cannot mount vhdx file

Question

I need to access an old Windows 10 backup in Windows 11 but the vhdx file does not mount.

Answer 1

See:

Can’t Attach VHDX file

Answer 2

Hi Volker,

Thanks for your post. 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

Best Regards,

Ian Xue

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