How to Create a Virtual Hard Drive in Windows 7
Have you ever wished you had an extra Hard Disk to store files, share, or set aside as an encrypted vault? One of the new features in Windows 7 is the ability to create Virtual Hard Disks and we’ll show you how.
Create a Virtual Drive
This process creates virtual disks in the .VHD format where the minimum size is 3MB. To begin, Right-click on My Computer and select to Manage. Alternately you can type diskmgmt.msc into the Start search box and enter.
The Computer Management screen opens click on Disk Management then Action and Create VHD.
Browse to the directory you want the disk to reside, choose the size you want it to be, and select dynamic or a fixed. If you want the disk to expand in size as you add files to it, then pick Dynamically expanding. Check Fixed size if you want a specific size and for it to stay that way.
In Disk Management you will see the virtual drive listed as unallocated space.
To begin using it you’ll need to Right-click and select Initialize Disk.
In the initialize disk box just keep MBR selected and hit OK.
Create a Volume
Now it is time to create a volume by Right-clicking the unallocated space and select New Simple Volume.
The New Simple Volume Wizard starts up and it’s just a matter of completing it.
Choose the amount of space you want to use for the volume.
Assign it a dive letter that is not currently being used.
Format the new volume as NTFS, FAT32, or FAT. Check if you want a quick format and file compression.
The wizard is complete, click on Finish.
If you have AutoPlay enabled it should pop up for you to open up your new virtual hard disk.
![sshot-2009-10-21-[01-36-53]](http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/sshot20091021013653.png "sshot-2009-10-21-[01-36-53]")
It will be listed with the other disks in Disk Management.
Of course you will also see it listen under My Computer.
This is a cool new feature that will let you use the disk as you would any type of real disk. You can encrypt it, share it out to other systems, store files to it…however you would use an extra disk connected to your system.
![sshot-2009-10-21-[02-03-51]](http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/sshot20091021020351.png "sshot-2009-10-21-[02-03-51]")
This is a cool new feature in Windows 7 that will add extra functionality and options to your current system. There are several ways you can use your VHD including making it bootable. If you have used your geek imagination and have come up with unique ways to use a VHD, leave a comment to tell us about it.
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Great tip
Thank you
I’m confused: what would happen if it were bootable? In reality, it’s just another file that lives within the file system of the OS, right? How would the BIOS know to use it?
i’m guessing bootable in a virtual machine? vhd has been the native virtual pc format for a few years now
here’s a microsoft page about it:
http://technet.microsoft.com/e.....76673.aspx
I am confused. Why would I want this for a single machine? I can understand the ability to copy and reuse the VHD on other boxes but other than that I see no benefit. What am I missing?
Richard, I’ve got several virtual machines on my work machine, and I can see how being able to create a drive, write whatever data I want to it, and then unmount it so it can be used by a virtual machine would be a great tool (or vice-versa).
Still don’t see what good it is to mark it bootable, but whatever.
Full volume encryption is not a new concept – I’m using it right now. There is a custom boot loader involved, which only knows to ask for a passphrase – everything else is encrypted. Search for “volume encryption” and you’ll find the products offering it. I’m using BCVE as it’s got the best features (supports RAID5) and so far has been incredibly robust.
Otherwise, you don’t see good reasons for VHD? Security. Store your documents, pictures, etc, there. If someone steals your computer, they’ll have to enter a password to see the encrypted partition.
Artem
You can edit the BCD to boot the VHD. A way to test out another os without borking your 7 installl.
A reason could be so can run Xp and try windows 7 as I did or vice versa.
Thanks alot for the help, only had the jist of the idea, but with your help not a problem.
Just a quick question however, how would I enable the drive to run automatically? I had a little trouble there.
Cheers
Hello all,
I just created a virtual hard drive on my laptop but now that I have made it, I am wondering, how do I remove it? Is it as simple as deleting the .vhd file? I figured I’d ask before I tried it…
Thanks for any help you can provide!
Nice tutorial! I think Do you think I can use this Virtual Drive as a recovery drive? Using your tutorials:
1. How to Create a Virtual Hard Drive in Windows 7
2. Make the VHD bootable:
a. Diskpart, list disk, select disk 1 (VHD), clean, create partition primary, select parition 1, active, format fs=fat32, assign, exit
3. How to Create a System Image in Windows 7
a. create a system image and place on the VHD
b. create a system repair disc (just for the repair disc files)
c. xcopy all the repair disc files to the VHD
4. Choose boot device at startup (F12)?
Just wondering… Thanks!
What is the real point if creating a VHD? I don’t get it. Can somebody please help.