How to Create a VHD in Windows 7

One of the greatest things about Windows 7 is the ability to create a Virtual Hard Disk (VHD). The VHD support will allow users the ability to install any Operating System that supports booting from a VHD into a VHD. This means that you can have Windows Vista and Windows 7 installed on the same hard drive.

Here's how you can crate a VHD in Windows 7:

1. Go to the Start Menu and right click My Computer, then select Manage

2. Click on Disk Management under Storage in the sidebar. This will show you a list of the partitions that are on your hard drive

3. Right click Disk Management and click Create VHD

4. This will make the Create and Attach Virtual Hard Disk window appear. Select where you want your VHD stored and the size of the VHD

5. If you select Dynamically Expanding Format, it means that as you add more files to the VHD, the VHD will increase in size to accommodate everything you have on it. If you choose Fixed Size Format, the VHD won't grow, it will stay the same size as it did when you first created it. Note: Dynamically Expanding Format is a little slower than the Fixed Size Format.

6. Once you have selected the location, size, and format click OK

7. Now, locate the VHD you created in the partition list and select it. Right click the square area where it says "Disk 2, Unknown". Then, select Initialize Disk

8. A new window called Initialize Disk will appear. Make sure that your new disk is selected and select MBR. Then, click OK

9. Your new disk will initialize and allow you to create a partition on the disk. Right click the Unallocated box and select New Simple Volume

10. A new window called New Simple Volume Wizard will appear. Click Next, then click Next again. If you want to be able to access the new partition as a separate volume, in Explorer, select Next. However, if you want the disk mounted as a folder on your hard drive, select Mount In The Following Empty NTFS Folder and type in the location of the folder or use Browse, select the folder then click Next.

11. Now, select a Volume Label and click Next

12. Finally, review everything and click Finish

You now have a VHD on your hard drive!