Windows Vista Forums

VMtoolkit VHD Resizer
  1. #1


    Julian Cann Guest

    VMtoolkit VHD Resizer

    I just tried the potentially very useful VHD Resize app. v1.0.42.0

    It appeared to create a perfect copy of a Win311 VHD, increasing the
    size from 200 to 300Mb.

    When I ran it, it fell over with a "Missing Operating System" error on
    initial boot up.



    Glad I created a copy first.

    Incidentally I wasn't able to update the VHD in situ. It went through in
    a flash and reported a successful outcome, but on bootup the disk size
    was still 200Mb.
    regards

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Bo Berglund Guest

    Re: VMtoolkit VHD Resizer

    On Sun, 1 Jun 2008 12:22:09 +1000, Julian Cann
    <julianNOSPAMcann@xxxxxx> wrote:

    >I just tried the potentially very useful VHD Resize app. v1.0.42.0
    >
    >It appeared to create a perfect copy of a Win311 VHD, increasing the
    >size from 200 to 300Mb.
    >
    >When I ran it, it fell over with a "Missing Operating System" error on
    >initial boot up.
    >
    >Glad I created a copy first.
    >
    >Incidentally I wasn't able to update the VHD in situ. It went through in
    >a flash and reported a successful outcome, but on bootup the disk size
    >was still 200Mb.
    >regards
    I believe that the VHD Resizer works like this:
    1) Create a blank VHD file set to a bigger size
    2) Copy all the data from teh source disk partition to the target
    3) Now you have a bigger drive but with a same-size partition as on
    the source drive plus extra non-used empty space.

    The next step is to get a different tool and use it to change the
    partition to use the complete space of the new drive.
    Not really a resizer in my book.

    --

    Bo Berglund (Sweden)

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Bo Berglund Guest

    Re: VMtoolkit VHD Resizer

    On Sun, 01 Jun 2008 08:29:46 +0200, Bo Berglund <boberglund@xxxxxx>
    wrote:

    >>I just tried the potentially very useful VHD Resize app. v1.0.42.0
    >>
    >>It appeared to create a perfect copy of a Win311 VHD, increasing the
    >>size from 200 to 300Mb.
    >>
    >>When I ran it, it fell over with a "Missing Operating System" error on
    >>initial boot up.
    Same here. Had to kill VPC2007 to recover, but after I started VPC2007
    again the guest bootup recommenced and it started. See below.

    >>Glad I created a copy first.
    No need, VHDResizer makes a *copy* of your original drive with the new
    bigger size. So you must then make sure to use the *copied* VHD file
    in your guest. Did you do that?

    >>Incidentally I wasn't able to update the VHD in situ. It went through in
    >>a flash and reported a successful outcome, but on bootup the disk size
    >>was still 200Mb.
    Just to make sure I tested VHDResizer 1.0.42 on a Win2000 4G VHD drive
    and set the copy to 8G. The results are:

    1) The expanded VHD is a *copy* of the original.
    2) A new guest based on this VHD will not start! :-(
    3) After *killing* VPC2007 and then starting VPC2007 again the new
    guest starts automatically and this time it boots OK. (go figure)
    4) Inside the guest the diskmanager reports the same 4G C: partition
    size as before, but now with an extra 4G "unused space".

    So the bottom line is that now one needs yet another tool to adjust
    the partition size of the new VHD disk so it expands (without data
    loss) the single partition to use the full drive capacity.

    I don't see why the VHDResizer cannot also adjust the partition size
    given that it *knows* the format of a VHD disk. *That* would make it a
    useful tool indeed.
    Also it should at the end switch the file names so that the original
    disk becomes name.bak and the new disk name.vhd. This way the guest
    will be able to start up again with less hassle.

    --

    Bo Berglund (Sweden)

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Tim Walsh Guest

    Re: VMtoolkit VHD Resizer

    If your using a Win2K or Win2K3 VM you can use diskpart to expand the disk
    to include the free space. If the disk is the boot drive however it won't
    work however. One work around would be to present it to the VM as a second
    drive first and then expand it. I've used it with great results in both
    Win2K and Win2K3. It's installed by default on Win2K3, and you can download
    it for Win2K from Microsoft.

