Too many users personal computers on the Windows platform, people often ask questions - what are virtual disks and how to create virtual disk . To increase our readers' awareness of these issues, in this article we will try to fully cover the topic with specific examples.
Also in our article we will consider what is virtual hard disks and where they are used. After reading the material, our readers will be able to easily create virtual hard disks and image disk in ISO format, as well as mount them on a virtual device and burn them to DVD without any problems.
Virtual optical drive and its applications
The main purpose virtual drive- This mounting images optical discs. To understand in detail why it is needed, we will look at an example where an image disk in ISO format will be mounted on a virtual DVD-ROM. For this example, we will use the Windows 10 operating system.
A pleasant moment for owners of computers with the Windows 10 operating system will be that a virtual DVD-ROM is already installed in it. Therefore, owners of Windows 10 do not have to use third party programs to mount images.
To mount an image optical disc into a virtual DVD-ROM, we need the image itself. For example, we will use image with operating Linux system ubuntu. Download image of this operating system You can visit its official website http://www.ubuntu.com. In our example, we will use the image 64 bit Ubuntu versions 15.10 , which has a size of 1.1 GB.
After loading the image, you can proceed to its direct mounting. To do this, right-click on the image file to open the context menu.
Mounted "virtual disk" can be opened and copied all its contents.
As you can see from the example, we mounted the Ubuntu OS image on a virtual DVD drive. In fact, we were able to do almost what we do with a regular and optical disc, when we insert it into a DVD drive and open it, only in our version all the components are virtual.
Creating a LaserDisc Image
In the previous example, we looked at how to open an image disk in a virtual DVD drive. Now let's deal with the situation when you need to create an image of an optical disc. To create an image, we need the DAEMON Tools Lite program, which must be downloaded and installed. It is also worth noting that in addition to creating various image formats, DAEMON Tools Lite it can also mount a huge number of formats into its own virtual DVD drive. After installing the program DAEMON Tools Lite in Explorer you can see a new drive named ""
This "" is just the drive of the program in question DAEMON Tools Lite. In this example, we will create an image of the original installation DVD with the Windows 10 operating system. To make an image from the installation DVD with ten, insert it into the DVD drive. Now run the utility and go to the section " New look».
In the utility window we find the button " Create image from disk” and press it. These actions will take us to the image creation window.
In this window, you can select the DVD drive from which the ISO image will be created, as well as select the location to save it.
We will also select the image ISO format and confirm the creation by clicking the Start button, which will start creating the Windows 10 DVD image.
After creation, we will receive an ISO image file called "J_CCSA_X86FRE_RU-RU_DV5.iso", which can be mounted or burned to a regular disc and installed with it a new Windows.
The example shows how easy it is to burn an image to a virtual DVD-ROM using DAEMON Tools Lite. In the same way, you can burn images for all licensed Windows drives, be it XP or Vista. In addition, you can burn images of games or software that do not start without a disc. Apart from the program DAEMON Tools Lite I would like to advise other popular utilities that can create and allow you to open images of optical discs:
- Alcohol 120%;
- GizmoDrive;
- WinCDEmu.
It is especially important to use these utilities on an OS where there are no built-in virtual DVD drives, for example, in OS Windows XP. In addition to supporting XP, each of these programs, including DAEMON Tools Lite, will be able to burn ISO images to DVD disk. In addition to supporting the ISO format, these utilities can mount other formats, including their own, they can be written to regular discs.
Virtual hard disk
Virtual HDD quite often used by IT specialists, as it allows you to solve many problems with backup, virtual machines and testing various operating systems. Virtual hard disk is a container file that mimics file structure hard drive .
Since such a disk is a file, therefore it is usually stored on a physical HDD or SSD. Starting with Windows 7, users have the ability to create and mount a hard disk directly in the operating system.
Consider an example of creating a virtual hard disk using Windows 10. First, let's go to the utility " Run"Using the key combination Win + R and type in it the following command: diskmgmt.msc
This command will take us to the Disk Control Panel.
To create a new virtual HDD, you need to go to the menu " Action / Create virtual hard disk", which will open a window to create such a disk.
