Run the following command to find the correct Windows index inside the ISO: dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:E:\sources\install.wim Use code with caution.
The blue Windows Boot Manager screen will display two options: your original host OS and the new Windows 10 installation residing inside the VHD. Select the VHD option.
Native Boot allows a physical computer to run Windows 10 from a VHD file with full access to hardware components (like your GPU) without a host OS running underneath. Right-click the Start button and select . Click Action in the top menu and select Create VHD .
Mount your Windows 10 ISO (e.g., Drive F:).
In your administrator Command Prompt, run the following command: windows 10 vhd image download install
Avoid third-party “pre-activated” VHDs from untrusted sites; they often contain malware or violate Microsoft’s terms.
Offers official VHD images for enterprise and developer use.
Set the size to at least (64 GB or more is recommended).
Right-click the unallocated space, choose , and follow the wizard to format it as NTFS and assign a drive letter (e.g., drive V: ). 3. Apply the Windows Image Using DISM Run the following command to find the correct
Click > Virtual Machine in the right-hand Actions panel. Name your VM and choose Generation 2 (supports UEFI). Assign at least 4096 MB (4GB) of RAM . Configure your network connection to Default Switch .
Best for dual‑booting without partitioning.
If you need a permanent, fully licensed installation, the best method is to download a standard Windows 10 ISO and convert it into a VHD. Go to the official page.
If you use cloud services, you can download a Windows VHD from Azure to run locally in a virtual machine. 2. Preparing the VHD File Native Boot allows a physical computer to run
Microsoft provides pre-configured VHD images designed for developers and IT professionals. Visit the official Windows 10 Development Environment page.
This is for running Windows 10 inside your current operating system.
This allows you to boot your actual computer into the VHD environment alongside your main OS.