Convert HDS to VHD

Understanding HDS and VHD file formats

HDS files are disk image files used primarily by Parallels Desktop, a virtualization software for Mac. These files store the contents of a virtual hard disk and are essential for running virtual machines in Parallels. VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) files, on the other hand, are a Microsoft-developed format used by Hyper-V, Virtual PC, and other virtualization platforms. VHD files emulate a physical hard disk and are widely supported across different virtualization environments.

Why convert HDS to VHD?

Converting an HDS file to VHD format is often necessary when migrating virtual machines from Parallels Desktop to Microsoft Hyper-V or other platforms that support VHD. This conversion ensures compatibility and allows seamless operation of your virtual machines in the new environment.

How to convert HDS to VHD

Direct conversion from HDS to VHD is not natively supported by most tools. The process typically involves two steps:

1. Convert HDS to a generic disk image format (such as VMDK or RAW) using Parallels Desktop or third-party tools.
2. Convert the intermediate format to VHD using a disk image conversion tool.

Step-by-step conversion process

1. Locate your HDS file within the Parallels virtual machine package.
2. Use Parallels Image Tool or Parallels Desktop to export the virtual disk to VMDK format:
   • Open Parallels Desktop
   • Go to File → Export and select Export to VMWare (VMDK)
3. Download and install qemu-img, a powerful open-source disk image conversion tool.
4. Use the following command to convert VMDK to VHD:

   qemu-img convert -f vmdk -O vpc source.vmdk target.vhd

5. Verify the resulting VHD file by attaching it to your virtualization platform (e.g., Hyper-V).

Recommended software for HDS to VHD conversion

• Parallels Desktop – for exporting HDS to VMDK
• qemu-img – for converting VMDK to VHD
• StarWind V2V Converter – a user-friendly tool that can convert between various virtual disk formats, including VMDK to VHD

Tips and considerations

• Always back up your original HDS file before starting the conversion process.
• Ensure you have enough disk space for intermediate and final files.
• After conversion, test the VHD in your target virtualization environment to confirm successful migration.