Windows XP PRO VHD: The Best Way to Experience the Features and Benefits of Windows XP in 2023
How to Create and Use Virtual Hard Disks on Windows XP PRO
Virtual hard disks (VHDs) are files that simulate physical hard drives and can store any data, including operating systems, files, and programs. VHDs can be useful for testing, backup, dual-boot, and virtualization purposes. For example, you can create a VHD with Windows XP PRO and use it as a secondary OS on your computer, or run it on a virtual machine with Hyper-V or VirtualBox.
Windows XP PRO VHD
Windows XP PRO is an edition of Windows XP that was released in 2001 and designed for professional users and businesses. It has many features that make it a powerful, reliable, and flexible operating system. Some of these features include support for up to two physical CPUs and 128 GB of RAM, improved security and performance, user-friendly interface and graphics, support for multiple users and domains, and compatibility with many hardware devices and applications.
In this article, I will show you how to create and use VHDs on Windows XP PRO, as well as some of the features and benefits of this operating system. You will learn how to create a VHD using Disk Management or Command Prompt, how to attach and detach a VHD using Disk Management, how to format and partition a VHD using Disk Management or DiskPart, how to install an OS on a VHD using the installation media or an ISO file, and how to enjoy the features and benefits of Windows XP PRO on your VHD.
How to Create a VHD on Windows XP PRO
There are two ways to create a VHD on Windows XP PRO: using Disk Management or using Command Prompt. Both methods require administrative privileges.
Using Disk Management
Disk Management is a graphical tool that allows you to manage your disks and partitions. To create a VHD using Disk Management, follow these steps:
Open Start menu and type diskmgmt.msc in the Run box. Press Enter or click OK to launch Disk Management.
Click the Action menu and select Create VHD.
In the Create and Attach Virtual Hard Disk dialog box, specify the location where you want to save the VHD file, the size of the VHD file in megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), or terabytes (TB), the format of the VHD file (VHDX or VHD), and the type of the VHD file (Dynamically expanding or Fixed size). Click OK.
A new disk will appear in Disk Management with a blue icon. Right-click the disk icon on the left side and select Initialize Disk.
Select the disk from the list and choose either MBR (Master Boot Record) or GPT (GUID Partition Table) as the partition style. Click OK.
You have created a VHD file. To use it, you need to attach it, format it, partition it, and install an OS on it.
Using Command Prompt
Command Prompt is a command-line tool that allows you to execute commands and scripts. To create a VHD using Command Prompt, follow these steps:
Open Start menu and type cmd in the Run box. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter or right-click cmd.exe and select Run as administrator to launch Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
Type the following command and press Enter to create a VHD file. Replace the parameters with your desired values.
diskpart create vdisk file="C:\VHD\WindowsXP.vhd" maximum=10000 type=fixed
The command will create a fixed-size VHD file named WindowsXP.vhd with a size of 10 GB in the C:\VHD folder. You can change the file name, location, size, and type according to your needs. The type can be either fixed or expandable.
Type exit and press Enter to exit diskpart.
You have created a VHD file. To use it, you need to attach it, format it, partition it, and install an OS on it.
How to Use a VHD on Windows XP PRO
After creating a VHD file, you need to attach it, format it, partition it, and install an OS on it. You can use Disk Management or Command Prompt for these tasks.
How to Attach and Detach a VHD
To attach a VHD means to make it visible and accessible in your system. To detach a VHD means to remove it from your system. You can attach and detach a VHD using Disk Management or Command Prompt.
Using Disk Management
To attach a VHD using Disk Management, follow these steps:
Open Disk Management as described in the previous section.
Click the Action menu and select Attach VHD.
In the Attach Virtual Hard Disk dialog box, browse to the location of the VHD file that you want to attach and click OK.
A new disk will appear in Disk Management with a blue icon. Right-click the disk icon on the left side and select Initialize Disk if it is not initialized yet.
Select the disk from the list and choose either MBR or GPT as the partition style. Click OK.
You have attached a VHD file. To detach it, right-click the disk icon on the left side and select Detach VHD. Click OK to confirm.
Using Command Prompt
To attach a VHD using Command Prompt, follow these steps:
Open Command Prompt as described in the previous section.
Type the following command and press Enter to attach a VHD file. Replace the parameter with the path of the VHD file that you want to attach.
diskpart select vdisk file="C:\VHD\WindowsXP.vhd" attach vdisk
The command will attach the VHD file named WindowsXP.vhd located in the C:\VHD folder. You can change the file name and location according to your needs.
Type exit and press Enter to exit diskpart.
You have attached a VHD file. To detach it, open Command Prompt again and type the following command:
diskpart select vdisk file="C:\VHD\WindowsXP.vhd" detach vdisk
The command will detach the VHD file named WindowsXP.vhd located in the C:\VHD folder. You can change the file name and location according to your needs.
