How to create a natively bootable Windows 7 VHD
[Thanks to SevenForums.com]
1. Insert your Windows 7 installation disk into the CD/DVD drive.
2. Restart the computer, and boot into the command prompt
from the Start Recovery Options screen. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You will use OPTION TWO at that link.
3. In the command prompt, type diskpart and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
4. In the command prompt, type:
create vdisk file=C:\VHD-Windows7.vhd
maximum=40960 and press Enter.
NOTE: You can substitute the VHD-Windows7
name with any name you would like for the VHD file instead. You
can also substitute the maximum size of 40960 MB
for the VHD to the maximum size you want instead in MB (1GB = 1024MB).
5. In the command prompt, type select vdisk file=C:\VHD-Windows7.vhd and
press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you subsituted the VHD-Windows7 name
in step 4, then you will need to use it here as well.
6. In the command prompt, type attach vdisk and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
7. In the command prompt, type exit and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
8. Close the command prompt window. (See screenshot above)
9. Close the System Recovery Options window. (See screenshot
below)
WARNING: You must close it only. Do not click on the Shut Down
or Restart button.
10. Click on the Install now button. (See screenshot below)
11. Check the I accept the license terms box and click on Next. (See screenshot below)
12. Click on the Custom (advanced) option. (See screenshot below)
13. Select the available option with the unallocated space that is
the same maximum VHD size (ex: 40GB = 40960MB) that you specified in step 4
above, and click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you see the Windows cannot be install to this disk
warning, then you can ignore it. Windows 7 will install on the VHD file.
14. Finish doing a clean install of Windows 7.
NOTE: You will pick up at step 9 at that link to finish
installing Windows 7 on the VHD file.
15. When you restart or start the computer, you will now have
Windows 7 to select from at boot to start natively from the VHD file. (See the
first example at top of the tutorial.)
