up vote 7 down vote favorite
4
share [g+] share [fb]

In windows 7 we now have the ability to create and attach VHD files as drives. Does anyone know how we can compact the dynamic disks from within windows 7?

link|improve this question
feedback

7 Answers

up vote 10 down vote accepted

You can compact a VHD in Windows 7 using diskpart.exe's COMPACT option. Also, if you don't mind a little coding, you can call the CompactVirtualDisk API (I'd post a link to it, but new users can't post hyperlinks - just search MSDN for it if you're interested).

link|improve this answer
4  
aweseme - thank you! To add to this, you have to attach it read only. commands are: select vdisk file="C:\MyVhd.vhd", attach vdisk readonly, compact vdisk – Scott Ivey May 31 '09 at 16:15
1  
@scott - Followed by detach vdisk – Greg Jan 25 '10 at 19:02
feedback
up vote 5 down vote

Using the diskpart command line utility in Windows 7 to compact a VHD file. It works great!

alt text

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 3 down vote

when in diskpart console type "select vdisk file="c:\windows7.vhd" then press enter then type "compact", that should compact your virtual drive.

link|improve this answer
1  
that's "compact vdisk" just compact will get the help line for the command. – Ralph Shillington Feb 27 '10 at 15:43
feedback
up vote 3 down vote

To Compact a VHD file in Windows Virtual PC (in Windows 7): -Open "Windows Virtual Machines" shell -Right-click on the VM you want to compact and open its Settings - Go to "Hard Disk 1" or anyone you have the VHD file attached to. - Click on Modify, then Compact Virtual Hard Disk

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

Did you try the disk manager?

link|improve this answer
I poked around in disk manager, didn't find anything in there. – Scott Ivey May 29 '09 at 18:09
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

How about VHD Resizer?

link|improve this answer
1  
From what i've seen - VHD Resizer will expand files or shrink files, but will not compact files while leaving their original max size intact. – Scott Ivey May 29 '09 at 18:12
Well that's disappointing, I had that filed away to take a look at later on for just this purpose. Thanks for the heads up. – Kara Marfia May 29 '09 at 18:42
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

What I ended up doing was to detach the VHD from within Disk Manager, and then i attached the file to my "Virtual Windows XP" in Windows 7. Once that was done, i was able to choose "Modify" on the disk, and then "Compact."

Once the compact was done, i removed the VHD's from the "Virtual Windows XP" VM - and then can use them as needed from there.

This seems like a kludgy solution - i was hoping someone would have a way to run the compact without having to attach them to the VM first, or better yet a way to run it thru power shell or script.

link|improve this answer
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.