How to Format and Partition a VHD
To format a VHD means to erase all data on it and assign a file system such as NTFS or FAT32. To partition a VHD means to divide it into one or more logical units that can be assigned drive letters and used for different purposes. You can format and partition a VHD using Disk Management or Command Prompt.
Using Disk Management
To format and partition a VHD using Disk Management, follow these steps:
Attach the VHD that you want to format and partition using Disk Management as described in the previous section.
Right-click the unallocated space on the right side of the disk icon and select New Simple Volume.
In the New Simple Volume Wizard, click Next.
Specify the size of the volume that you want to create in MB and click Next.
Assign a drive letter or path for the volume and click Next.
Select a file system (NTFS or FAT32), a volume label, and an allocation unit size for the volume. You can also choose whether to perform a quick format or enable compression. Click Next.
Review the settings for the volume and click Finish.
You have created a new volume on the VHD. You can repeat the steps to create more volumes if you want. To delete a volume, right-click it and select Delete Volume.
Using Command Prompt
To format and partition a VHD using Command Prompt, follow these steps:
Attach the VHD that you want to format and partition using Command Prompt as described in the previous section.
Type the following command and press Enter to launch diskpart.
diskpart
Type the following command and press Enter to select the VHD that you want to format and partition. Replace the parameter with the path of the VHD file that you want to select.
select vdisk file="C:\VHD\WindowsXP.vhd"
Type the following command and press Enter to create a primary partition on the VHD. Replace the parameter with the size of the partition in MB.
create partition primary size=5000
The command will create a primary partition with a size of 5 GB on the VHD. You can change the size according to your needs. You can also create other types of partitions, such as extended or logical, by changing the parameter.
Type the following command and press Enter to select the partition that you want to format.
select partition 1
The command will select the first partition on the VHD. You can change the number according to your needs.
Type the following command and press Enter to format the partition with NTFS file system. Replace the parameters with your desired values.
format fs=ntfs label="Windows XP" quick
The command will format the partition with NTFS file system, assign a volume label of "Windows XP", and perform a quick format. You can change the file system, label, and format option according to your needs.
Type the following command and press Enter to assign a drive letter for the partition. Replace the parameter with your desired letter.
assign letter=E
The command will assign a drive letter of E for the partition. You can change the letter according to your needs.
You have created a new volume on the VHD. You can repeat the steps to create more volumes if you want. To delete a volume, type delete volume and press Enter.
Type exit and press Enter to exit diskpart.
How to Install an OS on a VHD
To install an OS on a VHD means to copy the files and settings of an OS from an installation media or an ISO file to a VHD file. You can install an OS on a VHD using Disk Management or Command Prompt.
Using Disk Management
To install an OS on a VHD using Disk Management, follow these steps:
Attach and format a VHD using Disk Management as described in the previous sections.
Insert or mount the installation media or ISO file of the OS that you want to install on the VHD. For example, if you want to install Windows XP PRO on the VHD, insert or mount the Windows XP PRO CD or ISO file.
Open My Computer and locate the drive letter of the installation media or ISO file. For example, if you inserted or mounted Windows XP PRO CD or ISO file as drive F, locate drive F in My Computer.
Open another My Computer window and locate the drive letter of the VHD that you want to install the OS on. For example, if you formatted the VHD as drive E, locate drive E in My Computer.
Copy all the files and folders from the installation media or ISO file to the VHD. For example, if you want to copy Windows XP PRO files and folders from drive F to drive E, select all the files and folders in drive F and drag and drop them to drive E.
You have installed an OS on the VHD. To boot from the VHD, you need to edit the boot configuration data (BCD) file of your primary OS.
Using Command Prompt
To install an OS on a VHD using Command Prompt, follow these steps:
Attach and format a VHD using Command Prompt as described in the previous sections.
Insert or mount the installation media or ISO file of the OS that you want to install on the VHD. For example, if you want to install Windows XP PRO on the VHD, insert or mount the Windows XP PRO CD or ISO file.
Open Command Prompt as described in the previous sections.
Type the following command and press Enter to copy all the files and folders from the installation media or ISO file to the VHD. Replace the parameters with your desired values.
xcopy F:\*.* E:\ /s /e /h
The command will copy all the files and folders from drive F (the installation media or ISO file) to drive E (the VHD) with subdirectories, empty directories, and hidden files. You can change the drive letters according to your needs.
You have installed an OS on the VHD. To boot from the VHD, you need to edit the boot configuration data (BCD) file of your primary OS.
Features and Benefits of Windows XP PRO
Windows XP PRO is an edition of Windows XP that was released in 2001 and designed for professional users and businesses. It has many features that make it a powerful, reliable, and flexible operating system. Some of these features are:
Hardware Support and Compatibility
Windows XP PRO supports up to two physical CPUs and 128 GB of RAM, which allows it to run multiple applications and processes efficiently. It also supports many hardware devices and drivers, such as printers, scanners, cameras, modems, network cards, sound cards, video cards, and more. It can also run most of the applications that are compatible with Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 98, and Windows 95.
