Easy way of installing and testing several versions of Windows on same HDD


jimbo45

jimbo45

Well-known member
Pro User
VIP
Local time
2:51 AM
Posts
5,931
Location
Hafnarfjörður IS
OS
Windows XP,11 Linux Fedora Rawhide pre-release 46
Hi folks
Have to credit @cereberus who gave me the idea

I've been using separate WintoGo versions of Windows for testing etc etc in order to avoid messing around with altering HDD with current running versions of Windows -- however if you have a nice large external SSD it's much easier to use and boot from VHDX (virtual HDD's) drives.

Note these are s NOT Virtual machines -- you are running the physical OS with all its hardware just as you would be from your standard installation.

Advantage also is you can use your current installation so you don't have to install from scratch. Also good when you want Windows / Office etc in separate languages without having to switch / set primary OS.

So 1 ) create one or more VHDX virtual Disks on external device for each Windows installation you need -- ensure each VHDX disk is large enough for your Windows system

2) attach and initialise -- simply use Disk Mgmt from right mouse click on Windows menu button

3) clone current Windows to appropriate VHDX -- I use Macrium but any cloning software that works on Windows should be OK

4) now note driver letter of windows in vhdx : say E:\
5) from admin command prompt type : bcdboot E:\windows /p /d

6) Reboot pc and you can now select vhd to boot from.

I wish I'ds done this a lot earlier -- great way of testing various Windows versions without messing around with your standard HDD or doing endless backups / restores. !!!

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows XP,11 Linux Fedora Rawhide pre-releas...2 X Intel i7
OS
Windows XP,11 Linux Fedora Rawhide pre-release 46
Computer type
PC/Desktop
CPU
2 X Intel i7
Screen Resolution
4KUHD X 2
jimbo45 said:
Hi folks
Have to credit @cereberus who gave me the idea

I've been using separate WintoGo versions of Windows for testing etc etc in order to avoid messing around with altering HDD with current running versions of Windows -- however if you have a nice large external SSD it's much easier to use and boot from VHDX (virtual HDD's) drives.

Note these are s NOT Virtual machines -- you are running the physical OS with all its hardware just as you would be from your standard installation.

Advantage also is you can use your current installation so you don't have to install from scratch. Also good when you want Windows / Office etc in separate languages without having to switch / set primary OS.

So 1 ) create one or more VHDX virtual Disks on external device for each Windows installation you need -- ensure each VHDX disk is large enough for your Windows system

2) attach and initialise -- simply use Disk Mgmt from right mouse click on Windows menu button

3) clone current Windows to appropriate VHDX -- I use Macrium but any cloning software that works on Windows should be OK

4) now note driver letter of windows in vhdx : say E:\
5) from admin command prompt type : bcdboot E:\windows /p /d

6) Reboot pc and you can now select vhd to boot from.

I wish I'ds done this a lot earlier -- great way of testing various Windows versions without messing around with your standard HDD or doing endless backups / restores. !!!

Cheers
jimbo,
Click to expand...
Only problem with VHDs is that, if natively attached to host, they do not get upgraded when Windows moves to next major build (it is ok for cumulative updates).

I always install OS in Hyper-V first so it has all the partitions (MSR, Recovery) as well as main C drive. It also means you can carry on using pc whilst OS is installing.

That way, if you get a build upgrade, you can attach vhd to Hyper-V and then upgrade.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ16 GB solderedIntegrated Intel Iris XE
OS
Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
ASUS Zenbook 14
CPU
I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ
Motherboard
Yep, Laptop has one.
Memory
16 GB soldered
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel Iris XE
Sound Card
Realtek built in
Monitor(s) Displays
laptop OLED screen
Screen Resolution
2880x1800 touchscreen
Hard Drives
1 TB NVME SSD (only weakness is only one slot)
PSU
Internal + 65W thunderbolt USB4 charger
Case
Yep, got one
Cooling
Stella Artois (UK pint cans - 568 ml) - extra cost.
Keyboard
Built in UK keybd
Mouse
Bluetooth , wireless dongled, wired
Internet Speed
900 mbs (ethernet), wifi 6 typical 350-450 mb/s both up and down
Browser
Edge
Antivirus
Defender
Other Info
TPM 2.0, 2xUSB4 thunderbolt, 1xUsb3 (usb a), 1xUsb-c, hdmi out, 3.5 mm audio out/in combo, ASUS backlit trackpad (inc. switchable number pad)

Macrium Reflect Home V8
Office 365 Family (6 users each 1TB onedrive space)
Hyper-V (a vm runs almost as fast as my older laptop)
cereberus said:
Only problem with VHDs is that, if natively attached to host, they do not get upgraded when Windows moves to next major build (it is ok for cumulative updates).

