Disk2vhd

What is Disk2vhd?

Disk2vhd creates virtual hard disk images from physical disks for use with virtual machines. It suits capturing a Windows system for a physical-to-virtual migration when you need to choose which volumes to include rather than copy every volume's contents. Microsoft's documentation describes using the resulting VHDs with Hyper-V or Microsoft Virtual PC. Creating the image is separate from configuring the destination virtual machine.

The interface lists the available volumes. Select the volumes to capture and choose an output file; Disk2vhd uses Windows Volume Snapshot capability to capture a consistent point-in-time view of the selected volumes on a running system. It creates one VHD for each physical disk containing selected volumes, preserving that disk's partition information but copying data only from the volumes you selected. Microsoft recommends a different physical disk for the output for better performance, although a local volume being captured can also hold the output.

Command-line options support scripted captures by drive letter, or an asterisk for all volumes. The publisher's included screenshot shows the older Disk2vhd v2.0 interface with a destination field, volume checkboxes, Use Vhdx and Use Volume Shadow Copy options. It illustrates the workflow, not a newly tested capture of the currently listed v2.02.

BitLocker-enabled volumes cannot be converted: Microsoft says they must be fully decrypted first. If you intend to boot the image in a VM, do not attach it to the source system beforehand; Windows can change its disk signature and leave the copied installation unable to locate its boot disk. Guest drivers and Windows licensing also need attention. The documentation's 127 GB virtual-disk limit belongs to Microsoft Virtual PC, not a blanket Disk2vhd limit.

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