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To convert a VHD disk for VMware, use StarWind V2V Converter and select an output type for the destination: a Workstation VMDK for VMware Workstation or an ESXi VMDK for ESXi. StarWind warns that its Workstation VMDK variants are not compatible with ESXi Server. The converter is described as free to download and supports VHD/VHDX and VMDK formats.
Before converting, identify the disk and destination
Confirm that the source is the virtual disk file you intend to convert, then identify whether the destination is VMware Workstation or ESXi. StarWind’s help lists fixed and dynamic VHD and VHDX input images. A fixed image allocates the virtual disk capacity when created; a dynamic image allocates file space on demand. Keep the original disk intact and, when practical, convert a copy so you have a recovery point.
StarWind describes V2V Converter as a utility for converting or cloning virtual machines and disks between formats, including VHD/VHDX and VMDK. Its product concept page describes the download as free: StarWind V2V Converter: Concept.
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Choose a VMDK type that matches VMware
StarWind documents different VMDK output types for Workstation and ESXi. Decide compatibility first; then choose how the output should allocate storage.
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| Destination or use | Output choices documented by StarWind | Allocation or packaging behavior |
|---|---|---|
| VMware Workstation | Growable or pre-allocated VMDK | Growable allocates space on demand; pre-allocated reserves it during creation. |
| ESXi | Growable, pre-allocated, or stream-optimized VMDK | Growable allocates space on demand; pre-allocated reserves it during creation. Stream-optimized is a monolithic sparse format described for OVF packages. |
These formats and their descriptions are listed in StarWind’s Virtual Disk Files help. The same page explicitly says the Workstation variants are not compatible with ESXi Server. Do not choose a Workstation output for an ESXi destination.
Convert the VHD with the current converter
- Prepare the input. Locate the intended VHD file and preserve the original. Make sure you have enough accessible storage for the conversion and resulting disk; the cited documentation does not specify a universal free-space requirement.
- Choose the destination type. Select a Workstation VMDK for Workstation or an ESXi VMDK type for ESXi. For ESXi, choose growable/thin or pre-allocated/thick according to storage-allocation needs and destination support. Use stream-optimized when the OVF packaging use case applies.
- Run the conversion. Use the converter’s current interface or its documented command-line interface. StarWind’s page titled Converting to VMDK is the relevant GUI guide, but its procedure text is not available in the documentation text cited here. Confirm screen names and button labels in the installed release rather than relying on guessed clicks.
- Validate the result. Confirm that the output file exists, then attach or import it using the intended VMware product and verify that the virtual machine can use it. The cited sources do not promise a particular conversion time or define a universal success test.
StarWind also says its utility can handle ESXi and Hyper-V server files without first copying them to the computer running the utility. The help describes conversion data transfer and options to attach the result to an existing VM or write it to a specified server directory. See Virtual Disk Files for the documented remote-handling details.
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Use the command line when you need an explicit output type
StarWind documents running its console from an elevated Command Prompt. The command accepts an input filename, output filename, and output file type, with additional options for remote servers. Its documented output identifiers include:
ft_vmdk_ws_thin— growable Workstation VMDK.ft_vmdk_ws_thick— pre-allocated Workstation VMDK.ft_vmdk_esx_thin— growable/thin ESXi VMDK.ft_vmdk_esx— pre-allocated/thick ESXi VMDK.ft_vmdk_so— stream-optimized VMDK.
Use the exact syntax and any applicable remote-server options from StarWind’s Command Line Interface documentation. Do not substitute an output identifier based on a similar-sounding format; the destination compatibility still matters.
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Plan separately for snapshots and checkpoints
Converting a disk file does not convert its snapshot chain. StarWind’s specifications state that snapshots from files do not get converted. If the virtual machine depends on snapshots or checkpoints, plan how to consolidate or otherwise preserve that state separately before relying on the converted disk. The specifications are at StarWind V2V Converter: Specifications.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check version details against the installed release
StarWind release notes list Version 9 (848), dated 24 November 2025, with batch VM conversion and improvements to Azure and AWS conversion. That dated entry does not establish that build 848 is still the latest downloadable version. Check the current download and its matching help before following version-specific interface instructions: V2V Converter Release Notes.
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