unless you created it as a different size). In my test system, it has one physical disk shown as Disk 0 and the .vhd disk as Disk 1 Unallocated Space. Select the virtual disk and click Next.

At this point, the installation of Windows will progress as would a normal Windows 7 installation. When it completes and reboots, you'll see a dual-boot screen. The Windows 7 choice will be first and, if you don't take any action, it will boot to the Windows 7 VHD file in 30 seconds. A warning may appear saying, "Windows cannot be installed to this disk (Show Details)," indicating the hardware is not compatible. Don't believe it. Continue on.

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Note: This article was sent to us by: Aaron C. Ledlan at 09152010

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