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VHDMount

VHDMount is a command line utility that comes with Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 - Enterprise Edition.

As noted in Microsoft TechNet's VHDMount documentation, it is possible to install VHDMount without installing Virtual Server:

To install only the VHDMount components, use the Custom option in the Virtual Server installer and clear all components except VHDMount.

This is a great tool for administrators, e.g. to access VHDs that won't boot, or maybe even for rootkit scans?

But best of all it allows us to access, on a per file basis, VHD images created by Vista's Complete PC Backup.

Source: the "Retrieving Particular Files or Folders From CompletePC Backup" paragraph in Mark Minasi's Windows Networking Tech Page, Issue #64, August 2007.

Usage:

Command line utility to mount a Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) as a virtual disk device.

By default, VHDMount creates an Undo Disk in current user's temporary folder.
All changes to the mounted disk are written to this Undo Disk.
Use /c to commit or /d to discard these changes at the time of unplugging the disk device.
Use /f option to mount a VHD without an Undo Disk.

Usage:

VHDMOUNT /p [/f] VHDFileName
VHDMOUNT /m [/f] VHDFileName [DriveLetter]
VHDMOUNT /u [/c | /d] VHDFileName | All
VHDMOUNT /q VHDFileName | All
/p Plugs in the specified VHD as a virtual disk device without mounting the volume.
/m Plugs in the specified VHD as a virtual disk device and mounts the volume.
/f Performs the specified operation without creating an Undo Disk.
This parameter is applicable for /p and /m.
All changes to the mounted disk are directly written to the specified VHD.
/u Unplugs the virtual disk device for the specified VHDFileName.
/c Updates the original VHD with all changes that were stored in the Undo Disk and deletes the Undo Disk after unplugging the disk.
This parameter is only applicable if the VHD was mounted without using /f.
/d Discards all changes to the mounted disk and deletes the Undo Disk after unplugging the disk.
This parameter is only applicable if the VHD was mounted without using /f.
/q Displays the disk name of the mounted virtual disk device for the specified VHDFileName.
VHDFileName VHD name including full path.
DriveLetter Optional parameter for /m option.
If drive letter is specified the volumes are mounted starting at the specified drive letter.
If drive letter is not specified it is automatically assigned.
All Applies the operation on all mounted virtual disk devices.
This parameter is applicable for /u and /q.

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