Starting with Windows 10, it became possible to create a disk with the format " VHDX". Unlike the "VHD" format, the " VHDX» can create containers up to 64 terabytes. Let's make our virtual hard disk 100 GB in the new format " VHDX”, and also put the switch in dynamic creation mode, in which our disk will increase as it fills up.
After setting the parameters of our hard disk, press the OK button, which will allow you to write it to the specified folder on the screw. After creating the output, we will get a virtual hard disk named "virtual disk.vhdx". The image below shows that our disk is automatically mounted, but it is still not visible in the system.
In order for the system to see our VHDX disk, it must be initialized. You can do this by right-clicking on the VHDX disk and selecting context menu paragraph " Initialize disk».
In the window that appears, do not change anything and press the OK button.
Now the simplest thing left is to choose for our disk file system and a letter. To do this, go to it and select the item " Create a simple volume».
After that, a wizard will start in which you need to assign a drive letter and select a file system. After the wizard completes, the virtual hard disk will appear in Explorer.
The example shows that creating a virtual HDD using the OS is very simple, so we hope that you will no longer have a question - how to create a virtual hard disk. I would also like to note that with the created VHDX disk you can do the following operations:
- Encrypt it with BitLocker;
- Install an additional OS on it;
- Move and open it on another computer;
- Connect it to a virtual machine.
Operating system based computers Windows systems XP, which is still quite popular, does not support VHD drives. But do not be upset, because in the utility we reviewed earlier DAEMON Tools Lite there is support for VHD disks and it fully compatible with Windows XP.
Using a VHD Disk in a Virtual Machine
Let's create with the program VirtualBox virtual machine based on the Windows XP operating system. During the creation of a virtual machine for XP, you will be asked to create or attach a virtual hard disk that will be used for Windows installation XP on it.
At this point, we can attach the VHD disk that we will create with Windows 10. Therefore, we will try to attach our 30 GB VHD container, which we made in the top ten. After creating a virtual machine, you can view the attached VHD disk in its settings.
If there is not enough space in the virtual machine on XP, then you can always attach new vhd virtual HDD. Besides, you can connect containers with various file data to a virtual machine for XP. In the same way, you can use the virtual machine from other software products. For example, VHD containers can be installed on VMware Workstation products.
Outcome
It can be seen from the reviewed material that the use of virtual drives And hard drives it helps to solve many problems much better, especially since even a novice PC user will figure out how to create them. We hope that our material will help our readers to better understand the question - how to create a virtual disk and how to use it for work.
Related videos
Often when working with files, you may encounter unknown formats, such as .mdf and .mds. Not everyone knows how to open them in Windows 10, since the standard set of OS programs does not work with such an extension. This will require third-party software.
What it is?
The .mdf file contains a CD image or DVD disc. It opens with the same program that creates it. If the file came to you already in a “finished” form, then you can open it with the programs listed below.
If you have data in .mds format and wondered how to open it, then you do not need to do this.
Important! Separately, this file does not work. It only contains the header of the image, while .mdf contains the image itself.
Programs to open
If you have an .mdf file, you will need to download before opening special utility. The three programs described below are the most popular.
is a free powerful utility. In addition to solving the problem of how to open the .mdf and .mds file, it also works with other disk images. The main functions are:
- Generates up to 4 virtual drives, i.e. if you have several .mdf and .mds, then there will be no problems opening all at once.
- Creates disk images.
- Compresses them.
- Protects against access with a password (configurable feature). Those. no one will know how to run .mdf and .mds file without password.
- Builds collection directories.
- Works in the background.
Supports Russian. It is the most popular tool that is chosen when deciding which program to open the .mdf and .mds file.
Faced with the .mdf format and deciding what to open, users choose . This is a popular utility that is distributed for a fee. But during the trial period of 15 days, all functions are available to the user. It has functionality similar to the previous software. With it, you can:
- Mount image.
- Write to disk.
- Open.
Intuitive interface - you will easily understand how to open a .mdf, .mds file. Works on OS 32 and 64 bits.
Advice! If you need information from .mdf and .mds files and you don't know what to open on Windows 8, Windows 7, this utility will be a great solution, as it works on more early versions OS.
Another one demon paid program. Functional, but less popular than the previous two. Distributed for free. Mounts and opens disk images of most formats. Creates 4 virtual drives.
