Windows 7 compact dynamic VHD

Question

In windows 7 we now have the ability to create and attach VHD files as drives. Does anyone know how we can compact the dynamic disks from within windows 7?

I poked around in disk manager, didn't find anything in there. — Scott Ivey, May 29 '09 at 18:09

score 14 · Accepted Answer · answered May 31 '09 at 02:27

14

You can compact a VHD in Windows 7 using diskpart.exe's COMPACT option. Also, if you don't mind a little coding, you can call the CompactVirtualDisk API (I'd post a link to it, but new users can't post hyperlinks - just search MSDN for it if you're interested).

answered May 31 '09 at 02:27

mikekol

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aweseme - thank you! To add to this, you have to attach it read only. commands are: select vdisk file="C:\MyVhd.vhd", attach vdisk readonly, compact vdisk – Scott Ivey May 31 '09 at 16:15
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@scott - Followed by `detach vdisk` – Greg Jan 25 '10 at 19:02
Is it possible to achieve this via one-line command? – Suncatcher Dec 05 '17 at 20:46

BrokeMyLeg · Answer 2 · 2010-10-22T15:21:02.370

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Using the diskpart command line utility in Windows 7 to compact a VHD file. It works great!

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edited Oct 22 '10 at 15:21

answered Oct 22 '10 at 15:15

BrokeMyLeg

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score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 18 '10 at 20:40

To Compact a VHD file in Windows Virtual PC (in Windows 7): -Open "Windows Virtual Machines" shell -Right-click on the VM you want to compact and open its Settings - Go to "Hard Disk 1" or anyone you have the VHD file attached to. - Click on Modify, then Compact Virtual Hard Disk

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 29 '09 at 09:12

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when in diskpart console type "select vdisk file="c:\windows7.vhd" then press enter then type "compact", that should compact your virtual drive.

answered Nov 29 '09 at 09:12

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that's "compact vdisk" just compact will get the help line for the command. – Ralph Shillington Feb 27 '10 at 15:43

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered May 29 '09 at 17:53

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How about VHD Resizer?

answered May 29 '09 at 17:53

Kara Marfia

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From what i've seen - VHD Resizer will expand files or shrink files, but will not compact files while leaving their original max size intact. – Scott Ivey May 29 '09 at 18:12
Well that's disappointing, I had that filed away to take a look at later on for just this purpose. Thanks for the heads up. – Kara Marfia May 29 '09 at 18:42

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered May 29 '09 at 18:16

What I ended up doing was to detach the VHD from within Disk Manager, and then i attached the file to my "Virtual Windows XP" in Windows 7. Once that was done, i was able to choose "Modify" on the disk, and then "Compact."

Once the compact was done, i removed the VHD's from the "Virtual Windows XP" VM - and then can use them as needed from there.

This seems like a kludgy solution - i was hoping someone would have a way to run the compact without having to attach them to the VM first, or better yet a way to run it thru power shell or script.

Sonne · Answer 7 · 2015-08-23T09:37:41.613

https://linhost.info/2011/01/windows-how-to-compact-a-dynamic-vhd/

Open your Windows command line (CMD).
diskpart
select vdisk file="X:\xyz.vhd"
attach vdisk readonly
compact vdisk
detach vdisk
exit

I am using a virtual hard disk including bitlocker. To compress a VDH file with bitlocker, following steps worked for me:

Open Windows disk management.
Append new virtual disk and choose read only mode.
Unlock your new Windows drive with bitlocker.
Open your Windows command line (CMD)
diskpart
select vdisk file="X:\xyz.vhd"
compact vdisk
detach vdisk
exit

Windows 7 compact dynamic VHD

7 Answers7