I always install OS in Hyper-V first so it has all the partitions (MSR, Recovery) as well as main C drive. It also means you can carry on using pc whilst OS is installing.

That way, if you get a build upgrade, you can attach vhd to Hyper-V and then upgrade.
Click to expand...
Also a good idea

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows XP,11 Linux Fedora Rawhide pre-releas...2 X Intel i7
OS
Windows XP,11 Linux Fedora Rawhide pre-release 46
Computer type
PC/Desktop
CPU
2 X Intel i7
Screen Resolution
4KUHD X 2
cereberus said:
Only problem with VHDs is that, if natively attached to host, they do not get upgraded when Windows moves to next major build (it is ok for cumulative updates).
Click to expand...
Didn't MS change the way major upgrades are delivered? I think I read this somewhere. So should not be an issue anymore.

I could be wrong though... :think:
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200.9168 / Linux Mint 22.3Ryzen 7 2700U Pro32GBiGPU Vega 10
    OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200.9168 / Linux Mint 22.3
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo A485
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 2700U Pro
    Motherboard
    Lenovo (WiFi/BT module upgraded to Intel Wireless-AC-9260)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    iGPU Vega 10
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" FHD (built-in) + 14" Lenovo Thinkvision M14t (touch+pen) + 32" Asus PB328
    Screen Resolution
    FHD + FHD + 1440p
    Hard Drives
    Intel 660p m.2 nVME PCIe3.0 x2 512GB
    PSU
    125W(Dock)/65W(Travel Adapter)
    Keyboard
    Thinkpad / Logitech MX Keys
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 2S
    Internet Speed
    1/1Gbit
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    SecureBoot: Enabled
    TPM2.0: Enabled
    AMD-V: Enabled

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200.9267(RP)i7-7700k @4.8GHz32GB 2x16GB 2133MHz CL15EVGA GTX1080Ti FTW 11GB
    Operating System
    Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200.9267(RP)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    i7-7700k @4.8GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus PRIME Z270-A
    Memory
    32GB 2x16GB 2133MHz CL15
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GTX1080Ti FTW 11GB
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32" 10-bit Asus PB328Q
    Screen Resolution
    WQHD 2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    512GB ADATA SX8000NP NVMe PCIe Gen 3 x4
    PSU
    850W
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX Keys
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 2S
    Internet Speed
    1/1Gbit
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    AC WiFi Card
  • Asus U46SV (laptop), i5-2410M, 8GB RAM, 500GB SSD, 750GB HDD, Windows 10. (used as a local Minecraft server and data dump)
No - Dev versions are still done using the uup method rather than the CU method.

When Windows does the minor build upgrades like 21H1 to 21H2 that is done as a cumulative update. New pattern is 1 major upgrade per year (UUP), and 1 minor upgrade (CU) but whether that pattern is kept to is anybody's guess.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ16 GB solderedIntegrated Intel Iris XE
OS
Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
ASUS Zenbook 14
CPU
I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ
Motherboard
Yep, Laptop has one.
Memory
16 GB soldered
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel Iris XE
Sound Card
Realtek built in
Monitor(s) Displays
laptop OLED screen
Screen Resolution
2880x1800 touchscreen
Hard Drives
1 TB NVME SSD (only weakness is only one slot)
PSU
Internal + 65W thunderbolt USB4 charger
Case
Yep, got one
Cooling
Stella Artois (UK pint cans - 568 ml) - extra cost.
Keyboard
Built in UK keybd
Mouse
Bluetooth , wireless dongled, wired
Internet Speed
900 mbs (ethernet), wifi 6 typical 350-450 mb/s both up and down
Browser
Edge
Antivirus
Defender
Other Info
TPM 2.0, 2xUSB4 thunderbolt, 1xUsb3 (usb a), 1xUsb-c, hdmi out, 3.5 mm audio out/in combo, ASUS backlit trackpad (inc. switchable number pad)

Macrium Reflect Home V8
Office 365 Family (6 users each 1TB onedrive space)
Hyper-V (a vm runs almost as fast as my older laptop)
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Easy bloat free way of scripted way of installing Archlinux works with HYPER-V
Replies
0
Views
670
jimbo45
jimbo45
Still by far the quickest way of installing Windows from scratch without fuss
2
Replies
35
Views
18K
johnlgalt
johnlgalt
Easy way (no reg fix etc) to bypass hardware check for W11 installs
Replies
11
Views
5K
OldNavy
O
A SUPER EASY way to bypass Windows 11 hardware requirements for clean installs
Replies
7
Views
18K
hsehestedt
hsehestedt

Latest Support Threads

Latest Tutorials

Back
Top Bottom