How start VHDX from a Win Boot Menu

[lbosco76]

Hello,
I have a pc with win 8.1. From another pc I made a USB device with a VHDX-based Windows. I follow instruction "Booting both BIOS-based and UEFI-based computer" and create 2 partition, one FAT32 and one NTFS.

Now I want modify the boot Menu of win 8.1 to add an entry to boot from USB VHDX. The difficult is that in a new Entry of the Boot Menu I must insert the path of *.efi in \Windows\syste32\ directory. Obviusly if the operating system is into del VHDX, I haven't a Windows path.

Someone know if is possible and how, to invoke from a Windows Boot Menu the start of a Windows OS inside a VHDX?


Thanks
Luca

[admin]

Hello,
I have a pc with win 8.1. From another pc I made a USB device with a VHDX-based Windows. I follow instruction "Booting both BIOS-based and UEFI-based computer" and create 2 partition, one FAT32 and one NTFS.

Now I want modify the boot Menu of win 8.1 to add an entry to boot from USB VHDX. The difficult is that in a new Entry of the Boot Menu I must insert the path of *.efi in \Windows\syste32\   directory. Obviusly if the operating system is into del VHDX, I haven't a Windows path.

Someone know if is possible and how, to invoke from a Windows Boot Menu the start of a Windows OS inside a VHDX?


Thanks
Luca

1. Run command prompt (cmd.exe) as administrator, then run Diskpart at the command prompt.
C:\Windows\System32>diskpart

2. Type the following commands to mount the vhd(x) file
DISKPART> Lis vol

In my case E:\ is my USB Hard Drive.
DISKPART> Select vdisk file=E:\WinToUSB.vhd (E: is the USB DRIVE, WinToUSB.vhd is the vhd(x) file want to boot)
DISKPART> Attach Vdisk
DISKPART> Lis vol

In my case F:\ is the mounted VHD file.
DISKPART> Exit

3. Run the following command to add an boot entry to Windows 8.1 boot menu
C:\Windows\System32> F:\Windows\System32\Bcdboot.exe F:\Windows (F: is the mounted VHD file)

[lbosco76]

Thanks for the reply, I'll tryed this evening.

[lbosco76]

I tryed and is OK. The last step failed (Bcdboot) but I substitute that action using EasyBCD.
Now in the windows boot menu (the blue menu when starting windows) I have an Entry with the VHDX label.

It isn't exactly what I have in mind but is a good step, with this configuration I can use the native system or the VHDX, and also insert the USB HDD in another PC anche use the system boot partition to launch the VHDX.

Now I ask, if is possible to insert a new entry in the windows boot menu to invoke directly the other boot system partition. I don't know if a windows boot menu can invoke another windows boot menu and I haven't found an answer.

Thanks

[admin]

I tryed and is OK. The last step failed (Bcdboot) but I substitute that action using EasyBCD.
Now in the windows boot menu (the blue menu when starting windows) I have an Entry with the VHDX label.

It isn't exactly what I have in mind but is a good step, with this configuration I can use the native system or the VHDX, and also insert the USB HDD in another PC anche use the system boot partition to launch the VHDX.

Now I ask, if is possible to insert a new entry in the windows boot menu to invoke directly the other boot system partition. I don't know if a windows boot menu can invoke another windows boot menu and I haven't found an answer.

Thanks

You said "Now I ask, if is possible to insert a new entry in the windows boot menu to invoke directly the other boot system partition. I don't know if a windows boot menu can invoke another windows boot menu and I haven't found an answer.", I'm sorry, I don't know too.

Anyone have any suggestions, please advise.