    Here's some links to how to use the tool:
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300415
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325590

    Download for Win2K here:
    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en



    "Bo Berglund" <boberglund@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:qmm444tgk2ihb1kobp6eu8uhbt7m4ngq06@xxxxxx

    > On Sun, 01 Jun 2008 08:29:46 +0200, Bo Berglund <boberglund@xxxxxx>
    > wrote:
    >

    >>>I just tried the potentially very useful VHD Resize app. v1.0.42.0
    >>>
    >>>It appeared to create a perfect copy of a Win311 VHD, increasing the
    >>>size from 200 to 300Mb.
    >>>
    >>>When I ran it, it fell over with a "Missing Operating System" error on
    >>>initial boot up.
    >
    > Same here. Had to kill VPC2007 to recover, but after I started VPC2007
    > again the guest bootup recommenced and it started. See below.
    >

    >>>Glad I created a copy first.
    >
    > No need, VHDResizer makes a *copy* of your original drive with the new
    > bigger size. So you must then make sure to use the *copied* VHD file
    > in your guest. Did you do that?
    >

    >>>Incidentally I wasn't able to update the VHD in situ. It went through in
    >>>a flash and reported a successful outcome, but on bootup the disk size
    >>>was still 200Mb.
    >
    > Just to make sure I tested VHDResizer 1.0.42 on a Win2000 4G VHD drive
    > and set the copy to 8G. The results are:
    >
    > 1) The expanded VHD is a *copy* of the original.
    > 2) A new guest based on this VHD will not start! :-(
    > 3) After *killing* VPC2007 and then starting VPC2007 again the new
    > guest starts automatically and this time it boots OK. (go figure)
    > 4) Inside the guest the diskmanager reports the same 4G C: partition
    > size as before, but now with an extra 4G "unused space".
    >
    > So the bottom line is that now one needs yet another tool to adjust
    > the partition size of the new VHD disk so it expands (without data
    > loss) the single partition to use the full drive capacity.
    >
    > I don't see why the VHDResizer cannot also adjust the partition size
    > given that it *knows* the format of a VHD disk. *That* would make it a
    > useful tool indeed.
    > Also it should at the end switch the file names so that the original
    > disk becomes name.bak and the new disk name.vhd. This way the guest
    > will be able to start up again with less hassle.
    >
    > --
    >
    > Bo Berglund (Sweden)


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    ohaya Guest

    Re: VMtoolkit VHD Resizer

    Hi,

    You can also use BootIt NG (http://www.terabyteunlimited.com) for this:

    - Download BootIt NG (BING)
    - Create a BING floppy
    - Boot your VPC guest to the BING floppy
    - Go into Maintenance mode
    - Use the "Resize" option to resize the partition
    - Release the floppy, then reboot the VPC guest to your resized partition!

    Jim



    Tim Walsh wrote:

    > If your using a Win2K or Win2K3 VM you can use diskpart to expand the disk
    > to include the free space. If the disk is the boot drive however it won't
    > work however. One work around would be to present it to the VM as a second
    > drive first and then expand it. I've used it with great results in both
    > Win2K and Win2K3. It's installed by default on Win2K3, and you can download
    > it for Win2K from Microsoft.
    >
    > Here's some links to how to use the tool:
    > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300415
    > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325590
    >
    > Download for Win2K here:
    > http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
    >
    >
    >
    > "Bo Berglund" <boberglund@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    > news:qmm444tgk2ihb1kobp6eu8uhbt7m4ngq06@xxxxxx
    >

    >>On Sun, 01 Jun 2008 08:29:46 +0200, Bo Berglund <boberglund@xxxxxx>
    >>wrote:
    >>
    >>

    >>>>I just tried the potentially very useful VHD Resize app. v1.0.42.0
    >>>>
    >>>>It appeared to create a perfect copy of a Win311 VHD, increasing the
    >>>>size from 200 to 300Mb.
    >>>>
    >>>>When I ran it, it fell over with a "Missing Operating System" error on
    >>>>initial boot up.
    >>
    >>Same here. Had to kill VPC2007 to recover, but after I started VPC2007
    >>again the guest bootup recommenced and it started. See below.
    >>
    >>

    >>>>Glad I created a copy first.
    >>
    >>No need, VHDResizer makes a *copy* of your original drive with the new
    >>bigger size. So you must then make sure to use the *copied* VHD file
    >>in your guest. Did you do that?
    >>
    >>

    >>>>Incidentally I wasn't able to update the VHD in situ. It went through in
    >>>>a flash and reported a successful outcome, but on bootup the disk size
    >>>>was still 200Mb.
    >>
    >>Just to make sure I tested VHDResizer 1.0.42 on a Win2000 4G VHD drive
    >>and set the copy to 8G. The results are:
    >>
    >>1) The expanded VHD is a *copy* of the original.
    >>2) A new guest based on this VHD will not start! :-(
    >>3) After *killing* VPC2007 and then starting VPC2007 again the new
    >>guest starts automatically and this time it boots OK. (go figure)
    >>4) Inside the guest the diskmanager reports the same 4G C: partition
    >>size as before, but now with an extra 4G "unused space".
    >>
    >>So the bottom line is that now one needs yet another tool to adjust
    >>the partition size of the new VHD disk so it expands (without data
    >>loss) the single partition to use the full drive capacity.
    >>
    >>I don't see why the VHDResizer cannot also adjust the partition size
    >>given that it *knows* the format of a VHD disk. *That* would make it a
    >>useful tool indeed.
    >>Also it should at the end switch the file names so that the original
    >>disk becomes name.bak and the new disk name.vhd. This way the guest
    >>will be able to start up again with less hassle.
    >>
    >>--
    >>
    >>Bo Berglund (Sweden)
    >
    >
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    Julian Cann Guest

