Convert VHD to HDD

Understanding VHD and HDD file formats

The VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) file format is a disk image file format used to store the complete contents of a hard drive. It is commonly used by virtualization software such as Microsoft Virtual PC and Hyper-V. VHD files can contain disk partitions and file systems, making them ideal for creating backups or running virtual machines.

The HDD file format, on the other hand, is associated with Parallels Desktop, a virtualization software for macOS. HDD files are used to store virtual hard disk data for Parallels virtual machines. Like VHD, HDD files can also contain entire file systems and disk partitions.

How to convert VHD to HDD

Converting a VHD file to an HDD file involves changing the virtual disk format to be compatible with Parallels Desktop. This can be useful if you are migrating a virtual machine from a Windows-based virtualization platform to Parallels Desktop on macOS.

Best software for VHD to HDD conversion

One of the best tools for converting VHD to HDD is Parallels Desktop itself. Here’s how you can perform the conversion:

• Open Parallels Desktop on your Mac.
• Go to File → New to create a new virtual machine.
• Select Continue Without a Source and then choose Use an existing virtual hard disk image.
• Browse to the location of your VHD file and select it.
• Parallels Desktop will prompt you to convert the VHD file to the HDD format. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the conversion.

Another option is to use StarWind V2V Converter, a free tool that supports conversion between various virtual disk formats, including VHD to HDD.

Conclusion

Converting VHD files to HDD format is a straightforward process with the right tools. Whether you use Parallels Desktop or StarWind V2V Converter, you can easily migrate your virtual machines between different virtualization platforms.