Contents ======= Windows To Go Required Files/Tools Walkthroughs Walkthrough 1 - Part 1 Walkthrough 1 - Part 2 Walkthrough 1 - Part 3 Walkthrough 2 - Part 1 Walkthrough 2 - Part 2 Walkthrough 2 - Part 3 Walkthrough 3 - Part 1 Walkthrough 3 - Part 2 Complete Windows setup Activation Appendices ========= bootmenupolicy DiskMgmt Edit UEFI entry Clone Win2Go Miscellaneous

Walkthrough 2 - Part 2 (DiskPart - create .vhd)

The preceding page covered DiskPart usage for setting up the external USB disk. This page covers DiskPart usage for creating a virtual hard disk, which will be used as the target for the Windows To Go installation.

     - command

     - output

 create vdisk file=S:\win2go.vhd maximum=30720 type=fixed  - adjust path, size (in MiB) and disk type as required.
Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.19041.964 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. On computer: X260 DISKPART> create vdisk file=S:\win2go.vhd maximum=30720 type=fixed 100 percent completed DiskPart successfully created the virtual disk file. DISKPART>

 select vdisk file=S:\win2go.vhd  - select the virtual hard disk created in the preceding step - adjust path as required.
Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.19041.964 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. On computer: X260 DISKPART> select vdisk file=S:\win2go.vhd DiskPart successfully selected the virtual disk file. DISKPART>

 attach vdisk 
Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.19041.964 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. On computer: X260 DISKPART> attach vdisk 100 percent completed DiskPart successfully attached the virtual disk file. DISKPART>

 create partition primary  - create a partition spanning the full size of the selected VHD file.
Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.19041.964 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. On computer: X260 DISKPART> create partition primary DiskPart succeeded in creating the specified partition. DISKPART>

 format fs=ntfs label=Win2Go quick  - format using the NTFS filesystem. Edit the label as required.
Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.19041.964 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. On computer: X260 DISKPART> format fs=ntfs label=Win2Go quick 100 percent completed DiskPart successfully formatted the volume. DISKPART>

 active  - mark the partition as active / bootable. This is not required if booting on UEFI firmware, but is required if booting on BIOS systems and UEFI in compatibility mode (CSM).
Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.19041.964 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. On computer: X260 DISKPART> active DiskPart marked the current partition as active. DISKPART>

 assign letter=t  - mount the partition as drive/volume T:\.
Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.19041.964 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. On computer: X260 DISKPART> assign letter=t DiskPart successfully assigned the drive letter or mount point. DISKPART>

Diskpart can be scripted. The following is a script file to automate the commands listed above (replace "select disk #" with the correct disk number) -
create vdisk file=S:\win2go.vhd maximum=30720 type=fixed select vdisk file=S:\win2go.vhd attach vdisk create partition primary active format fs=ntfs label=Win2Go quick assign letter=t

Save as D:\walkthrough2vhd.txt and then run the following command from an elevated command prompt (run as Administrator). Adjust path and filename as required -
DiskPart /S D:\walkthrough2vhd.txt

Output from running the command DiskPart /S D:\walkthrough2vhd.txt
Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.19041.964 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. On computer: X260 100 percent completed DiskPart successfully created the virtual disk file. DiskPart successfully selected the virtual disk file. 100 percent completed DiskPart successfully attached the virtual disk file. DiskPart succeeded in creating the specified partition. DiskPart marked the current partition as active. 100 percent completed DiskPart successfully formatted the volume. DiskPart successfully assigned the drive letter or mount point.

Document date - 6^th July 2022