Which vhdx am I running Windows from ???

Hi folks
If I've a load of vhdx files and I'm running from physical (NOT VM's as there seems to be confusion here on this) vhdx / vhd files how can I tell which vhdx file is the one booted from.

There seems to be no easy way. I think I could add a text file on each system to say what it's "parent" vhdx file is but that seems a stupid manual way to do it.

No problem at boot time by creating a decent description at the Windows blue boot menu but after a few hours etc you --or at least I can't always remember which windows file was installed on what VHDX file. Even an eay way to find out what files are "in use" might be a winner too.

Cheers
jimbo

Well, I only run 1 OS this way, it happens to be my Windows 11 install that I am running on my Windows 10 primary workstation. So, it's easy for me as there isn't any confusion. I am only running Windows 11 like this to verify that Windows 11 is working with my hardware, so when the time comes to actually upgrade my Windows 10 machine, I know things will be alright. At present, I use that windows 10 machine for running Hyper-V and gaming. My 10 install is rock solid and working great...so I see 0 reason to upgrade it. When I play, test, experiment and want to learn, I always just spin up a VM for that.

However, if I had multiple, I would consider at the start what I plan to set the hostname of the machine to. Then, I would create a folder on my storage device with the hostname of the computer I plan to use and I would put the vhdx into that folder.

Run bcdedit - look for C drive.
Here I am running Windows 11 Dev (name as in graphics menu).



if you want more detailed information, select view detailed options from easybcd and it will tell you the actual file associated with the description.

jimbo45 said:

If I've a load of vhdx files and I'm running from physical (NOT VM's as there seems to be confusion here on this) vhdx / vhd files how can I tell which vhdx file is the one booted from.

There seems to be no easy way.....

Click to expand...

Well the easiest way is just to use File Explorer to look at where you keep your .vhdx files, the one you are booted from will have the current date and time as its 'Date modified'. In addition, if you have set it up as a dynamically expanding .vhdx then while you are booted from it its size will be shown as the maximum size you set for it. I'm currently booted from my DEV one here, a 64GB dynamic .vhdx.

Bree said:

Well the easiest way is just to use File Explorer to look at where you keep your .vhdx files, the one you are booted from will have the current date and time as its 'Date modified'. In addition, if you have set it up as a dynamically expanding .vhdx then while you are booted from it its size will be shown as the maximum size you set for it. I'm currently booted from my DEV one here, a 64GB dynamic .vhdx.

View attachment 60422

Click to expand...

Amazing --never thought of that.

thanks

@cereberus

thanks too -- although Bree's method is easier !!!

Sometimes the simplest things are the answer -- I was looking for some hideously complex perhaps hidden powershell command.

Cheers
jimbo