Most modern computer system users are aware of what a virtual disk is. The advantages of using this emulator are undeniable, a lot has been written about them. In our material, we propose to consider several methods that allow you to create different types of disks that can be used for completely different purposes.
How to create a virtual disk: options for action
It’s worth starting with the fact that some users mistakenly believe that these disks are located exclusively in the logical partitions that are created on the hard drive after breaking the hard drive. And many people completely forget that the emulator of a CD / DVD-ROM drive can also be called a virtual disk, which is a software analogue of the "iron" brother.
We will consider the creation of logical partitions, and the creation of virtual drives.
As for partitions, the advantages of using them are obvious: they can store important information that will not be deleted even if the system is reinstalled, since formatting affects only the system drive, and logical partitions are not affected. In the case of virtual drives, the user gets an interesting tool for working with image files. If they are “inserted” into such a drive, they will not differ in any way from the most ordinary optical media.
Create a virtual hard disk
It is not necessary to use any specialized programs to create logical partitions. To do this, Windows has its own tool (disk management). You can access it through RMB on the computer icon with the subsequent choice of management (administration), but it is easier to use the Run menu and the diskmgmt.msc command.
Virtual disks in Windows are created through the action menu on the main panel, where the corresponding task is selected, after which a special “Wizard” will be launched. In the parameters of the new section, you will need to specify the location of the section file, the required size (at least 3 MB) and the preferred format (fixed or dynamically expandable).
It is better to choose a fixed size, because during overflow, the dynamic virtual disk will increase in volume due to the use of the space of the system partition. And this can lead to the fact that the free space in the system partition will become so small that Windows will not be able to work normally (it is believed that for the system to function normally there should be at least 10% free space on the “C” drive of the total volume of the partition) . Upon completion of all actions in the "Wizard", the disk appears in the list of devices.
So, the virtual disk is visible, but no action can be taken with it, even though the driver of the virtual bus adapter is installed automatically.
The next step is to initialize the created disk. To do this, use the corresponding item in the RMB menu on the selected partition, after which you need to specify the partition style (MBR or GPT). Usually select MBR. But if the partition size exceeds 2 TB, you need to use GPT.
Finally, through RMB, the creation of a simple volume is selected, a letter is assigned to the section, and its formatting is performed. At the end of all procedures, you will receive a section with which you can work just like with a regular hard drive.
Note: to simplify actions, you can use the AOMEI Partition Assistant program, in which creating a new partition looks more convenient and practical.
Creating an analog optical drive
To create a virtual drive, image programs are used.
In UltraISO, the whole procedure boils down to selecting the settings item in the options menu on the main panel and going to the tab for creating a virtual drive and simply specify the required number of drives (instead of "No" in the image, select the number from the list) and the location of the virtual device file. After saving, they will appear in the "Explorer" and will work as their "iron" counterparts.
Windows 10 Nuances
Windows 10 compares favorably with the fact that creating virtual drives in this version of the system is completely optional. Simply double-click on the image file, after which the drive will be mounted automatically (moreover, even with the volume label). To complete work with the drive through the PCM, the extraction command is selected, corresponding to pressing the eject button on the “iron” device.