VHD

<< Click to Display Table of Contents >>

Navigation:  Using SyncBackPro > Expert Mode >

VHD

 

Using this window you can use existing VHD/X files (on Windows 7 or newer).

 

VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) is a disk image file format for storing the complete contents of a hard drive. The disk image, sometimes called a virtual machine, replicates an existing hard drive and includes all data and structural elements.

 

 

Settings

 

Mount a VHD (a virtual drive): If you want to use a VHD file, then enable this option. Note that you must create the VHD file yourself, which is possible within Windows. Note that VHD files are only supported on Windows 7 or newer. You must be running elevated to mount a virtual drive.

 

Filename: This is the filename of the VHD file. SyncBackPro cannot create VHD files. You must use Windows, or another utility, to create VHD files.

 

Mounting Point: A virtual drive can be mounted on a drive letter, e.g. X:\, or on an empty folder in an NTFS partition. Note that this is entirely optional and not required (unless BitLocker is being used). Only mount a virtual drive if you have external programs that need access to the virtual drive while the profile runs. Also, if it is already mounted then the existing mounting point will be used instead.

 

warning

If a VHD file is being used, which is protected by BitLocker using a password, then it must be mounted to a drive. It cannot be mounted to a folder on NTFS.

 

 

Creating a new VHD file

 

Windows itself contains the utilities to create VHD files. There are two ways to do this: via Disk Management or via DiskPart:

 

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg318052(v=ws.10).aspx#BKMK_Part

 

Basically, you need to create the VHD file, create a volume on it and then format it. This only needs to be done once. You do not need to attach or mount it as this is done via SyncBack (however, if it is already attached or mounted then it's not a problem).

 

To create a VHD via the command line:

 

1.To start the DiskPart command interpreter, open an elevated Command Prompt window (click Start, right-click Command Prompt, and click Run as administrator) and type:

 

diskpart

 

2.To create a new 2 GB dynamically expanding .vhd file (called Test.vhd) and save it to the C:\vhd folder, type the following command. If you do not specify the type=expandable parameter, DiskPart will create a fixed VHD:

 

create vdisk file=c:\vhd\test.vhd maximum=2000 type=expandable

 

3.We now need to attach the VHD file:

 

attach vdisk

 

4.To create a primary partition inside the new VHD, type:

 

create partition primary

 

5.To format the partition, type:

 

format fs=ntfs label=”test volume” quick

 

6.We can now detach it:

 

detach vdisk

 

7.And finally exit diskpart:

 

exit

 

 

Using an existing VHD/X file

 

To use an existing VHD/X file, enable the Mount a VHD (a virtual drive) option and click the Folder button in the filename edit box.

 

Encryption: If the VHD/X file is using BitLocker with a password, then enter the password. If no encryption is being used then do not enter a password.

 

Filename: You can now choose the VHD/X file.

 

Click the Finish button to open the virtual drive.

 

 

All Content: 2BrightSparks Pte Ltd © 2003-2024