Using a VHD Drive Image without Restoring It
To use a VHD-type disk image created by System Recovery plug-in, you can just write it to some data storage to make a bootable media; therefore, these are the other methods of using these files for different purposes, i.e. browsing for specific information and starting as a virtual machine.
Note: Both these options are not parts of Handy Backup! Use these methods according to recommendations and detailed instructions of external software manufacturers; we are providing these extra possibilities, not an external software.
Attaching a VHD File to VirtualBox Machine
To use your VHD system image as a VirtualBox virtual machine, please follow the next instruction:
- Create a new VirtualBox machine, with an OS type and memory size matching your original system.
- Use your VHD file as a bootable virtual hard disk, instead of creating a new hard disk (the default option for making a new VirtualBox machine).
- Adjust some settings of a new virtual machine using the “Settings” section of main VirtualBox control panel. Enable I/O APIC, disable PAE/NX features and configure your VHD disk as a SATA device if you need it.
Well done; you can use your virtual machine with an original system image. Fine-tuning VirtualBox machines will open many possibilities for you!
Browsing a VHD File as a Virtual Drive
To attach your VHD file to your Windows file system, please use the next sequence of actions:
- Open “Start” menu, right-click on the “Computer” item and call to a “Management” in the context menu appearing.
- Select the “Disk Management” section.
- In the “Action” menu, click on the “Attach VHD” item.
- Select a VHD file in an opening dialog appearing. Mark the “Read-only” option to prevent changing your VDH file by accidental writing to it.
- Your virtual disk will appear in the list of system drives, marked by blue. You may use it as a common drive to browse the information stored on it.
- lWhen you finish, go to the disk management section again and use the “Detach VHD” option in the “Action” menu to unmount a VHD file.
Again, that is all you need to browse your system recovery image.
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