How to install windows7 into an image file

The Windows7 we are using is only a beta version, which is definitely to be deleted after the official release. How to experience the new operating system safely without affecting the existing system is a problem that many users will consider. When we install dual systems, there will often be the installation of software duplication and the system chaos occurs, may also be the spread of viruses, so that the two systems completely independent is the best way to install. In addition, the installation of a new system is prone to uninstall unclean disease, to install the operating system later to bring inconvenience. So how do we implement a dual-system environment that really does not interfere?

In fact, Microsoft has provided us with a good solution--install windows7! via VHD file

The VHD file is the image file format of Virtual PC, which is provided by Microsoft. After a virtual machine is established, an image file of the VHD is generated (Figure 1). The backup image generated by Windows Vista's backup status and Configuration feature is also the VHD file type (Figure 2).

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To create a Windows 7 image file

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Vista's backup image is also a VHD

In Windows7, Microsoft provides a more convenient and faster management function for VHD files. We can open the "Start-All Programs-administration tools-Computer Management" command, then go to storage-disk management on the left, where we can load the VHD file by clicking on the "Disk Management-more operations-additional VHD" on the right, and then read and write like normal partitions (Figure 3). Disk 2 is the loaded VHD virtual hard disk (as shown in Figure 4). We can also create VHD files from the Disk Management feature. Files so that we can save some personal files to a VHD file, and simply hide the location of the VHD file to improve the security of the file.

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Can read and write like a normal partition

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Loaded VHD virtual hard disk

However, it is even more surprising that, in addition to having the operating system installed in the VHD file through Virtual PCs, we can also install Windows7 to the VHD file directly on the physical computer. So, what do we need to do?

I. Installation Preparation

Based on the above introduction, we can find that: In addition to Windows7 can be installed to the VHD file, in fact, other operating systems should also be. This is mainly due to the Windows7 of the installation of the PE version is relatively high for VHD file support more perfect decision. Therefore, we should be able to install other operating systems to the VHD file using the PE made by the Windows7 CD. To reduce the complexity of the command line in the installation process, we can first generate a 12GB size VPC file in a partition with at least 15GB space through the Virtual PC.

Open Virtual PC program, click the "Settings" button to enter the Settings window, select "Hard Disk2"

, click Virtual Disk Wizard on the right to start the new VPC file (Figure 5).

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Click the "Next" button in the Starting wizard window and select "Create a new Virtal disk" button in the window to create a new virtual hard disk (Figure 6);

Click the "Next" button, then you can choose "a virtual hard disk" to create a virtual hard disk (as shown in Figure 7);

Click the "Next" button and then click the "Browse" button to create a VHD file in the partition (Figure 8);

Click on the "Next" button and select "Fixed size" to create a fixed-capacity virtual hard disk (Figure 9);

Click the "Next" button to set the hard disk capacity to 13000MB (not exceeding the maximum available space, as shown in Figure 10) in the window that appears;

Click the "Next" button, and then confirm that you are done. A virtual hard disk with a VHD will be built later.

Second, the specific detailed installation process

First, we start the computer from the Windows7 installation CD. Then, keep the installer in the language, time zone, and circulation format, and keyboard and input method settings, press the "SHIFT+F10" key to open the Command Prompt window (Figure 11). At this point, we first need to load the VHD image file.

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1. Load VHD virtual hard disk

First, we need to go into the partition Management command. Enter DiskPart, which provides comprehensive partitioning management functions such as partitioning, formatting, scaling partitions, and so on (Figure 12).

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We then enter the Select Vdisk file=f:windows7.vhd command, which loads the VHD file to generate the virtual hard disk. A prompt for DiskPart successfully opened the virtual disk file appears when the command is executed (Figure 13).

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Then, we also need to activate the virtual hard disk, the command is: Attach vdisk. The command completes the display (Figure 14).

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Finally, you can exit the command DiskPart function by entering the exit command.

2. Select Virtual Hard Drive installation

We can turn off the Command Prompt window to start the installation and follow the prompts just as before. To choose to install the partition, we found that in addition to the first hard disk Disk0 partition, there are DISK2 virtual hard disk partition, followed by the unallocated space hint is not yet partitioned format, so we start to do the appropriate action (see Figure 15).

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Select Disk2, and then click Drive Option (Advanced), and then click "New" to create a new section, and then click "Apply" to make a maximum partition (Figure 16). Finally, you need to click Format to format the partition.

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3. Install Windows7 to virtual hard disk partition

We can then install Windows7 to the VHD virtual hard disk partitions like normal partitions (Figure 17).

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Three, dual system

Environmental application Characteristics

After installing Windows XP and Windows7 dual systems, we found that you can choose which systems to enter through the boot menu (Figure 18). This is exactly the same as installing a dual system in a real partition. Additionally, the performance of the installed Windows7 is not affected by the virtual hard disk partition (Figure 19).

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We found an interesting phenomenon. In a Windows7 environment, the primary partition where Windows XP is installed is invisible, and the partition that holds the VHD file is visible (Figure 20), and the virtual VHD hard disk partition is loaded as a system primary partition.

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When we opened the Computer Management window for Disk Management, we found that the primary partition where Windows XP was installed was not assigned a letter, so the system was deliberately hidden. This will not affect Windows XP systems in Windows 7.

Of course, we can also make this partition have visible disk characters. Simply right-click the partition and select "Change Drive letters and Paths" to set the corresponding letter in the pop-up window (Figure 21).

In Windows XP, we can see that the system partition for Windows 7 is missing, and only the partitions that generate the VHD file are visible (see Figure 22). Currently, the disk management features of Windows XP cannot load the VHD file as a virtual partition, so Windows XP cannot modify the Windows 7 system.

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In this way, two independent systems have been built, and security has been greatly improved. When you no longer need a Windows 7 system or need to update the system, simply delete the original VHD file and re-establish a VHD file for installation. After removing the WINDOWS7 system, you can use a dual system boot tool such as EASYBCD to modify the boot record, clean out the system files and launch information without affecting the old system.