Install/Boot Windows from VHD

Did you know you can install a windows copy to VHD/VHDX (Virtual hard drive) and book from it ?

Reuqirements

• Windows 7 or later
• Windows 7 or later ISO file
• At least 30GB free space on your hard drive
• ~1300 – 1400 gram human brain

Note: You can’t dual-boot UEFI and BIOS systems. You can only dual-boot two UEFI systems or two BIOS systems.

Getting Started

First we need VHD/VHDX file. You can create one using powershell or disk management.

Create a VHD/VHDX file

Open cmd, enter diskpart and type the following command to create a VHD file:

Create vdisk file="c:\my_new_vhd.vhd" type=fixed maximum=30000

Note: You can change the file path and size as you wish.

Initialize the VHD file you just created:

1. Open disk disk management (Winkey+X and Select disk management)
2. Action –> Add SSD (or HDD)
3. Select VDH file (you created while VM setup) clik ok
4. Assign a drive letter to the VHD file.

Install Windows

First you need to copy install.ed/wim file. You can find in the sources folder of your windows iso file.

Get index numbers from ISO file using the following command:

dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:"install.wim/esd"

Apply the image to the VHD file:

dism /Apply-Image /ImageFile:"install.wim/esd" /Index:1 /ApplyDir:X:\

Note: Change the index number to the index number you got from the previous command. And X is the drive letter you assigned to the VHD file.

Create Boot files:

bcdboot X:\Windows

All done. You can boot newly installed os now!

Set Default OS

1. Open msconfig (winkey+R type msconfig and enter)
2. Enter Boot tab
3. Selecet your main OS and click “Set Default”