Create VHD & RMD Files for a IODD Drive;
Using Windows Disk Manager
If you use an IODD Encrypted External Drive, you already know how incredibly useful it is for mounting disk images on the fly. However, if you’ve ever tried setting up custom VHDs (Virtual Hard Disks) using the official VHD_Tool+ from the IODD website, you’ve probably run into some headaches.
Update: After having nothing but issues with the provided VHD tools, I’ve completely abandoned them. Windows can natively create VHD disks through Disk Management, and I find it to be much easier and significantly more reliable.
Here is the ultimate, pain-free guide to creating a VHD, applying your ISO, and converting it to an RMD (Removable Media Drive) for your IODD drive.
Phase 1: Create New & Empty VHD(s)
Original IODD VHD Creation Instructions:
- Open and run the VHD Tool+, and click on the "Create" tab. That will switch the program to its VHD "Create" function, where you will be able to create a blank/empty VHD on your IODD drive that you will later apply/"burn" a disk image to.
- When you click on the folder icon to "browse for a VHD" you actually just need to type in the name of the VHD that you would like to create, and then continue like you are going to "open" that new VHD; even though it is not actually there. Trust me, it will work.
- You want to make sure the VHD file that you are creating is larger than the ISO that you will be applying to that VHD. The ISO has to be able to fit fully decompressed. So if your ISO is still in a ZIP file, decompress it and go 1GB above its folder properties listed size.
New & Easier VHD Creation Instructions:
Instead of wrestling with third-party tools, we are going to use the tools built right into Windows to create our blank VHD file directly on the IODD drive.
Open Disk Management:
Right-click on your Windows Start Menu button and select Disk Management.Start the VHD Wizard:
In the top menu bar, click on Action > Create VHD.Choose the Location:
Click Browse and navigate to your connected IODD drive (usually inside the_ISOfolder).
Type in the name you want to give your new VHD and click Save.Set the Size: Specify how large the VHD needs to be.
Pro-Tip: Make sure the VHD file you are creating is larger than the storage size you will be applying to it. The data must be able to fit fully decompressed. If your data is inside a ZIP file, decompress it first, check the folder’s properties for the exact size, and set your VHD size to be about 1GB larger than that.
Select VHD Format: Choose VHD (not VHDX, as the IODD needs standard VHDs) and select Fixed size (Fixed size prevents fragmentation issues on the IODD drive).
Click OK. Windows will now build the empty VHD file directly on your drive.
Phase 2: Mount the Blank VHD via the IODD
Now that the blank VHD exists on your drive, you need to get your computer to recognize it as a physical disk.
Safely eject and reconnect the IODD drive if necessary, or just navigate through the physical screen/menus on the IODD device itself.
Locate the empty VHD file you just created and select it to mount it through the drive.
Your computer will detect the mounted VHD and immediately pop up a warning saying: "You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it."
STOP!
If you are going to burn an ISO to the newly created VHD, DO NOT format the drive!! Just close out the notification and exit any Windows Explorer windows that may have opened.If the VHD is to serve simply as a virtual USB device, DO proceed with formatting the VHD like you would format and setup a typical USB drive.
Phase 3: Migrate Data or "Burn" ISO to VHD
Now we need to get your data over to and inside that blank mounted VHD.
Move Needed Data to the VHD:
Open your new VHD (virtual hard drive) in Windows Explorer
Copy & paste, transfer, migrate, move any needed data over to the newly created VHD.
When the data transfer is all done, um-mount the VHD just like you would a USB drive.
Your new "Virtual USB Drive" is now ready to go!
Burn an ISO Image to the VHD:
Open a bootable USB creation tool like Rufus.
In Rufus, select the newly mounted VHD as your "Device" (Make sure "List USB Hard Drives" is checked in Rufus's advanced drive properties if it doesn't show up automatically).
Select your desired ISO file.
Click Start to burn the disk image just like you are creating a standard bootable USB or DVD. Nothing special needs to be done here; just let Rufus do its thing.
Phase 4: Create Needed RMD Files
An RMD file forces the IODD to treat the image as a Removable Media Drive (like a flash drive) rather than a Fixed Hard Drive. This is required for certain operating system installers to work properly.
Luckily, creating one takes about five seconds.
Navigate to the folder on your IODD drive where your new VHD is saved.
Make a copy of the VHD file (so you now have two identical files).
Right-click the copy, select Rename, and change the file extension from
.vhdto.rmd.
Note: Make sure you have "File name extensions" enabled in the Windows View menu so you can actually edit the extension.
That's it!
You now have a perfectly working VHD and RMD drives ready to be mounted directly from your IODD drive, and you didn't have to fight with any clunky legacy software to do it.
Going forward, you just simply need to:
- Connect your IODD device to a host system
- Navigate through the physical screen/menus on the IODD device itself
- Locate the VHD file(s) you created
- Select one to mount it through the IODD drive.
- Your computer will detect the VHD and pop-up and open the drive once the VHD has successfully mounted!
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