Create VHDX of current OS fully loaded with all my apps

Shawn

If I understand correctly, with your tutorial I'll get a VHDX fresh install of Windows 11 . What I want is a VHDX of my current OS fully loaded with all my apps. Is it possible? How?

Thanks

Gundobaldo66

Sure it is possible. Key steps are as follows

1) Create a blank vhdx file.

2) Clone current OS C drive to vhdx file.

3) Create boot entry for vhdx file

Note: vhdx file needs to be in separate partition or physical drive to C drive to do cloning. Also vhdx must be large enough to hold contents of C drive plus some extra for temporary files (suggest extra 30GB).

Note as well, you have to be sure you are not violating licence terms of apps having a second instance.

cereberus said:

Sure it is possible. Key steps are as follows

1) Create a blank vhdx file.

2) Clone current OS C drive to vhdx file.

3) Create boot entry for vhdx file

Note: vhdx file needs to be in separate partition or physical drive to C drive to do cloning. Also vhdx must be large enough to hold contents of C drive plus some extra for temporary files (suggest extra 30GB).

Note as well, you have to be sure you are not violating licence terms of apps having a second instance.

Click to expand...

I think the 2nd / further instance license issue only applies to running CONCURRENT windows systems with only a single license (excluding corporate VL type of things). Since these are physical systems then the "concurrence" issue doesn't apply. With VM's then you musn't run these concurrently - certainly not on the same Host.

For instance there seems to be no problem with activation issues if you createboth a Windows 11 Canary and a Windows 11 Dev release. Automatic activation just works perfectly so long as your original Windows is properly licensed. Some OEM stuff might fail but if you create the W11 release via Ms rather than via UUPDUMP initially - i.e join the insider program -- it all seems OK. You can then use UUPDUMP for future versions if you so want.

The VHDX native boot works a treat - easy as well if you want multiple Windows versions. You only need one boot file. Add the other versions via bcdboot on the "Primary" windows system you created.

One query though will "Native vhdx" boot from with a HYPER-V host. Not sure about this one -- I've got a spare machine to test it but if the work has already been done then it would be great to know.

cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

I think the 2nd / further instance license issue only applies to running CONCURRENT windows systems with only a single license (excluding corporate VL type of things). Since these are physical systems then the "concurrence" isse doesn't apply. With VM's then you musn't run these concurrently - certainly not on the same Host.

The VHDX native boot works a treat - easy as well if you want multiple Windows versions. You only need one boot file. Add the other versions via bcdboot on the "Primary" windows system you created.

One query though will "Native vhdx" boot from with a HYPER-V host. Not sure about this one -- I've got a spare machine to test it but if the work has already been done then it would be great to know.

cheers
jimbo

Click to expand...

The second instance of licensed software can be a violation of terms and conditions.

Macrium Reflext X will not allow a second instance for example.

A key point is just because it may be possible, does not make it legal.

A native boot vhdx will only boot from a virtual machine if the vhdx file also contains an EFI partition.

Easiest way really is to clone host EFI as well as C drive to a vhdx file, then create a new vm in HyperV with cloned vhdx file.

However, it will often not boot first time. The easiest solution is then to boot vm from a Macrium Reflect iso, and use "fix windows boot option". If user does not have Macrium Reflect, the trial version (or free version - still possible to obtain) is adequate to do this one off operation.

cereberus said:

The second instance of licensed software can be a violation of terms and conditions.

Macrium Reflext X will not allow a second instance for example.

A key point is just because it may be possible, does not make it legal.

A native boot vhdx will only boot from a virtual machine if the vhdx file also contains an EFI partition.

Easiest way really is to clone host EFI as well as C drive to a vhdx file, then create a new vm in HyperV with cloned vhdx file.

However, it will often not boot first time. The easiest solution is then to boot vm from a Macrium Reflect iso, and use "fix windows boot option". If user does not have Macrium Reflect, the trial version (or free version - still possible to obtain) is adequate to do this one off operation.

Click to expand...

Hi there
Imaged a KVM/QEMU VM W11 system to disk and then restored that to a physical disk. I had to image rather than clone because the KVM/QEMU VM was for performance stored on a "Virtio" Disk - which Windows doesn't support natively. BTW the old Macrium Free V8 still works for this type of stuff.

Started from this VM :





Worked perfectly (Windows is good at getting updates for drivers). T then converted to vhdx and Hyper-V was fine with it -- so good idea of yours.

Performance of both HYPER-V and KVM/QEMU are far superior to Oracle Virtual Box and VmWare Workstation - my only grumble is that HYPER-V could be a bit more "user friendly" in allowing dynamic USB re-direction so you can hot swap SDD 's / external NVME's, etc but otherwise works perfectly.

Cheers
jimbo