Convert VHD to 000

Understanding VHD and 000 file formats

VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) is a disk image file format used by Microsoft virtualization products such as Hyper-V and Virtual PC. It represents a virtual hard drive, containing disk partitions, file systems, and data, and is commonly used for virtual machines.

000 files are typically split disk image files, often created by disk cloning or imaging software like Norton Ghost or CloneCD. The .000 extension usually indicates the first segment of a multi-part image set, with subsequent parts named .001, .002, and so on.

Why convert VHD to 000?

Converting a VHD file to a 000 file is necessary when you need to use the virtual disk image with software that only supports split image formats, or when preparing the image for distribution or backup using tools that require the .000 format.

How to convert VHD to 000

There is no direct one-step converter from VHD to 000, but you can achieve this by first extracting the contents of the VHD and then using disk imaging software to create a split image in the .000 format.

1. Mount or extract the VHD file: Use a tool like 7-Zip or OSFMount to mount or extract the VHD file to access its contents.
2. Create a split disk image: Use Norton Ghost or CloneCD to create a new disk image from the extracted or mounted drive. During the imaging process, select the option to split the image into multiple parts, which will generate a .000 file as the first segment.

Recommended software for VHD to 000 conversion

• OSFMount: Mounts VHD files as virtual drives for easy access.
• 7-Zip: Extracts files from VHD images.
• Norton Ghost: Creates split disk images in .000 format.
• CloneCD: Also supports split image creation with .000 extensions.

Step-by-step conversion process

1. Open OSFMount and mount your VHD file.
2. Launch Norton Ghost and select Local → Disk → To Image.
3. Choose the mounted VHD drive as the source.
4. Set the destination and select the option to split the image (specify the split size if needed).
5. Start the imaging process. The first output file will have a .000 extension.

Conclusion

While there is no direct VHD to 000 converter, using disk imaging tools like Norton Ghost or CloneCD after mounting the VHD allows you to create split image files in the .000 format. This method ensures compatibility with software that requires split disk images.