Question on external USB RAW (physical disks not VHDX ) on HYPER-V


jimbo45

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Hi folks
for the Windows VM gurus -- HYPER-V question.

Can I attach a physical external USB SSD to a HYPER-V VM, install W11 on it and boot from that physical device whether or not it's set up as a "VHDX" file. Seems if one can overcome the "Virtual disk I/O" one can improve a whole slew of things. I can do it in QEMU/KVM and the USB device boots without issue when running the VM. The bootloader of course still needs to be recognized by the VM software but as it can boot from "Native" USB devices shouldn't be an issue.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Yes
 

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    Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8457 / Linux Mint 22.3Ryzen 7 2700U Pro32GBiGPU Vega 10
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jimbo45 said:
Hi folks
for the Windows VM gurus -- HYPER-V question.

Can I attach a physical external USB SSD to a HYPER-V VM, install W11 on it and boot from that physical device whether or not it's set up as a "VHDX" file. Seems if one can overcome the "Virtual disk I/O" one can improve a whole slew of things. I can do it in QEMU/KVM and the USB device boots without issue when running the VM. The bootloader of course still needs to be recognized by the VM software but as it can boot from "Native" USB devices shouldn't be an issue.

Cheers
jimbo
Click to expand...
You can certainly set up a vhdx file on an external drive and boot from it in a Windows 11 VM.

However, not sure if you can install W11 on an external drive (Windows To Go) and get Hyper-V to boot from it.
 

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Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ16 GB solderedIntegrated Intel Iris XE
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ASUS Zenbook 14
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I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ
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Macrium Reflect Home V8
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cereberus said:
You can certainly set up a vhdx file on an external drive and boot from it in a Windows 11 VM.

However, not sure if you can install W11 on an external drive (Windows To Go) and get Hyper-V to boot from it.
Click to expand...
Hi there

I ve just tried it -- it won't boot from within the VM (Hyper-V) itself but it actually boots directly from the device so also an easy way to create a Physical W11 install from within a VM -- attach USB device, boot Windows installer, format HDD (disk part, convert GPT etc and all the other stuff) install Windows on it, boot loader and then boot the device.Not sure if this is any better than "Standard install" but I'm sure if I can "Poodle fake" the VM's boot loader it might work. I'm messing around with GRUB currently that can do all sorts of "Magic" stuff with this.

My target ideal is to be able to get 2 or 3 of these essentially Physical Windows OS'es to be able to run concurrently under the guise of a VM.

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 45
Computer type
PC/Desktop
CPU
2 X Intel i7
Screen Resolution
4KUHD X 2
SlicEnDicE said:
Yes
Click to expand...

jimbo45 said:
Hi there

I ve just tried it -- it won't boot from within the VM (Hyper-V) itself but it actually boots directly from the device so also an easy way to create a Physical W11 install from within a VM -- attach USB device, boot Windows installer, format HDD (disk part, convert GPT etc and all the other stuff) install Windows on it, boot loader and then boot the device.Not sure if this is any better than "Standard install" but I'm sure if I can "Poodle fake" the VM's boot loader it might work. I'm messing around with GRUB currently that can do all sorts of "Magic" stuff with this.

My target ideal is to be able to get 2 or 3 of these essentially Physical Windows OS'es to be able to run concurrently under the guise of a VM.

Cheers
jimbo
Click to expand...
That is what I just said...just not as in many words. :wink:
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8457 / Linux Mint 22.3Ryzen 7 2700U Pro32GBiGPU Vega 10
    OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8457 / 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 26200.8521(RP)i7-7700k @4.8GHz32GB 2x16GB 2133MHz CL15EVGA GTX1080Ti FTW 11GB
    Operating System
    Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8521(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
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