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I've created a VHD file of my C: drive, for backup purposes, using Disk2vhd 1.0.

When I try opening the file using 7-Zip 4.65 (to view the contents) I get the error: "Can not open the file XXX as an archive".

Does anyone know why this is? I have to assume that either the VHD creation failed and it's a corrupted file, or Disk2vhd creates a variation of the VHD format that 7-Zip doesn't support.

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Not an answer to my question, but this looks useful: discutils.codeplex.com – tjrobinson Oct 19 '09 at 16:04
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3 Answers

up vote 1 down vote

I'm using Windows 2008 Server R2, and it supports mounting VHDs as drives from Computer Management\Storage\Disk Management. Win7 probably does the same.

Here's a fun script to mount it from the Windows Explorer menu: http://www.howtogeek.com/51174/mount-and-unmount-a-vhd-file-in-windows-explorer-via-a-right-click/

Carl

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As noted here, the program GizmoDrive (freeware) can be used to mount vhd files as a virtual drive.

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I'm running Windows 7 so I can do this through the Disk Management utility anyway, but I think I read that it's not a good idea if the VHD is an image of the system you're currently booted into. – tjrobinson Oct 19 '09 at 15:02
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up vote -2 down vote

I think the only way to get the contents from your .vhd file is to actually boot it up with a Virtual PC or from a hyper-v server.

I don't believe it is in any sort of backup archive format (but I'm willing to be corrected).

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I've opened .vhd files created by other applications using 7-Zip, it's quite handy and definitely possible. For example, the ones created by the Windows Vista Complete PC Backup. – tjrobinson Oct 19 '09 at 15:01
Interesting! And those backup VHD files are known to be the same format as virtual PC VHD? I was completely unaware :-) – Chris_K Oct 19 '09 at 15:31
Yep, more information on the format here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHD_(file_format) – tjrobinson Oct 19 '09 at 16:04
I said "willing to be corrected" not down-voted w/out comments :-p – Chris_K Apr 18 '10 at 14:45
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