Wondering what a VHDX file is? This comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know about VHDX files, their benefits, and how they differ from VHD files.
A VHDX file is a type of virtual hard disk format used in Windows-based virtualization solutions. Here’s a tabular representation of key aspects of VHDX files:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| File Extension | .vhdx |
| Compatibility | Supported by Windows Server 2012 and later, and Windows 8 and later |
| Maximum Size | Up to 64 TB |
| Resilience | Provides protection against data corruption during power failures |
| Block Size | Configurable, with a default of 32 MB for files larger than 260 GB |
| Sector Size | Supports both 512 bytes (traditional) and 4 KB (large) logical sector sizes |
| File Format | Dynamically expanding, fixed size, or differencing |
| Performance | Better performance compared to VHD format, especially for dynamic and differencing disks |
| Management | Can be managed using Hyper-V Manager, PowerShell, and other Windows management tools |
| Snapshot and Backup | Supports production checkpoints and more efficient backups |
| Conversion | Can be converted from older VHD files and vice versa |
This format offers improvements over the older VHD format in terms of capacity, performance, and resilience. It’s primarily used for virtual machines in a Windows environment.
How to Open a VHDX File |
- Windows 10 , Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012 can open VHDX (and VHD) files really quickly without having to download any programs or tools. Just right-click on the VHDX file and select the Mount option.
- Another way to open a VHDX file is through Disk Management using the Action> Attach VHD menu. Learn how to open Disk Management if you’re not sure how to get there.
- If you go the other route through Disk Management, you can optionally open the VHDX file in read-only mode by checking this option before opening the file. This allows you to read data from a VHDX file, but does not allow you or any program to write this information, which is useful if you are concerned that your host computer is infected with malware .
- Tip. You can print or close the VHDX file through Windows Explorer by right-clicking the installed virtual hard disk and selecting Eject . You can also do this with Disk Management; right-click the disk number (for example, disk 1 ) and click or tap Detach VHD .
- If you find that an application on your computer is trying to open a VHDX file, but it’s the wrong application, or if you want to use another installed program to open an open VHDX file, see our How to change a specific file extension guide to the default program for this change in Windows.
How to Convert a VHDX File
- The Hyper-V driver is built into Windows and can convert VHDX to VHD. For instructions on enabling Hyper-V Manager and converting a VHDX file, see this guide. The idea is to install the program from the Windows Features section of Control Panel .
- You can also use PowerShell to convert VHDX to VHD. See this guide in Convertible-VHD for more information.
- StarWind V2V Converter can convert VHD files for use in a VMWare workstation program on a VMDK (Virtual Machine Disk). You can change it to a growing image file or a predefined size. You can also use this program to convert a VHD file to an IMG or other VHD file that is cultivated or predefined.
- If you need a VBI (VirtualBox Virtual Disk Image) VDI file to use VirtualBox, install the VirtualBox program and run this command :
- VBoxManage.exe clones “I: \ Windows XP.vhd” I: \ WindowsXP.vdi – format vdi
- As you can see, the syntax should be one where you change the bold text to fit your files:
- VBoxManage.exe clones ” location-of-vhdx-file. Vhdx ” where-save-the-file.vdi – formatting vdi
- Converting VHDX to ISO is not very useful, as the ISO file is usually for CDs recorded on a disc, and VHDX content in this format is no longer required. For preservation purposes, you can convert the file to ISO, then convert the VHDX file to IMG using the method above, and then use IMG to ISO to complete the conversion.
Is your file not yet open?
If the file does not work with the above programs, double-check the file extension. You may have misinterpreted the file extension and really read something other than “VHDX”, but not exactly.
For example, a VHDL file looks like it says VHDX, but it’s not really related and can’t be opened with the VHDX openers and converters above. VHDL files are actually non – text VHDL files that are open in word processing .
As mentioned above, there is another similar VHDX file format, VMDK, but instead of using this format, Windows can open this file with VMWare Workstation.
In conclusion, a VHDX file is a virtual hard disk format used by Microsoft Hyper-V. It offers several advantages over the older VHD format, including larger storage capacity, improved performance, and better resilience. Understanding the differences between VHDX and VHD is crucial for effectively managing virtual machine storage and ensuring compatibility with different virtualization platforms.
