Virtual HDD and Windows 10

A fellow Technical Previewer over on Yammer has told me that when he tries to update Windows 10 on his virtual HDD that Windows tells him that's not supported.

I know that many of you have virtual HDDs, so I'm wondering what or how his system has gone wrong on him?

Any help for the guy, like, maybe a VM or something that does work?

Hello Wynona,

I was able to be an Insider in a Hyper-V Windows 10 Pro retail (10240) VM.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...dows-10-a.html

I'm waiting for other updates to install to see if it'll update to 10525, and will post back. :)

I don't see any reason why it wouldn't let a VM be part of Windows Insiders now since I was able to before in the technical previews.

So far, this is what I get below. I'm an Insider, but not update for 10525 available yet.

Thanks, Shawn. I'm really not sure which VM/VHDD/HyperV he's using.

Since you're very experienced with this, I'm going to past his reply to me in the hopes of your being able to help him out. :)

Thanks for that Wynona. You're not forbidden from using virtual drives, it's just that the upgrader stops and says it's unsupported. Note: I think this is particular to booting to VHD. VMware/HyperV probably work fine.

And yes, I'm aware of where and how to use INSTALL.ESD, but as of about build 10124 (I forget, which one exactly), the upgrader doesn't even download enough of the installer (e.g. the INSTALL.ESD file) before reporting that upgrading virtual drives aren't supported.
Though I guess you could always get the INSTALL.ESD from someone who has upgraded, but then you're in the same situation as the people posting ISOs to the web...

It's not a big deal for me now though as both devices I had been testing with (both kept their original Win8.1 systems and dual booted to a Win10 VHD file) I've now upgraded in-place to Win10. One of them I've also carried on the Insider process and have on build 10525, but because it's the primary/only OS, it's more than happy to do in-place upgrades...

Given that it's such a simple process to generate an ISO, it's a shame MS don't make available each Fast release in ISO form, for those that can't/wont do in-place upgrades.

Ah, I see. It looks like he was trying to do so from a .vhd file he set to boot from instead.

So what does that mean? I'm sorry to be so dumb, but as I said, I know nothing about VHD at all.

If so, he's basically dual booting with an installed OS and a .VHD file like below. I'm not sure why it wouldn't be supported for what he want's to do though.

Boot from a VHD using Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

Virtual Hard Drive VHD File - Create and Start with at Boot - Windows 7 Help Forums

Brink said:

If so, he's basically dual booting with an installed OS and a .VHD file like below. I'm not sure why it wouldn't be supported for what he want's to do though.

Boot from a VHD using Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

Virtual Hard Drive VHD File - Create and Start with at Boot - Windows 7 Help Forums

Thanks loads, Shawn. He seems to be pretty knowledgeable, so he can probably figure it out from what you've said.

That would be why then. Good find Halasz.