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To convert a Hyper-V pass-through disk into a VHDX, shut down the VM using it, then use Hyper-V Manager’s New Virtual Hard Disk wizard to copy the contents of the physical disk into a new VHDX. The exact wizard steps below come from Microsoft’s Windows Server 2012 R2 and 2012 documentation; confirm the available options in your Hyper-V version before proceeding.
Before converting: shut down the VM and prepare storage
A pass-through disk is a physical hard disk attached directly to a virtual machine. Microsoft describes it as offline to the management operating system: the host cannot access it for direct read/write, and it cannot be attached to the host or another VM at the same time. See Microsoft’s pass-through disk overview.
- Shut down the VM connected to the pass-through disk. Microsoft’s conversion guidance explicitly requires this.
- Check that the host has enough free storage for the destination VHDX. Microsoft’s instructions call for sufficient space but do not give a fixed sizing formula.
- Confirm which physical disk you intend to copy before selecting it in the wizard.
- Plan for downtime, keep the original physical disk unchanged until the new VHDX is validated, and test the VM with the VHDX before releasing the source disk. These are operational precautions, not automatic steps in Microsoft’s wizard.
Convert the physical disk with Hyper-V Manager
The following workflow is documented for Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012. Microsoft says both Generation 1 and Generation 2 VMs support pass-through disks; its conversion walkthrough uses a Generation 2 VM. Current Hyper-V releases may present different wizard screens or options.
- In Hyper-V Manager, open the New Virtual Hard Disk wizard.
- Choose VHDX as the virtual disk format.
- Enter a name and location for the new virtual disk.
- Select Copy the contents of the specified physical disk.
- Choose the physical disk that contains the pass-through disk’s data, then complete the wizard.
Microsoft’s version-specific procedure is documented in Converting a pass-through disk to a virtual hard disk. After the copy completes, attach the VHDX to the VM and verify that its data and workload behave as expected before changing or removing the physical-disk assignment.
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Choose the right conversion method for your source
| Method | Source and purpose | Important conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Hyper-V Manager physical-disk copy | Copies a specified physical disk’s contents into a VHDX. | The cited wizard guidance requires shutting down the connected VM and enough destination storage. Its exact interface is documented for Windows Server 2012 R2 and 2012. |
Convert-VHD |
Converts an existing virtual hard disk file, such as VHD to VHDX. | The source virtual hard disk must not be attached when conversion starts. This is not the documented command for copying a physical pass-through disk. |
| Disk2vhd | Creates virtual disk files from physical volumes using Windows Volume Snapshot capability. | Microsoft documents that BitLocker-encrypted volumes are unsupported unless BitLocker is turned off and decryption has completed. Attaching a generated bootable image on the originating system can alter its disk signature and prevent it from booting in a VM. |
Microsoft’s Convert-VHD reference describes conversion of virtual disk files; the destination filename extension determines the output format. Use it when the source is already a VHD or VHDX file, not in place of the physical-disk wizard workflow. For physical-to-virtual capture using a different approach, see Microsoft Sysinternals’ Disk2vhd documentation and observe its constraints.
Why select VHDX, and when to check compatibility
Microsoft says VHDX supports virtual disk capacity up to 64 TB and uses metadata logging intended to help protect against corruption during power failures. Its documented features also include improved alignment and performance-related enhancements. See Microsoft’s Hyper-V storage I/O performance guidance.
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That guidance recommends converting VHD files to VHDX when upgrading to Windows Server 2016 or later, while retaining VHD where an earlier Hyper-V release must remain supported. Check the target host’s version and compatibility needs before choosing a format; the 64 TB figure is the stated VHDX maximum capacity, not a promise about available storage or workload performance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Pass-through disk and checkpoint implications
Microsoft’s Hyper-V troubleshooting guidance identifies pass-through disks as unsupported by design for checkpointing. Its advice is to convert or remove the pass-through disk, or follow the backup vendor’s procedure. Checkpoint and backup behavior in your specific environment before scheduling the migration: converting the disk does not by itself validate a backup plan. See Microsoft’s Hyper-V checkpoint troubleshooting guidance.
Quick Recap
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