Microsoft KB Archive/824670

= How to Use Virtual Disk Wizard to Create a Custom Virtual Hard Disk Image =

PSS ID Number: 824670

Article Last Modified on 8/1/2003

-

The information in this article applies to:


 * Connectix Virtual PC for Windows version 5.2

-



IN THIS TASK

 * SUMMARY
 * To Use the Virtual Disk Wizard



SUMMARY
This step-by-step article describes how to use Virtual Disk Wizard to create a hard disk image in Connectix Virtual PC 5.2. You can use Virtual Disk Wizard to control the type, the size, and the format of the Connectix Hard Disk Image (.vhd) files.

back to the top

To Use the Virtual Disk Wizard
 Click Start, point to All Programs, and then click Connectix Virtual PC. On the File menu, click Virtual Disk Wizard, and then click Next. In Select Operation, make sure that the Create new floppy or hard disk image option is selected, and then click Next. In Select New Disk Type, make sure that the Create hard disk image option is selected, and then click Next. In Hard Disk Location, type the location and the image name (including the .vhd extension) where you want to store the hard disk image, and then click Next. In Hard Disk Image Type, click one of the following image type options, and then click Next:  Dynamically expanding disk image

This option creates a hard disk image file that dynamically expands in 2 megabyte (MB) increments to the maximum size that you specify, or until it reaches the available hard disk space on the host computer.</li> Fixed size disk image

This option creates a hard disk image file of the actual size that you specify. For example, if you create a 10 gigabyte (GB) fixed size disk image, the file that is created is 10 GB, even if you do not load any data on the virtual hard disk. Because some versions of Linux use all the available hard disk space in a dynamically-expanding disk image file, it is recommended that you create a fixed size disk image when you install Linux as a guest operating system.</li> Differencing disk image

This option creates a hard disk image file that is linked to a second &quot;parent&quot; hard disk image. This new image contains only data or files that are changed from the data or files that are on the parent hard disk image. You must create the parent hard disk image file before you create the differencing disk image file.</li> Disk image linked to a host volume

This option creates a hard disk image file that is linked to a partition on the physical hard disk in the host computer. For additional information about this image type, see Virtual PC Help.</li> Disk image linked to a host physical drive

This option creates a hard disk image file that is linked to a physical hard disk in the host computer. For additional information about this image type, see Virtual PC Help.</li></ul> </li> In Hard Disk Format and Size, click one of the following Disk format list options: <ul> FAT16 (2032 MB maximum)

This option creates a volume that is formatted with the FAT 16 file system. This option permits a maximum volume size of 2 GB. This option is suitable for the following guest operating systems:

MS-DOS

Microsoft Windows 3.

Microsoft Windows 95a

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

</li> FAT32 (130557 MB maximum)

This option creates a volume formatted with the FAT 32 file system. This option permits a maximum volume size of 128 GB and is suitable for the following guest operating systems:

Microsoft Windows 95

Microsoft Windows 98

Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

Microsoft Windows 2000

Microsoft Windows XP

</li> Unformatted (130557 MB maximum)

This option creates an unformatted volume. This option permits a maximum volume size of 128 GB and is suitable for the following guest operating systems:

Linux

Unix

Windows installations that use the NTFS file system

</li></ul> </li> On the Hard Disk Format and Size page, type the maximum disk size that you want this image to be in the Disk size box, and then click Next.

Note The actual hard disk image size is limited by available hard disk space on the host computer. You can create a hard disk image that is larger than the available hard disk space on the host computer, but it will only expand to use the hard disk space that is available on the volume where you create the hard disk image.</li> Read the information on the Hard Disk Creation Summary page, and then click Finish.

The virtual hard disk image is created. For a large fixed-size hard disk image, this operation may take several minutes to complete.</li> When the hard disk image is successfully created, click Close.</li></ol>

back to the top

Keywords: kbHOWTOmaster KB824670

Technology: kbConnectix kbvirtualpcSearch kbVirtualPCWin520 kbVirtualPCWinSearch

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© 2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.