Convert VHD to VHDX using Hyper-V Manager and Powershell

In this article, we will look at the step by step procedure to convert VHD to VHDX. 

 Advantages of VHDX 

 First, let’s look at some of the advantages of VHDX: 

 

 Scalable up to 64 TB 

 4 KB block size and better performance 

 Protection against data corruption during power outages 

 VHDX file can be resized online 

 Better snapshot handling 

 

 

 Methods to Convert a VHD to VHDX 

 There are two methods you can use to convert a VHD into a VHDX file: 

 

 Using Hyper-V Manager 

 Using PowerShell 

 

 

 Points to be noted before conversion 

 

 VHDX files cannot be used on versions of Hyper-V prior to Windows 8 or 2012 

 For upgrade scenario, first, upgrade Hyper-V to VHDX supported version then convert VHD 

 Conversion is performed offline 

 Do not attempt to convert a VHD to a VHDX if any of the following are true:

 

 You have created a snapshot of the virtual machine 

 You are replicating the VHD using Hyper-V Replica 

 The VHD is the parent to one or more differential virtual hard disks 

 

 

 

 

 Convert VHD to VHDX using Hyper-V Manager 

 Microsoft Hyper-V team has provided a simple way to convert existing VHDs into VHDX using Hyper-V Manager 

 

 Launch Hyper-V Manager, select and right-click on the virtual machine whose disk you want to convert from VHD to VHDX. Then, choose settings 

 

   

 

   

 

 From Edit Virtual Hard Disk Wizard, Select the disk you want to convert and Click Next 

 

   

 

   

 

 Click Next from Locate Disk Page 

 

   

 

   

 

 Select Convert and click Next 

 

   

 

   

 

 Select the VHDX format and click Next 

 

   

 

   

 

 Select the type of converted disk you need, either a  dynamically expanding or fixed-size VHDX file  and Click Next 

 

   

 

   

 

 From the Configure Disk option, provide a location to save and name for new converted VHDX file, Click Next 

 

   

 

   

 

 Click Finish to start the conversion on the Summary page 

 

   

 

   

 

 Conversion will take time that is based on the size of the disk and backend storage. Once completed, open the settings of the virtual machine and replace the VHD with the VHDX. To do that, open the source VHD file, click on browse and navigate to the location newly created VHDX disk 

 

   

 

   

 

 Select the disk and Click open 

 

   

 

   

 

 Click Ok and Start and test the virtual machine 

 

   

 

   

 Once the converted disk is available in the virtual machine and it works fine, you may remove the old VHD file 

 

 Convert VHD to VHDX using PowerShell 

 Another method is, we can use to convert VHD to VHDX is PowerShell and this will avoid the time-consuming wizards used by the Hyper-V manager. 

 Follow below command to convert a VHD to a VHDX 

 Convert-VHD –Path “Source vhd file” –DestinationPath “Destination vhdx file” 

 Example: 

 Convert-VHD –Path d:\VM01\Disk0.vhd –DestinationPath d:\VM01\Disk0.vhdx 

 This command is very useful when you want to use a script to automate lots of VHD conversions across many virtual machines. 

 Change the Disk Physical Sector Size 

 As I mentioned above VHDX will support 4K blocks, after conversion default block size 512 will not change. You have to manually change that, follow below commands to check the converted disk sector size and how to modify to 4K. 

 Check the Disk Sector Size 

 Get-vhd “VHDX File Name with Location” 

   

 

   

 Set the Disk Sector Size 

 set-vhd “VHDX File Name with Location” -PhysicalSectorSizeBytes 4096 

   

 

   

 Now you have a virtual machine that is using the best kind of virtual machine storage, the VHDX format virtual hard disk. 

   

 #HyperV #Hyper-V #Powershell #VHDX #VHD