Download the from Microsoft's official download page.
Note: You can use type=fixed instead of expandable if you want the VHDX to occupy its full size immediately, but expandable is more space-efficient .
A VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) image is a file that contains a virtual hard disk, which can be used to store a complete operating system, including Windows 10. VHD images are commonly used with virtualization software, such as Hyper-V, VirtualBox, and VMware, to create virtual machines. However, you can also use VHD images to install Windows 10 on a separate partition or to create a backup of your existing installation.
Now, . During boot, you should see a menu: windows 10 vhd image download install
Go to Disk Management → Action → Attach VHD (or use diskpart → select vdisk → attach vdisk ).
Select the VHD option. It will go through the final "Out of Box Experience" (region, account, etc.). After that, you have a full Windows 10 running from a file!
: Open Disk Management ( diskmgmt.msc ), go to Action > Create VHD , and specify a size (at least 20GB) and location. Download the from Microsoft's official download page
When your computer restarts, you will be greeted by the Windows Boot Manager screen. You can choose between your primary, native operating system or your new installation. Summary of Best Practices and Tips
Move your Windows 10 VHD file to a dedicated folder on your root drive (e.g., C:\VHDs\win10.vhd ). Right-click the Start menu and select . Click Action in the top menu and select Attach VHD .
Choose your preferred virtualization platform. For a native VHD/VHDX file, select . VHD images are commonly used with virtualization software,
If using a VM, ensure VT-x or AMD-V is enabled in your BIOS.
This is the most common method for a standard installation. You download the official Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft and convert it into a VHD using tools like "Convert-WindowsImage.ps1" or "WinToUSB."
Your native-boot VHDX will now boot as a standard virtual machine. This is ideal for testing software in an isolated environment without rebooting your host system. The reverse also works: a VHDX created in Hyper-V can be copied to a physical drive and booted natively on real hardware .