How to create a virtual hard disk from a physical hard disk in Virtual PC 2004 (833141)

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To create a virtual hard disk of a physical hard disk, use the Virtual Disk Wizard to create the virtual hard disk and then convert the virtual hard disk. To do this, follow these steps:

Important To complete this procedure, you must have more free space on the physical hard disk where you store the virtual hard disk than the size of the physical hard disk that you want to create the virtual hard disk from.

1. Create the virtual hard disk. To do this, follow these steps:
   
   Note This procedure creates a virtual hard disk that functions as a shortcut to the physical hard disk.
   1. In Virtual PC, click File, and then click Virtual Disk Wizard.
   2. Click Next, click Create a new virtual disk, and then click Next.
   3. Click A virtual hard disk, and then click Next.
   4. In the Name and location box, click Browse, and then locate the drive or partition where you want to save your virtual hard disk.
   5. Type a name for your virtual hard disk, click Save, and then click Next.
   6. Under Virtual Hard Disk Options, click Linked to a hard disk (Advanced).
   7. Read the Caution message, and then click OK if you are sure you want to continue.
   8. Click Next.
   9. Click the physical hard disk or volume that you want to create a virtual hard disk from, click Next, and then click Finish.
2. Convert the virtual hard disk. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. In Virtual PC, click File, and then click Virtual Disk Wizard.
   2. Click Next, click Edit an existing virtual disk, and then click Next.
   3. Click Browse, locate the virtual hard disk that you created in step 1 of this article, click this virtual hard disk, click Open, and then click Next.
   4. Click to select A dynamically expanding virtual hard disk, and then click Next.
   5. Click Browse, and then locate the drive or partition where you want to save your virtual hard disk.
      
      Caution You cannot save this virtual hard disk on the same drive that you want to transfer data from.
   6. Type a name for your new virtual hard disk, click Save, click Next, and then click Finish.
      
      Note After you complete these steps, the Virtual Disk Wizard creates the new virtual hard disk from your physical hard disk or partition. This may take a long time depending on the size of the virtual hard disk that you create.