    Re: VMtoolkit VHD Resizer

    In article <qmm444tgk2ihb1kobp6eu8uhbt7m4ngq06@xxxxxx>,
    boberglund@xxxxxx says...

    > On Sun, 01 Jun 2008 08:29:46 +0200, Bo Berglund <boberglund@xxxxxx>
    > wrote:
    >

    > >>I just tried the potentially very useful VHD Resize app. v1.0.42.0
    > >>
    > >>It appeared to create a perfect copy of a Win311 VHD, increasing the
    > >>size from 200 to 300Mb.
    > >>
    > >>When I ran it, it fell over with a "Missing Operating System" error on
    > >>initial boot up.
    >
    > Same here. Had to kill VPC2007 to recover, but after I started VPC2007
    > again the guest bootup recommenced and it started. See below.
    >

    > >>Glad I created a copy first.
    >
    > No need, VHDResizer makes a *copy* of your original drive with the new
    > bigger size. So you must then make sure to use the *copied* VHD file
    > in your guest. Did you do that?
    >

    > >>Incidentally I wasn't able to update the VHD in situ. It went through in
    > >>a flash and reported a successful outcome, but on bootup the disk size
    > >>was still 200Mb.
    >
    > Just to make sure I tested VHDResizer 1.0.42 on a Win2000 4G VHD drive
    > and set the copy to 8G. The results are:
    >
    > 1) The expanded VHD is a *copy* of the original.
    > 2) A new guest based on this VHD will not start! :-(
    > 3) After *killing* VPC2007 and then starting VPC2007 again the new
    > guest starts automatically and this time it boots OK. (go figure)
    > 4) Inside the guest the diskmanager reports the same 4G C: partition
    > size as before, but now with an extra 4G "unused space".
    >
    > So the bottom line is that now one needs yet another tool to adjust
    > the partition size of the new VHD disk so it expands (without data
    > loss) the single partition to use the full drive capacity.
    >
    > I don't see why the VHDResizer cannot also adjust the partition size
    > given that it *knows* the format of a VHD disk. *That* would make it a
    > useful tool indeed.
    > Also it should at the end switch the file names so that the original
    > disk becomes name.bak and the new disk name.vhd. This way the guest
    > will be able to start up again with less hassle.
    >
    >
    VHDresizer created a new VHD with a new name. I redirected the settings
    to the new VHD and the guest fell over with the "Missing Operating
    System". OK so I closed VPC down and ran it again and it did the same
    thing. I'm not sure what to make of it, to be honest.
    regards
    --
    ....
    Jules
    Brisbane, Australia

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  7. #7


    Bo Berglund Guest

    Re: VMtoolkit VHD Resizer

    >> Just to make sure I tested VHDResizer 1.0.42 on a Win2000 4G VHD drive

    >> and set the copy to 8G. The results are:
    >>
    >> 1) The expanded VHD is a *copy* of the original.
    >> 2) A new guest based on this VHD will not start! :-(
    Seems like this can go even worse than my experience...

    >> 3) After *killing* VPC2007 and then starting VPC2007 again the new
    >> guest starts automatically and this time it boots OK. (go figure)
    >> 4) Inside the guest the diskmanager reports the same 4G C: partition
    >> size as before, but now with an extra 4G "unused space".
    >>
    >> So the bottom line is that now one needs yet another tool to adjust
    >> the partition size of the new VHD disk so it expands (without data
    >> loss) the single partition to use the full drive capacity.
    >>
    >>
    >VHDresizer created a new VHD with a new name. I redirected the settings
    >to the new VHD and the guest fell over with the "Missing Operating
    >System". OK so I closed VPC down and ran it again and it did the same
    >thing. I'm not sure what to make of it, to be honest.
    >
    The other "normal" way is to create the new VHD with VPC2007 disk
    wizard, then in the guest settings (with it shut down completely) add
    the new disk as drive 2.
    Then boot up the guest again and use an imaging software of some kind
    (Ghost, Acronis) inside the guest to clone the system disk to the new
    empty one.
    Incidentally, this does not involve any hardware changes so it is a
    run-of-the-mill disk migration inside a PC and the Acronis 15 day eval
    version will do the job.

    --

    Bo Berglund (Sweden)

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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