Virtuelle Festplatte (VHD) unter Windows anlegen

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating a virtual hard disk (VHD) in Windows. A VHD serves as a container for files, similar to a physical hard drive, and can be used for various purposes such as testing software, running multiple operating systems, or creating backups. Understanding how to set up a VHD is beneficial for optimizing your storage and managing data more effectively.

Step 1: Open Disk Management

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type diskmgmt.msc and hit Enter. This will launch the Disk Management tool.
3. In Disk Management, look for the Action menu at the top.

Step 2: Create a New VHD

1. Click on Action in the menu bar.
2. Select Create VHD from the dropdown options.
3. In the dialog box that appears, you will need to specify:
   • Location: Choose a folder where you want to save the VHD file.
   • Virtual hard disk size: Enter the desired size for your VHD.
   • VHD format: Choose between VHD (maximum 2 TB) or VHDX (supports larger sizes and better performance).

Step 3: Initialize the VHD

1. After creating the VHD, it will appear as unallocated space in Disk Management.
2. Right-click on the new disk (it will be labeled as "Not Initialized") and select Initialize Disk.
3. Choose the partition style (GPT or MBR) based on your needs:
   • GPT is recommended for disks larger than 2 TB or for UEFI systems.
   • MBR is suitable for smaller disks and legacy BIOS systems.

Step 4: Create a New Volume

1. Right-click on the unallocated space of your newly initialized VHD.
2. Choose New Simple Volume from the context menu.
3. Follow the New Simple Volume Wizard:
   • Specify the volume size.
   • Assign a drive letter.
   • Format the volume (NTFS is commonly used) and give it a label if desired.
4. Complete the wizard to create the volume.

Step 5: Access the VHD

1. Once the volume is created, it will show up in File Explorer with the assigned drive letter.
2. You can now use the VHD just like any other drive, storing files, applications, or backups.

Conclusion

Creating a virtual hard disk in Windows is a straightforward process that can enhance your data management. By following these steps, you've learned how to set up a VHD, initialize it, create a volume, and access it. You can utilize this virtual disk for testing, backups, or storing data securely. For further exploration, consider integrating VHDs into your backup strategy or experimenting with different configurations for virtual machines.