User-Friendly Interface and Stability
Windows XP PRO has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and customize. It has a Start menu that provides quick access to programs, documents, settings, and search functions. It has a taskbar that shows the running applications and notifications. It has a desktop that can display icons, shortcuts, wallpapers, and widgets. It also has a Windows Explorer that can manage files and folders with drag-and-drop operations, context menus, thumbnails, and details views.
Windows XP PRO is also stable and reliable. It has a kernel that can handle errors and crashes without affecting other processes. It has a System Restore feature that can restore the system to a previous state in case of problems. It has a Device Manager that can troubleshoot and update drivers. It also has a Task Manager that can monitor and control processes, performance, and resources.
Efficiency and Graphics
Windows XP PRO is efficient and fast. It has a fast boot time and shutdown time. It has a prefetch feature that can load frequently used programs faster. It has a hibernation feature that can save the system state to disk and resume it quickly. It also has a clear type feature that can improve the readability of text on LCD screens.
Windows XP PRO also has impressive graphics and effects. It has a Luna theme that gives it a colorful and modern look. It has a transparency effect that makes some windows and menus semi-transparent. It has an animation effect that makes some windows and menus slide or fade in and out. It also has a shadow effect that gives some windows and menus a 3D appearance.
Support for Multiple Users and Security Features
Windows XP PRO supports multiple users and domains. It allows each user to have their own account with their own settings, preferences, files, and programs. It also allows users to join domains and access network resources and services. It also allows users to switch between accounts without logging off or closing programs.
Windows XP PRO also has security features that protect the system and data from unauthorized access and malicious attacks. It has a firewall that can block or allow incoming and outgoing network traffic. It has an encryption feature that can encrypt files and folders with a password. It has an antivirus feature that can scan and remove viruses and malware. It also has a Windows Update feature that can download and install security patches and updates.
Conclusion
In this article, I have shown you how to create and use VHDs on Windows XP PRO, as well as some of the features and benefits of this operating system. You have learned how to create a VHD using Disk Management or Command Prompt, how to attach and detach a VHD using Disk Management or Command Prompt, how to format and partition a VHD using Disk Management or Command Prompt, how to install an OS on a VHD using Disk Management or Command Prompt, and how to enjoy the features and benefits of Windows XP PRO on your VHD.
VHDs are files that simulate physical hard drives and can store any data, including operating systems, files, and programs. VHDs can be useful for testing, backup, dual-boot, and virtualization purposes. Windows XP PRO is an edition of Windows XP that was released in 2001 and designed for professional users and businesses. It has many features that make it a powerful, reliable, and flexible operating system.
If you want to create and use VHDs on Windows XP PRO, I recommend you to follow the steps in this article and experiment with different settings and options. You can also explore other features and functions of Windows XP PRO that I have not covered in this article. You can also try other operating systems on your VHDs, such as Windows 7, Windows 10, Linux, or macOS.
I hope you have found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about creating and using VHDs on Windows XP PRO:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using VHDs?
Some of the advantages of using VHDs are:
You can create multiple VHDs with different operating systems and switch between them easily.
You can test new software or settings without affecting your primary OS or data.
You can backup your entire OS or data by copying the VHD file to another location.
You can use VHDs on different computers or virtual machines with compatible software.
Some of the disadvantages of using VHDs are:
You need enough disk space to store the VHD files.
You may experience slower performance or errors if the VHD files are corrupted or fragmented.
You may encounter compatibility issues if the VHD files are not supported by your hardware or software.
You may lose your data if the VHD files are deleted or damaged.
How can I boot from a VHD?
To boot from a VHD, you need to edit the boot configuration data (BCD) file of your primary OS. The BCD file is a database that contains information about the boot options and settings of your system. You can use a tool such as EasyBCD or BCDEdit to edit the BCD file. You need to add an entry for the VHD file that you want to boot from, specify the path of the VHD file, and set it as the default or preferred option. You can find detailed instructions on how to do this online.
How can I resize a VHD?
To resize a VHD, you need to use a tool such as DiskPart or VHDXTool. You need to detach the VHD file from your system first, then use the tool to change the size of the VHD file. You can increase or decrease the size of the VHD file according to your needs. However, you should be careful when resizing a VHD file, as it may cause data loss or corruption if done incorrectly. You should always backup your data before resizing a VHD file.
How can I convert a VHD file to another format?
To convert a VHD file to another format, such as VHDX, VMDK, or IMG, you need to use a tool such as StarWind Converter or WinImage. You need to select the source and destination formats, choose the options and settings, and start the conversion process. You can find detailed instructions on how to do this online.
How can I mount a VHD file on another OS?
To mount a VHD file on another OS, such as Windows 7, Windows 10, Linux, or macOS, you need to use a tool or software that ca