Windows Image Tools | VHDX Creation

## Getting started

To automate the creation of clean VM’s we need a clean diskimage. for that we will use Convert-Wim2VHD from WindowsImageTools

Before you can create a VHDX your going to need a source. either a WIM or ISO. In tha lab that would usually be a trial version. For work, the iso from your licencing portal, or heaven forbid a physical CD.

You can get an evaluation copy of windows from TechNet Evaluation Center

I’m going to use a evaluation of 2012r2. I have it downloaded and saved to G:\ISO\Srv2012r2Eval.iso and i’m going to create a new vhdx in G:\vhd

Convert-Wim2VHD -Path G:\vhd\2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx -Size 60gb -Dynamic -DiskLayout UEFI -SourcePath G:\iso\Srv2012r2Eval.ISO -Index 1 -Verbose

VERBOSE: [Convert-Wim2VHD] : Overwrite partitions inside [G:\vhd\2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] 
with content of [G:\iso\Srv2012r2Eval.ISO]
VERBOSE: [Convert-Wim2VHD] : InitializeVHDPartitionParam
VERBOSE:
Name                           Value
----                           -----
Dynamic                        True
Path                           G:\vhd\2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx
DiskLayout                     UEFI
force                          True
Size                           64424509440

VERBOSE: [Convert-Wim2VHD] : SetVHDPartitionParam
VERBOSE:
Name                           Value
----                           -----
SourcePath                     G:\iso\Srv2012r2Eval.ISO
Path                           G:\vhd\2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx
FeatureSourceIndex             1
Index                          1
Force                          True
Confirm                        False

VERBOSE: [Convert-Wim2VHD] : ParametersToPass
VERBOSE:
Name                           Value
----                           -----
Verbose                        True

VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] Create partition structure for Bootable vhd(x) on 
[G:\vhd\2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx]
VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Creating
VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : @vhdParms
VERBOSE:
Name                           Value
----                           -----
Path                           G:\vhd\2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx
SizeBytes                      64424509440
Dynamic                        True
ErrorAction                    Stop
BlockSizeBytes                 1048576

VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Mounting disk image
VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Initializing disk [5] as 
GPT
VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Clearing disk partitions to 
start all over
VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : EFI system : Creating 
partition of [209715200] bytes
VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : EFI system : Formatting 
FAT32
VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : EFI system : Setting system 
partition as ESP
VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : MSR : Creating partition of 
[134217728] bytes
VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Windows : Creating partition 
of [64078479360] bytes
VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Windows : Formatting volume 
NTFS
VERBOSE: [Initialize-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Dismounting disk image
VERBOSE: [Set-VHDPartition] : Overwrite partitions inside [G:\vhd\2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] 
with content of
[G:\iso\Srv2012r2Eval.ISO]
VERBOSE: [Set-VHDPartition] : Opening ISO [Srv2012r2Eval.ISO]
VERBOSE: [Set-VHDPartition] : Looking for I:\sources\install.wim
VERBOSE: [Set-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Mounting disk image 
[G:\vhd\2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx]
VERBOSE: [Set-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Munted as disknumber [5]
VERBOSE: [Set-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Partition Table
VERBOSE:
PartitionNumber DriveLetter        Size Type
--------------- -----------        ---- ----
              1           J   209715200 System
              2               134217728 Reserved
              3           K 64078479360 Basic

VERBOSE: [Set-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] Windows Partition [3] : Applying 
image from
[I:\sources\install.wim] to [K:\] using Index [1]
VERBOSE: [Set-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Disk Layout [UEFI]
VERBOSE: [Set-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] System Partition [1] : Running 
[K:\Windows\System32\bcdboot.exe] ->
 K:\Windows /s J: /v /f UEFI
VERBOSE: [Run-Executable] : Running [K:\Windows\System32\bcdboot.exe] 
[K:\Windows /s J: /v /f UEFI]
VERBOSE:
Name                           Value
----                           -----
PassThru                       True
FilePath                       K:\Windows\System32\bcdboot.exe
ArgumentList                   {K:\Windows, /s J:, /v, /f UEFI}
RedirectStandardError          C:\Users\BLADE_~1\AppData\Local\Temp\bcdboot.exe-Standard
Error.txt
NoNewWindow                    True
Wait                           True

RedirectStandardOutput         C:\Users\BLADE_~1\AppData\Local\Temp\bcdboot.exe-Standard
Output.txt
VERBOSE: [Run-Executable] : Return code was [0]
VERBOSE: [Set-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Removing Drive letters
VERBOSE: [Set-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Dismounting
VERBOSE: [Set-VHDPartition] [2012r2_eval_Core.vhdx] : Finished

Server with a GUI and .net 3.5

Lets say we need a VM with the Desktop and .Net 3.5 to run a legacy vendor app.

Convert-Wim2VHD -Path G:\vhd\2012r2_eval_gui.vhdx -Size 60gb -Dynamic -DiskLayout UEFI -SourcePath G:\iso\Srv2012r2Eval.ISO -Index 2 -Feature NetFx3

The -Feature command takes the feature names that would be understood by DISM, or Install-WindowsOptionalFeature

Creating a VHDX is a good start, but we want to automate this. for that we need an Unatten.xml. I will cover that in the next blog