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Windows will not let me open my .VHDX system image. How can I recover the files?

Jacob Friedman 0 Reputation points
2023-09-09T01:46:20.67+00:00

Hi,

My Windows 10 laptop died, and when I tried to open the system image backup, a .vhdx file, on my Windows 11 Desktop, it gave me this error. Screenshot 2023-09-08 180159

When I open Disk Management, it says it is healthy and gives me this error. Screenshot 2023-09-08 180559

I tried giving it a different letter, and it just completely failed to open. The files I need to recover are the desktop files, and if possible, the program files, as I had software downloaded that is no longer available. However. the desktop is the first priority, because it has my work portfolio. How might I go about recovering these?

Windows
Windows
A family of Microsoft operating systems that run across personal computers, tablets, laptops, phones, internet of things devices, self-contained mixed reality headsets, large collaboration screens, and other devices.
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Microsoft System Center
Microsoft System Center
A suite of Microsoft systems management products that offer solutions for managing datacenter resources, private clouds, and client devices.
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Windows 11
Windows 11
A Microsoft operating system designed for productivity, creativity, and ease of use.
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  1. XinGuo-MSFT 15,781 Reputation points
    2023-09-12T07:24:11.9733333+00:00

    Hi,

    It seems like you're encountering issues with opening a .VHDX system image on your Windows 11 desktop. This could be due to various reasons, but I'll provide you with a step-by-step guide to help you recover the files from the .VHDX image:

    Check the VHDX File: Ensure that the .VHDX file is intact and not corrupted. If it's possible, try to open it on another Windows 10 or Windows 11 machine to see if the issue persists.

    Use PowerShell to Mount the VHDX:

    • Open PowerShell as an administrator on your Windows 11 machine.
      • Run the following command to mount the VHDX file as a virtual drive:
          
      Mount-VHD -Path "C:\Path\To\Your\File.vhdx"

    Replace "C:\Path\To\Your\File.vhdx" with the actual path to your .VHDX file.

    Explore the Mounted Drive: Once you've successfully mounted the .VHDX file, you should be able to explore its contents like any other drive in Windows Explorer. You can copy the files you need to another location on your computer.

    Using Third-Party Software:

    • If PowerShell fails to mount the VHDX file or if you suspect the VHDX file is corrupt, you can try using third-party software like "WinImage" or "7-Zip" to extract files from the VHDX image.
    • Download and install one of these tools if you don't have them already.
    • Open the software and try to open the .VHDX file within it. You may be able to extract files or folders from the image.

    Check for Disk Errors:

    • If the VHDX file is marked as healthy in Disk Management, but you're still having trouble, you can check for disk errors on your system.
      • Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following command to scan and repair disk errors:
          
      chkdsk /f /r

    Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your computer if prompted. This will scan and repair any potential issues with your disk.

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  2. XinGuo-MSFT 15,781 Reputation points
    2023-09-25T08:06:42.6666667+00:00

    Hi,

    It seems that the drive is already mounted (as disk2 I guess) and we cannot assign a letter to it, so that we cannot see it in the file explorer. what is the error message when trying to assign a letter to the volume?

    From the disk manager, the file system is recognized successfully, NTFS, 60%, perhaps we can use some third party tool, e.g., DiskGenius, to read the file system directly, without a drive letter.

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