- Oct 15, 2015
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Microsoft has its inbuilt utility Windows Disk management tool that will help user to create Virtual Hard Drive (VHD) files, attach as physical disks and can be detached anytime as desired. The blog will be discussing the way to mount and unmount VHD images in Windows System.
Virtual Hard Disk (VHD)
VHD is a virtual hard disk image that stores data in a single file. The VHD file can be created by Disk Management utility. It may contain on part of physical HDD such as disk partitions and a file system, which will contain files and folders. It is used as hard disk of a virtual machine.
Steps to Mount VHD Images
- Right-click on Disk Management and choose Create VHD if VHD file is not present or Attach VHD if it is present in system.
i) We will Create VHD first assuming we do not have VHD file in system.
- A window will be opened where virtual hard disk location and size will be specified.
- Click OK and a Virtual Hard Disk will be created.
-We will initialize VHD created by selecting Disk, right-click and choose Initialize Disk
- Select a partition from MBR and GPT. We have selected MBR since the size of VHD is small and GPT is used for disk size larger than 2TB.
- Click OK and Disk will be online. We will create a new simple Volume for the disk.
- A New Simple Volume wizard will be opened click Next to proceed
- Specify volume Size and click Next
- Assign the name of the Partition that is created newly and click Next
- Format the volume to store data in it. Select Format option and click Next
- Click on Finish
- New VHD has been attached to the system. We can see the new volume.
ii) Attach VHD which is already present in the system
- Select Disk Management and right-click to click on Attach VHD
- Browse the location of VHD and select it. There is Read-only box, which should be left unchecked if any modification of files is required from the VHD image. Click OK
- The VHD has been successfully attached. Open Windows Explorer to see the new partition.
Steps to Unmount VHD Images
- Once the user is done working with the mounted Virtual image, it is time to unmount it. Open Disk management, right-click on attached VHD and select Detach VHD option.
- In Detach Virtual Hard Disk window, Delete the Virtual hard disk after removing the disk option is given to erase the VHD. If not deleted, VHD can be reattached anytime. Check option only if you need to delete the data. Click OK to detach
- The VHD has been successfully unmounted. On the Disk Management Window, the partition has been removed.
Conclusion
In the blog, we have discussed about the Virtual Hard Disk, how to mount and unmount VHD files with the help of Disk Management utility. Even if the VHD file is not available, we can create a new VHD using Disk Management by following the steps given in the blog. We can add files and folders to the VHD image and work with it. The Virtual hard disk can be attached or detached anytime we want.
Virtual Hard Disk (VHD)
VHD is a virtual hard disk image that stores data in a single file. The VHD file can be created by Disk Management utility. It may contain on part of physical HDD such as disk partitions and a file system, which will contain files and folders. It is used as hard disk of a virtual machine.
Steps to Mount VHD Images
Go to My Computer and right-click to select Manage
Computer Management Window will be opened
Select Disk Management utility under Storage Tab
- Right-click on Disk Management and choose Create VHD if VHD file is not present or Attach VHD if it is present in system.
i) We will Create VHD first assuming we do not have VHD file in system.
- A window will be opened where virtual hard disk location and size will be specified.
- Click OK and a Virtual Hard Disk will be created.
-We will initialize VHD created by selecting Disk, right-click and choose Initialize Disk
- Select a partition from MBR and GPT. We have selected MBR since the size of VHD is small and GPT is used for disk size larger than 2TB.
- Click OK and Disk will be online. We will create a new simple Volume for the disk.
- A New Simple Volume wizard will be opened click Next to proceed
- Specify volume Size and click Next
- Assign the name of the Partition that is created newly and click Next
- Format the volume to store data in it. Select Format option and click Next
- Click on Finish
- New VHD has been attached to the system. We can see the new volume.
ii) Attach VHD which is already present in the system
- Select Disk Management and right-click to click on Attach VHD
- Browse the location of VHD and select it. There is Read-only box, which should be left unchecked if any modification of files is required from the VHD image. Click OK
- The VHD has been successfully attached. Open Windows Explorer to see the new partition.
Steps to Unmount VHD Images
- Once the user is done working with the mounted Virtual image, it is time to unmount it. Open Disk management, right-click on attached VHD and select Detach VHD option.
- In Detach Virtual Hard Disk window, Delete the Virtual hard disk after removing the disk option is given to erase the VHD. If not deleted, VHD can be reattached anytime. Check option only if you need to delete the data. Click OK to detach
- The VHD has been successfully unmounted. On the Disk Management Window, the partition has been removed.
Conclusion
In the blog, we have discussed about the Virtual Hard Disk, how to mount and unmount VHD files with the help of Disk Management utility. Even if the VHD file is not available, we can create a new VHD using Disk Management by following the steps given in the blog. We can add files and folders to the VHD image and work with it. The Virtual hard disk can be attached or detached anytime we want.
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