Important! MagicDisc Virtual CD/DVD-ROM does not support Windows 10. Works with Windows 2000, ME, XP, 7, 8.
Software for conversion
Sometimes, when encountering the .mdf extension, the user is more accustomed to working with a different format virtual image. In this case, it is converted to standard iso image. But this will require additional software.
Important! The conversion will be successful only if you have both files - .mdf and .mds.
- a powerful and multifunctional utility for working with images. Performs the following functions:
- Mounting the image (with a choice of format).
- Opening the image.
- Generation of virtual drives.
- Virtual drives management.
- Format conversion.
- Burning the image to disk, etc.
You can also use the program. The program is paid. No demo or trial period.
- paid program. Has wide functionality and fast speed. Mounts and opens images. Writes to disk. Able to convert. The functionality is not wider than that of some free converters. Additional functions are required only by professionals.
Power ISO
Power ISO - helps to convert the discussed format, extract content from it, resave. Mounts images, writes mdf and mds format to disk, good decision in the question of what to open, etc.
Have a question about working with the program? Ask it in , describe in detail what the difficulty arose so that we can help.
And in this we will consider a clean installation of Windows 10 with all the nuances.
1. Is it worth installing Windows 10
Windows 10 has incorporated all the best from previous versions of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. It is quite beautiful, comfortable and fast. But it wasn't without drawbacks. The most significant of them are the errors that many people have in the operation of the system, programs, games and the independent removal of applications by the operating system that it considers unlicensed, even some free ones.
However, if you have enough modern computer or a laptop, then over time, most likely, you will still have to upgrade to Windows 10, as older versions of operating systems are gradually losing support from both the developers of the system itself and software developers.
Should owners of rather mediocre PCs by today's standards be in a hurry to update the system? Probably not ... Since you will have more problems than the benefits of updating - the selection of drivers, glitches in the system and programs, etc. And in terms of performance, you are unlikely to win.
But it is important for owners of licensed versions of Windows 7 and 8.1 not to miss the moment and make free update to Windows 10, which is available until July 29, 2016. After this date, you will not be able to get an update for free.
If you love games and your graphics card supports DirectX 12, which is only available in Windows 10, then you will have to switch to it anyway, as this is intended to give an additional performance boost. Although games on DirectX 12 are unlikely to appear before mid-2016, or even closer to its end.
But if you have a modern computer or laptop with not very successful Windows 8.1 and want to plunge into the world of a more modern operating system, then why not? Do it and go to new technologies! In extreme cases, you can easily and quickly restore the previous system.
2. How to download Windows 10
Using the "Media Creation Tool" utility, you can not only download the original Windows image 10 but also create boot disk or flash drive. You can download the utility at the end of the article in the "" section.
The utility allows you to download the version of Windows 10 you need from latest updates. It works on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 of any bitness. You won't be able to run the program on Windows XP and Vista.
After running the utility and accepting license agreement you will be asked what you want to do.
The item "Upgrade this PC now" is designed to update the operating system you already have installed Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. But it is always better to do a clean install from a disk or flash drive. To do this, select "Create installation media for another computer.
To download an image from which you can install both Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro, just leave Windows 10.
If a licensed "Windows 10 Home Single Language" was installed on your computer or laptop and you just want to reinstall it without losing the license, then choose this option.
In the "Architecture" field, select the bitness of the operating system.
General recommendations are as follows. If you have 3 GB random access memory or less, then select the 32-bit version. If the RAM is 4 GB or more, then - 64-bit. If you select the “Both” option, then a universal image will be downloaded from which you can install both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows. But the size of the image will be more than 5 GB, so you will need a double-layer DVD-ROM or a flash drive of at least 8 GB to burn it.
The next window prompts you to select the media for Windows 10.
If you install Windows from a flash drive, you can leave the "USB flash drive", this option will be the easiest and most reliable. Insert a USB flash drive with at least 4 GB and click "Next". At the end of the image download, a bootable USB flash drive will be created automatically.
Please note that all files on the flash drive will be destroyed, so copy them to a safe place in advance (for example, to drive "D").
If you select "ISO file", it will be downloaded to the folder you specified and you can make a bootable disk or USB flash drive from it at any time. Installing Windows from a boot disk is easier and more reliable than from a flash drive. Therefore, if you have a DVD drive and it works well, this option is preferable.
