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How To Boot VHD's Using Windows 7

Windows 7 allows booting from virtual hard disks (VHDs) created in the VHD format. Only Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise editions support this functionality. The document outlines steps to configure Windows 7 to boot a VHD, which involves using the bcdedit command to copy the current boot entry and set the OS device to the VHD path. However, VHDs must be properly cleaned of virtual machine configuration before Windows 7 can successfully boot them.

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Mohamed Shareef
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95 views2 pages

How To Boot VHD's Using Windows 7

Windows 7 allows booting from virtual hard disks (VHDs) created in the VHD format. Only Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise editions support this functionality. The document outlines steps to configure Windows 7 to boot a VHD, which involves using the bcdedit command to copy the current boot entry and set the OS device to the VHD path. However, VHDs must be properly cleaned of virtual machine configuration before Windows 7 can successfully boot them.

Uploaded by

Mohamed Shareef
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to Boot VHD`s using Windows 7

    Information
Windows 7 includes support for creating, mounting and booting from VHD images but
not many seem to know how to use this functionality to boot VHDs at boot time... I will
detail the steps required to have another OS bootable using Windows 7...

While all Windows 7 editions can create and attach a VHD, only the Windows 7
Ultimate and Enterprise editions support booting from a VHD.

    Warning
This only works with Vista and Windows 7 VHD images!

If you do not have a good knowledge of how to reset your VirtualOS


configuration like HAL type and driver configuration then your VHD will fail to
boot, It must be cleaned of VirtualOS configuration correctly before windows 7
can boot your VHD!!

Step 1: Begin by following this Tutorial to create a VHD: Virtual Hard Disk - Create and
Attach VHD

Step 2: Open a elevated command prompt.

Step 3: type this command: bcdedit /copy {current} /d "VHD_Boot"


If the command succeeds, BCDEdit displays a message similar to the following:

The entry was successfully copied to {CLSID_Number}


Click this bar to view the full image.

Take note of the CLSID number as you will need this during the next step

Step 4: Then type this command bcdedit /set {CLSID_Number} osdevice


vhd=[C:]\disk1.vhd
Click this bar to view the full image.
Step 5: Thats it, You can now boot VHDs using Windows 7
To confirm the settings simply type bcdedit
Click this bar to view the full image.

If your VHD is configured correctly You can reboot and select the extra boot-option
to boot from your VHD

    Warning
VirtualPC VHDs can not be used for booting with Windows 7 because VirtualPC uses a
Pentium 3 HAL and this prevents them from being used as boot media, You can however
use this Tutorial: Virtual Hard Disk - Create and Attach VHD and create then mount a
VHD for use with VMWare Workstation....

You simply set VMWare workstation to use a Physical Disk, you can then Install a
separate OS onto this mounted VHD for use with Windows 7.

    Tip
You Must reset your VHD VirtualOS configuration like HAL type and driver
configuration or your VHD will fail to boot!!! It must be cleaned of VirtualOS
configuration correctly before windows 7 can boot your VHD!!

    Note
There are still many bugs associated with VHD booting with Windows 7 at this time, I
suspect Microsoft will be releasing a new Version of VirtualPC that's able to manage this
entire process of creating, installing and booting separate VHDs at boot-time easily and
without so many problems

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