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Modify the virtual disk files or create your own (Compact 2013)

  • Article

3/26/2014

This section provides instructions about how to create and modify virtual disk files in Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2.

To modify the sample virtual disks

  1. Make a copy of the file your want to modify (hd0_sample.vhd or hd0_sample.vfd). Do not modify the original file.

  2. Mount the new virtual disk so you can access it as a normal disk.

    • In Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012, open File Explorer, select the virtual disk, and then on the Drive Tools tab, select Mount.
    • In Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, open Disk Management. On the Action menu, select Attach VHD, and then navigate to the virtual disk file.

  3. Because you will need to modify the system files, set the folder view options to show all hidden files and protected operating system files.

    1. On the View tab, select Options, and then select Change folder and search options to open the Folder Options dialog box.
    2. In the Folder Options dialog box, click the View tab. Under Advanced Settings, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
    3. Clear the check box beside Hide protected operating system files (recommended), and then click OK.

  4. Add any files needed for your custom virtual device.

To create your own virtual hard disk (VHD)

  1. Open Disk Management.

    1. To locate Disk Management, open Control Panel, and then search for disk partition.
    2. From the list of available settings, open the administrative tool Create and format hard disk partitions.

  2. Create a new virtual disk.

    1. On the Action menu, select Create VHD to open the Create and Attach Virtual Hard Disk dialog box.
    2. Under Location, browse to the folder where you want to store the VHD.
    3. Under Virtual hard disk size, enter the number of megabytes that you want to assign to this VHD.
    4. Under Virtual hard disk format and Virtual hard disk type, select the options that best fit the requirements of your virtual device, and then select OK.

  3. Initialize the new virtual disk with the MBR (Master Boot Record) partition style.

    1. On the left side of the main Disk Management window, select the disk icon with the label Unknown.
    2. Open a shortcut menu, and then select Initialize Disk.
    3. In the Initialize Disk dialog box, select MBR, and then click OK.

  4. Create a simple volume on the new virtual disk, and format the disk as FAT with the default allocation unit size. Do not add any volume label

    1. Select the new virtual disk. Open a shortcut menu, and the select New Simple Volume to launch the New Simple Volume Wizard.

    2. On the Specify Volume Size page, assign the maximum available disk space to this partition. (You can have only one partition on a Compact 2013 disk.)

    3. On the Assign Drive Letter or Path page, select a drive letter for this disk. Do not mount the disk in an NTFS folder.

    4. On the Format Partition page, under File System, select either FAT or FAT32. Leave the Allocation Unit Size set to Default.

    5. Under Volume Label, clear all characters from the text box, and then select Perform a quick format.

      Important

      To function as a Compact 2013 boot disk, the disk must have a blank volume label.

    6. On the Summary page, review your selections. If everything is correct, select OK.

  5. Mark the partition as active.

    1. Select the new volume.
    2. Open a shortcut menu, and then select Mark Partition as Active.

  6. Close Disk Management and any other programs or processes that might be using the disk. Do not detach the VHD.

  7. Add a boot loader.

See Also

Concepts

Customize the Sample Virtual Device