At the end of the download, you will be prompted to burn the image to a DVD. If you plan to install Windows from a DVD, then insert a blank disc and click on the appropriate link.
Thus, using the Media Creation Tool utility, you will download the desired version of Windows 10 and prepare a disk or flash drive from which you can install the system.
3. Create bootable media
To install Windows 10 from the downloaded image of the operating system, you need to make a bootable disk or USB flash drive.
3.1. Create a Windows 10 installation disc
Easiest to create installation disk Windows 10 using the "Astroburn" program, which you can download at the end of the article in the "" section.
Run the program, go to the "Image" tab and click on the icon next to the "Image file path" field.
Be sure to check the "Check" box and click the "Start Recording" button.
As a result, you will receive an installation DVD. Windows disk 10.
3.2. Create a bootable Windows 10 flash drive
Do bootable flash drive Windows 10 can use one of the the best programs"Rufus", which you can download at the end of the article in the "" section.
Connect a flash drive with a capacity of at least 4 GB to your computer.
Launch Rufus and click on the DVD drive icon.
Select the Windows 10 image and click Open.
Now just press the "Start" button and the creation of a bootable USB flash drive will begin.
If there are valuable files on your flash drive, copy them to a safe place in advance.
As a result, you will receive a bootable USB flash drive from which you can install Windows 10.
4. Booting from the installation disk or flash drive
To start installing Windows 10, insert a boot disk or USB flash drive and turn on or restart your computer.
It is better to insert a USB flash drive into the rear USB connector on motherboard without using a USB extension cable.
Immediately after turning on the computer, hold down the "Boot Menu" call key. It is usually listed in the prompts on the initial boot screen of the computer. On different computers and laptops, this can be a key from "F8" to "F12".
After the "Boot Menu" appears, use the "down" and "up" arrows to go to the DVD drive or flash drive and press "Enter".
If your computer does not even try to start booting from a disk or flash drive, then read our article. If the computer sees the USB flash drive and tries to boot from it, but freezes or gives an error message, then read and make a bootable USB flash drive in a different mode.
5. Starting the installation and choosing the bit depth
Immediately after booting from the installation disk or flash drive, you should see a prompt to press any key to start installing Windows.
This must be done within a few seconds, otherwise the installation will not start and the computer will need to be restarted. I usually press Space.
During installation windows computer will reboot several times, but you do not need to press a key on the keyboard anymore, otherwise the installation will start over.
If you downloaded an image that allows you to install both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 10, then a screen will appear with a choice of bit depth.
Select the desired version using the up and down arrows and press Enter.
Wait until the blue Install Windows window appears.
6. Set language options
At this stage, it is proposed to select languages.
In the next window, click the "Install" button under the "Windows" logo.
7. Entering the key and choosing the version of Windows 10
If this computer or windows laptop 10 is being installed for the first time and you have an unused key or a Windows 7, 8 or 10 key used on this PC, then enter it and click Next.
If on this computer or laptop has already installed Windows 10 (for example, by windows updates 7 or 8.1) or you do not have a license key, then do not enter anything and click on the link "I do not have a product key".
Windows 10 does not have a license key tied to the bitness of the operating system, as it was in previous versions. Windows versions. You can, for example, upgrade from 32-bit Windows 7 or 8.1 to 32-bit Windows 10 and then perform a clean install of 64-bit Windows 10 and the license will remain. But Windows 7 or 8.1 Home cannot be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro.
In the next window, you need to select the version of the operating system - "Windows 10 Professional" or "Windows 10 Home".
If you do not know why you need the "Professional" version, then choose the "Home" version, as it contains fewer unnecessary components and will work faster. Comparison table You can download "Professional", "Home" and other versions of Windows 10 at the end of the article in the "" section.
In the next window, check the box "I accept the license terms" and click "Next".
We are offered two types of Windows 10 installation.
"Update" - selecting this type of installation will display a message about the impossibility of updating when booting from media (disk or flash drive).
Upgrade Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10 while keeping files and installed programs(or without saving) is possible only by running the installer from under Windows. Now we will not consider this option.
"Custom" - installing a clean Windows 10 on a new or existing one hard section disk. This type of installation is what we will cover in this article.
