Windows Vista's CompletePC Backup allows users to backup entire partitions, and stores these backups as VHD files. While there is currently no support for booting these VHD files, they are easily mountable using either VirtualPC or Virtual Server, both of which are now free downloads from Microsoft.

Thanks to a tip from Virtual PC Guy on MSDN blogs, there is now an easy way to add right click mounting of these VHD files directly to Windows Explorer in either XP or Vista.

To start you will have to download and install Microsoft's Virtual Server (although you don't have to actually configure it to run, as you will just be using one of the supplied exe files that comes with the installation package.)

Once you have installed Virtual server, you can run merge the following registry file into your XP or Vista registry, which will add a mount/unmount option to the right click menu in Windows Explorer for .vhd files. It is then just a matter of navigating to the CompletePC Backup vhd file and selecting mount, which will add the vhd file as a virtual drive that shows up in Windows Explorer.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Virtual.Machine.HD] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Virtual.Machine.HD\shell] @="Mount" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Virtual.Machine.HD\shell\Dismount] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Virtual.Machine.HD\shell\Dismount\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Virtual Server\\Vhdmount\\vhdmount.exe\" /u \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Virtual.Machine.HD\shell\Mount] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Virtual.Machine.HD\shell\Mount\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Virtual Server\\Vhdmount\\vhdmount.exe\" /p \"%1\"" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.vhd] @="Virtual.Machine.HD"

Copy the above code into a text editor, and name the file vhd.reg (or something similar), and then merge it into your registry. Ensure that the path to vhdmount.exe in the above registry file is correct for wherever you installed Virtual Server.

Warning: Modifying the Windows Registry can cause unforseen results - only users who are familiar with the registry should attempt modifications. As always, ensure you have current backups before attempting any modifications.



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Wow!! That is excellent Jeff! Thanks!

This works great if you need to manual resore your PC from the back up. I.e. in the case your drive configuration has changed (on purpose) and the Vista repair DVD can't do it. Does however requre that you have a bootable (working) OS on your PC.

Thanks for the tip.

Here is a simple frontend to vdmount.exe
kmh.qsh.eu/shared/vhdtool.zip

Quick note if using this tip on Windows Vista - as vhdmount.exe is attempting an administrative action, you need to run the tool from an elevated command prompt.

This means that to get it to work as a context menu option, you need to edit the properties of vhdmount.exe on the Compatibility page to set "Run this program as an administrator” to true.

When running the Setup for Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 you can select a Custom installation and deselect everything except VHDMount if they are not required, this then installs enough to allow the above to work.

I brought the Sony VGN-SZ670N/C laptop a month and a half before with Vista business loaded. As a promotion, I was provided with a movie loaded on my machine. I had taken a complete Windows PC back-up after I brought the machine. Due to unknown reason, two weeks back, the Vista refused to start (crashed) and I had to restore the laptop to the factory setting. However I lost the movie. Now I wish to restore the movie from the Windows PC back-up (I took earlier).

I have methods that restores the entire PC back-up and not the individual files. I am looking for a application that retores individual files from the back-up. Is there a way to restore the movie only from the Windows PC back-up image (in VHD file format).

Appreciate a lot for any feedback.

Regards

Ujjal Basu

Have you tried this: How To Mount CompletePC Backup VHD file ukbasu?