Need to add another VHD to the virtual machine? Discover how to initialize and partition virtual disks easily with AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard.
Storage flexibility is one of the most significant advantages. As your projects grow, you may find that the initial storage allocated to your virtual environment is no longer sufficient, requiring you to add hard disk to VMware virtual machine setups to maintain performance.
Whether you are running a server or a testing environment, managing virtual disks effectively ensures that your system remains responsive and organized. This article offers a comprehensive guide on expanding your virtual storage and resolving common errors that may arise during the process.
As virtual machines (VMs) age, they naturally accumulate data, system updates, and logs that can quickly fill up the primary partition. Learning how to add another VHD to the virtual machine is the most efficient way to separate your operating system from your data files, which simplifies backups and improves disk I/O.
By adding a secondary Virtual Hard Disk (VHD), you can create dedicated space for applications or databases without risking the stability of the boot drive. This modular approach to storage management is a best practice among IT professionals.
Most users begin by using the native VMware interface to expand their storage. This method is the standard procedure to add hard disk to VMware virtual machine configurations through the hardware settings menu. To add a disk natively, follow these steps:
Step 1. Shut down the VM: Ensure the virtual machine is powered off before changing hardware settings.
Step 2. Edit Settings: Right-click the VM in your library and select Settings.
Step 3. Add Hardware: Click the Add button at the bottom of the hardware tab, select Hard Disk, and click Next.
Step 4. Choose Disk Type: Select the recommended disk type (usually SCSI or NVMe) and choose "Create a new virtual disk" or "Use an existing virtual disk."
Step 5. Set Capacity: Specify the size and click Finish. The disk will now be attached to your VM.
If you still fail to add device virtual hard disk, don’t worry, you can try an alternative tool to create VHD and attach it.
AOMEI Partition Assistant is a premier Windows computer management software designed to streamline disk operations for both physical and virtual environments. Its specialized "Virtual Disk" management function is a favorite among normal users and IT experts because it treats VHD/VHDX files with high-level flexibility. With this tool, you can initialize your new virtual disk and create partitions with just a few clicks, ensuring optimal sector alignment for better performance within your VMware environment.
If you have a .vhd or .vhdx file but the virtual disk is not displayed, you can attach the VHD to make it behave like a real physical disk.
Step 1. Select the "Attach VHD" option after clicking the"Virtual Disk" tab.
Step 2. Click "Browse" to locate the location where the .vhd or .vhdx file is saved. Select the .vhd or .vhdx file you want to attach and click "Open" to attach it.
Step 3. Start Attach VHD. Once the virtual file is selected, you can click "OK" to start attaching the VHD.
Step 4. Attach VHD Successfully. Once the process is finished, you will see that the VHD is attached successfully.
Sometimes, the process isn't as smooth as expected, and users are met with a frustrating message: failed to add device virtual hard disk. This error usually occurs due to file permission issues, existing snapshots, or the virtual disk file being locked by another process on the host system.
Before attempting to re-add the disk, ensure that the VMware workstation has full permissions to access the folder where the VHD file is stored. Additionally, if the VM has active snapshots, it may prevent the hardware configuration from being modified. Deleting or committing snapshots often resolves the "failed to add device" conflict, allowing the new hardware to be recognized.
To resolve this error, follow these troubleshooting tips:
Learning to add hard disk to VMware virtual machine is a vital skill for anyone working in virtualized environments. By combining VMware’s hardware settings with the powerful Virtual Disk management features of AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard, you can ensure your storage expansion is handled professionally. Whether you are avoiding a failed to add device virtual hard disk error or simply trying to add another VHD to the virtual machine for better organization, the right tools make all the difference.
1. Why isn't my new hard disk showing up in Windows Explorer?
Even after you add hard disk to VMware virtual machine settings, it won't appear in Explorer until it is initialized and partitioned. Use AOMEI Partition Assistant to "Initialize" the disk and "Create a Partition" to give it a drive letter.
2. What is the "failed to add device virtual hard disk" error?
This error usually means VMware cannot access the physical VHD file, or the configuration file is locked. Checking file permissions and deleting .lck files in the VM's directory usually fixes this.
3. Is it better to expand an existing disk or add another VHD to the virtual machine?
Adding a new VHD is often better for organization and performance. It allows you to keep the OS separate from your data, making it easier to manage and move files between different VMs.
4. Can AOMEI Partition Assistant convert a virtual disk from MBR to GPT?
Yes. If you add another VHD to the virtual machine that is larger than 2TB, you can use AOMEI Partition Assistant to convert it to GPT without losing any data.
5. Do I need to shut down my VM to add a hard disk?
Yes, for most users of VMware Workstation, you must power off the virtual machine to modify its hardware settings and add a new disk device safely.