Install Windows 10 Tech Preview in a Bootable VHD
October 5, 2014 1 Comment
In the following examples, I will show you how to install Windows 10 Technical Preview in a Virtual Hard Disk (VHD, VHDX) on a unformatted hard disk and how to install Windows 10 Technical Preview in a VHD with Windows 8.1 as a dual boot.
Method 1 – Installing Windows 10 TP in a Bootable VHD Using a Unformatted Hard Drive
I am assuming there is only 1 Hard Drive in your system for this example. If you have more than one hard drive then drive numbers may be different than my example. In this example, I am using an Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI).
- Boot your computer using your Bootable Media (DVD or USB media).
- At the Install screen, press SHIFT+F10 to access the Command Window.
- Type diskpart.
- Type list disk.
- Select the disk you want to use, type select disk 0 where 0 is the disk number.
CAUTION
Selecting the wrong disk will cause data to be lost.
- Type clean.
CAUTION
This will remove all partitions on the selected disk causing data lost.
- Type convert gpt.
- Type create partition primary offset=420479
or
create partition primary size=60000 offset=420479.NOTE
Where 60000 represents 60GB. You can enter your preferred partition size here to hold the VHD file.
- Type format fs=NTFS quick.
- Type assign letter=W.
- Type exit.
- Type mkdir w:\vdisk.
- Type diskpart.
- Type create vdisk file=”w:\vdisk\windows10.vhdx” maximum=80000 type=expandable.
NOTE
Where 80000 represents 80GB. You can enter your preferred partition size here to hold Windows as long as it does not exceed the partition size you created earlier.
- Type attach vdisk.
- Type exit.
- Close the Command Window.
- Click Install Now.
- Select Custom: Install Windows only.
- Select Drive 1.
NOTE
Drive 1 is the Virtual Hard Disk.
- Click Next to install Windows and confirm the new partitions.
- Windows is now installing the operating system.
Method 2 – Installing Windows 10 TP in a Bootable VHD with Windows 8.1 (Dual Boot)
I am assuming there is only 1 Hard Drive in your system for this example. If you have more than one hard drive then drive numbers may be different than my example. In this example, I am using an Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) based computer.
- While running Windows 8.1, right click the Windows Logo to select Computer Management.
- Select Disk Management with the Computer Management snap-in.
- In the Actions Menu, click More Actions to select Create VHD.
- Enter the location for the newly created VHD, the size of the virtual hard disk, the type of the VHD, and dynamically expanding.
- Exit Computer Management.
- Insert your Windows 10 Bootable Media (DVD or USB media) and do not run the Setup.
- Open the Settings Charm, refer to "Opening the Settings Charm – Windows 8.1", to select Change PC Settings.
- Select Update and Recovery in PC Settings.
- Select Recovery in the Update and Recovery section.
- Select Restart Now under the Advanced startup in the Recovery section.
- Select Use a device in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
- Select your Windows 10 Bootable Media to boot from the media.
- At the Install screen, press SHIFT+F10 to access the Command Window.
- Type diskpart.
- Type list volume to find the drive letter where Windows 8.1 is installed since I created the VHD in the Windows 8.1 partition.
NOTE
In my example, the Windows 8.1 partition is Volume 1 which is Drive C.
- Type select vdisk file="c:\vdisks\windows10.vhdx".
NOTE
Your file path may be different depending on the your VHD location and name.
- Type attach vdisk.
- Type exit.
- Close the Command Window.
- Click Install Now.
- Select Custom: Install Windows only.
- Select Drive 1.
NOTE
Drive 1 is the Virtual Hard Disk.
- Windows is now installing the operating system.
Platforms Tested
- Microsoft Windows 8.1
- Microsoft Windows 10
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Version 1.1
Edited: Oct 7, 2014
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