9. Disk setup
After selecting the type of installation, the disk setup window will appear. If you already had some version of Windows installed, then there will be partitions on the disk with the old system.
Delete all partitions except the largest one, which contains your personal files (disk "D").
Take care in advance about the safety of your files that were on the desktop and in user folders such as "My Documents", as they will be deleted along with the old system.
Then select "Unallocated space..." to install and click the "Next" button.
If the disk of your computer or laptop is clean and there are no partitions on it, then create a partition for the system with a volume of about 100 GB (102 400 MB) using the "Create" button.
SSD drive it is better not to divide it into several sections, but to completely give it to the “C” drive for installing Windows, programs and games. Then you will get unsurpassed computer speed!
If the partition table of your disk is in MBR format, then a 500 MB service partition will be automatically created before the partition for installing Windows 10.
If the partition table of your disk is in GPT format, then before the partition for installing Windows 10, 3 service partitions with a capacity of 450, 100 and 16 MB will be created.
At the bottom there will still be "Unallocated space ...". Create another partition on it for user files for all the remaining space, select it and click the "Format" button.
Select to install Windows partition 2 or 4, which has a volume slightly less than the 100 GB we set, and click "Next".
Creating and deleting partitions is quite simple, but if you have any doubts, refer to our article on installing Windows 8.1, it is described in great detail there. If Windows 10 won't install to disk and reports an error, then try.
At this stage, the files from the installation disk or flash drive are copied to the computer's hard disk, and then the installation will already take place from the hard disk.
Sometimes this process can stop at 0% or anywhere else for a while, and then quickly end. Be patient and don't touch the computer. If nothing happens after 30 minutes of waiting, then most likely the computer is frozen or the installation disk is hard to read. You will have to start over and if it freezes again, you may need to replace the installation disk.
After the files are copied, the computer will restart several times and the installation process will continue, requiring user interaction. During the reboot process, each time you may be prompted to press any key, but you don’t need to press anything anymore, otherwise the installation will start over.
If you didn't click anything, but the installation still starts from the very beginning, then remove the installation disk or USB flash drive, restart the computer and the installation will continue from the hard disk.
11. Parameter setting
At this stage, you can set up some Windows settings 10, dealing mainly with tracking the user.
If you don’t want to bother, then click the “Use default settings” button, nothing bad will happen. To view and change the settings, click on the "Settings" link.
It is advisable to disable all options for connecting to unknown WiFi networks and sending error reports, this will increase security.
It is better to leave browser protection and acceleration of its work. But use your computer to download system files It is better to prohibit other users so as not to load the disk and the Internet.
The computer will then restart and the installation will continue.
12. Sign in or create an account
The next window prompts you to enter your username and password. account Microsoft.
If you do not have such an account, then it is proposed to use the link "Create it!". This account is tied to a Microsoft server and is primarily needed to synchronize system settings between multiple computers.
Personally, I don't like linking an account to the Internet, because sometimes it causes various problems and slows down the computer. To create a local account, as in previous versions Windows, click on the "Skip this step" link.
Now just enter your name, preferably in English, and click "Next".
It is better not to enter the password at this stage, and if necessary, set it later in Windows, after full customization computer.
13. Completing the installation and logging into Windows
At the last stage installation program finishes system setup and displays various messages on a background that changes brightness.
This may take 5 to 30 minutes. Be patient and don't touch your computer.
When you first log on to your desktop, you may be prompted to allow access to the computer from the local network.
If you have another computer or laptop and want to share files between them, then allow access. If you do not have other computers, then it is better to deny access, this will increase security.
14. Activation and follow-up
If during installation you entered the correct license key or Windows 10 has already been activated on your PC once, then the system is activated automatically the first time you access the Internet.
To check the activation status, enter or change the product key, click on windows icon in the lower left corner and go to Settings - Update & Security - Activation.
There is also a button "Go to the Store" to purchase a license and legalize Windows 10 on your computer.
If not produced Windows activation 10, then a reminder will appear on the desktop about the need for activation, it will not be possible to change color settings, and desktop wallpapers can only be set using the Photos app.
15. Links
Below you can download all necessary files to download and install Windows 10 that I mentioned in this article.
