With this WIM file you will have to use the WIM2VHD utility, which is script file to create the VHD.

From an Administrative command Prompt, The command line will be as follows

CSCRIPT wim2vhd.wsf /WIM:E:\sources\Install.wim /SKU:ULTIMATE

This will create the VHD file in the current directory and now this is ready for use.

you can create a Boot entry for this VHD as mentioned in my earlier blog

Note : Booting from VHD is only supported on Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate Editions. It is supported on all Server 2008 R2 Editions.

If you do create a VHD for any other Edition of Windows 7, it will start up as normal and just before the login screen it will display an Error message as follows

License Error.

Boot from VHD not supported

The first step involves attaching the VHD file which can be done using Disk management Console OR using the command line (Both methods are outlinedbelow)

Next Using BCDBOOT to create an entry in the Boot manager.

-> Attaching the VHD using Disk Management Console

Run DISKMGMT.MSC

From the “Action” menu, select “Attach VHD”

Browse to the VHD file and click OK.

This will attach and map the VHD file as Drive letter. (Assuming it is F:)

-> Attaching the VHD using DISKPART

Run CMD.EXE (as an Administrator)

Type DISKPART

Next SEL VDISK FILE={Path to the VHD FILE}

Then ATTACH VDISK

This will associate a drive letter to the VHD file (Assuming it is F:)

Now run CMD.EXE (as an Administrator)

Run the following Command –> BCDBOOT F:\Windows

Now if you reboot the machine you will a new entry that corresponds to booting the VHD file.

• You are not familiar with BCDEDIT
• Do not have a WinPE disk to recover
• You machine is your Primary machine
• Do not have backup of your data

!!!! WARNING !!!

If you have Vista installed and now want to Run Windows 7 from a VHD file, then you will need to copy the Windows 7 bootmanager to your Machine.

The file is located in the root of the active partition, so in Vista you will find on your c: drive. All you need to do is copy the  bootmgr file from Windows 7 to your Vista machine at c:\bootmgr

Now you can copy the windows 7 VHD file to your C: Drive and use the following commands in an Elevated Command prompt.

• C:\>DISKPART
• DISKPART>SEL VDISK C:\VHD\Win7.vhd
• DISKPART>ATTACH VDISK
• DISKPART>LIST VOL (This lists the drive letters and mappings, assuming F: maps to the VDISK)
• DISKPART>Exit
• C:\>Bcdboot F:\Windows

This will give you a new entry “Windows 7” at boot time and you can switch between Vista and windows 7.

In this post I will outline the quickest way to build a machine from scratch with a VHD without installing any native operating System.

To get started you will first need to create a Windows 7 WinPE USB Disk (this can be done using the Windows 7 AIK)

1. Boot the machine from the USB Drive into WinPE
2. Format C: /q   -- This is optional, but make sure you delete c:\bootmgr
3. Copy Windows 7 VHD file to any location on the hard disk [In this case I copied it to C:\VHD\Win7.vhd]
4. Copy Bootmgr from the USB disk – Very important step, only the windows 7 Bootmgr will allow boot from VHD
5. Type the following commands in the WinPE command window
• C:\>DISKPART
• DISKPART>SEL VDISK FILE="C:\VHD\Win7.vhd"
• DISKPART>ATTACH VDISK
• DISKPART>LIST VOL (This lists the drive letters and mappings, assuming F: maps to the VDISK)
• DISKPART>Exit
• C:\>Bcdboot F:\Windows
  

Now the system is ready, just Reboot the system and this will take you straight into your VHD.

If you have multiple VHDs, then you can copy all of them to the hard disk and repeat Step 5 for each of the VHD, specifying the path and file name appropriately.