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No direct VHDX boot path is established in the reviewed VMware Workstation documentation. Broadcom’s documented method for using an existing virtual disk in a Workstation VM selects a VMDK. To try a VHDX created for Hyper-V, convert it to VMDK first, then attach the converted disk to a VM. Conversion does not guarantee the guest will start: its firmware mode, virtual disk controller, and drivers can affect booting.
What “boot a VHDX” means
There are two different scenarios that can be confused. Microsoft’s native-boot feature runs Windows from a VHDX on designated physical hardware without a virtual machine or hypervisor. That is not the same as using a VHDX as a virtual disk in VMware Workstation. Microsoft specifies VHDX, rather than VHD, for native boot with Windows 10 or later; that requirement applies to Microsoft’s native-boot feature, not VMware compatibility.
What Workstation’s documented disk workflow supports
Broadcom’s instructions for creating a Workstation VM with an existing virtual disk direct users to choose an existing VMDK. The documentation reviewed does not establish that Workstation can attach and boot a VHDX directly, nor does it provide a complete format-support matrix for every Workstation release. The careful answer is therefore that direct VHDX boot is not documented in this workflow—not that every Workstation version has been proven to reject every VHDX.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The documented route is to convert the disk to VMDK and select that converted file using Workstation’s “Use an Existing Virtual Disk” option. Broadcom’s Workstation instructions describe the VMDK workflow.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Upgraded version】 - The mirror logo strip is combined with the striped non-slip design. The rounded corners of the shell are more suitable for holding. The strips play a heat dissipation function to ensure a stable and fast transmission process.
- 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
- 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - Pairing this external hard drive with JMicron 578 solution USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces enables blazing-fast data transfer. It boasts theoretical read speeds of up to 125MB/s and write speeds of up to 103MB/s.
- 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
Convert a Hyper-V VHDX and attach it in Workstation
- Keep the original. Make a separate copy of the VHDX before conversion so you can retry with a different tool or settings without altering the source disk.
- Convert the copy to VMDK. Use a conversion utility appropriate to your host and disk. Broadcom’s Fusion 13 guidance for Apple Silicon gives this QEMU example:
qemu-img convert -p -O vmdk input.VHDX output.vmdk. That page is Fusion-specific; treat the command as an example of format conversion, not a guarantee for every Workstation host, VHDX, or guest. - Create a VM for the guest OS. In Workstation, follow Broadcom’s existing-disk workflow and select “Use an Existing Virtual Disk,” then point it to the converted VMDK.
- Try booting and troubleshoot if needed. If the VM fails to start, check the firmware mode, virtual disk controller, and whether the guest operating system has drivers for the virtual hardware.
Broadcom’s Fusion 13 for Apple Silicon conversion guidance is the source for the QEMU example. It should not be read as a Workstation support guarantee.
Check firmware and Hyper-V generation if the VM will not boot
A converted disk can still fail to boot if the VM is configured differently from the environment in which the guest was installed. Confirm whether the guest expects UEFI or legacy BIOS, and make sure the virtual machine’s disk controller is one the operating system can use.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
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Hyper-V generation is another clue when moving a disk. Microsoft notes that a bootable VHDX created for a Generation 2 Hyper-V VM will fail to boot in a Generation 1 VM. This is useful when diagnosing a source VM’s boot configuration, but it does not determine how VMware will handle the converted disk. The target Workstation VM still needs suitable firmware and virtual hardware.
Large disks and VMware Converter
If you are converting an entire powered-off Hyper-V VM rather than converting only its disk, be aware of a documented VMware Converter limitation: Broadcom describes an issue with powered-off Hyper-V VMs that have disks of 2 TB or larger. Its article says a fix was planned but does not identify the release in which it became available. Check the current article and Converter release notes before relying on that workflow.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- [Upgraded Version] - This external hard drive features a mirrored logo stripe combined with a striped anti-slip design, and the rounded corners of the casing make it easier to grip. The stripes also have a heat dissipation function, ensuring stable and fast data transfer.
- 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
- 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - Pairing this external hard drive with JMicron 578 solution USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces enables blazing-fast data transfer. It boasts theoretical read speeds of up to 125MB/s and write speeds of up to 103MB/s.
- 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
Rank #4
- Plug-and-play expandability
- SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
Rank #3
- High-capacity add-on storage.Compatibility : Windows 10 plus, Reformatting required for use with MacOS.
- Fast data transfers
- Plug-and-play ready for Windows PCs
- WD quality inside and out
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