How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft

You want to test Windows features without wanting to install it on your real computer, or simply try it out. For example, do you want to know if Windows 10 is compatible with your current computer? Can the software you are working with or studying on Windows 10 run? Let's TipsMake.com find out how to try Windows 10 on real computers!

Whether many people notice or not, Microsoft has provided standardized virtualization files of operating systems for users to download and use on real machines to check compatibility. These are VHD files - Virtual Hard Disk is created by Microsoft itself, all you need to do is download the VHD file as required, extract, install and test. Details of how to invite you to read the next part of the article.

Watch tutorial video:

Step 01: download the VHD file

Here, you need access to Microsoft 's prepared VHD file path:

1. https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/

Select the version of Windows 10 with the Build you want to test, choose the platform - the virtualization platform here is VirualBox, for example:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 1

Then download the VHD file as a compressed file to your computer. Note that the virtual drive file of the operating system should be quite large, about 5GB, you need to make sure you are using a stable Internet speed.

See more:

1. How to check Internet speed!
2. Download VirtualBox virtual software.

Step 02: extract VHD file

After successfully downloading the compressed file in step 1 to your computer, you use WinRAR or 7-zip to extract the file:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 2

After unpacking, we will continue to do that operation again. That is, go to the unzipped folder, right-click the OVA (Open Virtualization Format Archive) file OVA (Open Virtualization Format Archive) MSEdge - Win10_XXXXX.ova , select 7-Zip and Extract files as shown below:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 3

We will have the directory after extracting complete like this:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 4

Here, you will see the file * .VMDK (Virtual Machine Disk Format) with a capacity of about 4GB , named MSEdge - Win10_XXXXX-disk1.vmdk . In this article, the author copies this file * .VMDK to the Desktop and renames it to W10, and you can leave it anywhere:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 5

Step 03: convert VMDK file into VHD file (Virtual Hard Disk):

Next, open command - cmd under Admin and move the cursor position to Desktop, then type the following command correctly:

1. "C: Program FilesOracleVirtualboxVBoxManage" clonehd --format VHD SourceFileName.vmdk TargetFileName.vhd

With the author's W10.VMDK file, the exact statement will be:

1. "C: Program FilesOracleVirtualboxVBoxManage" clonehd --format vhd W10.vmdk W10.vhd

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 6

And when the file conversion process is successful, we will have 2 files like this:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 7

Step 04: Add VHD to the Boot menu

Since this VHD file is in dynamically expanding disk format, it is recommended that you install the free disk space of at least 40GB when installing. Continue with the following steps.

Open Disk Management feature, select Action then Attach VHD as shown below. and point to the VHD file on the Desktop:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 8

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 9

We will have one more hard drive partition like this:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 10

As here, we will have the E partition. You need to remember the wildcard, then open the command under Admin and use the command:

1. bcdboot X: Windows

Replace X with the new partition character, which is E:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 11

When the system displays the above message, it means that the process of creating boot components into the menu has been successful. Restart, and test Windows 10 only.

Step 05: test Windows 10

After restarting, we will see the dual boot menu of Windows 7 and Windows 10 as images:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 12

Local User Account here is IEUser and password is Passw0rd!

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 13

This is essentially a trial version, like Windows 7 Enterprise, so you will have a 90 day test period:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 14

Although it is only trial, Windows 10 version still has quite the latest features. If you want to return to Windows 7, just Restart your computer, and select Windows 7 from the boot menu.

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 15

Note:

In case you create a menu that is unsuccessful, or for some reason that cannot perform dualboot, use Macrium Recovery. Download Macrium Recovery link here:

1. https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

After successfully downloading and installing Macrium Reflect Free , the program will have the following interface:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 16

Select the Other Tasks menu and Add Recovery Boot Menu Option. Select Windows PE 5 or 10 as well, then click OK to get Macrium to download the necessary files:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 17

In the case of a boot error, reboot and select Macrium Reflect System Recovery from the boot menu:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 18

And choose Next Fix Windows boot problems:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 19

Just choose the default options, then OK> Finish:

How to try it, Windows 10 test right on the real computer, using the available VHD file of Microsoft Picture 20

Reboot, and the normal Windows 7 menuboot will appear as before.