Creating and adding a new virtual disk to a Windows VM in VMware Fusion

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps to create and add an extra virtual disk (hard drive) to a Windows virtual machine.

Environment

VMware Fusion 6.x
VMware Fusion 7.x
VMware Fusion 8.x
VMware Fusion 5.x
VMware Fusion Pro 8.x
VMware Fusion 2.x
VMware Fusion 4.x
VMware Fusion 3.x
VMware Fusion 10.x
VMware Fusion Pro 10.x

Resolution

To create and add a new, empty virtual hard drive to a Windows virtual machine:

1. Shut down the virtual machine.
2. Go to Virtual Machine > Settings.
3. Click Add Device > New Hard Disk (Fusion 4.x and later), or click the plus button ( +) (Fusion 3.x and earlier).
4. Enter the size of the hard disk in the Disk size field.
5. Click Apply.
6. Power on the virtual machine.
7. Initialize and format the new drive:
   • Windows 10 / Windows Vista / 7 / Server 2008 / 8 / Server 2012
      
     1. Click Start > Run, type diskmgmt.msc, and click OK.
     2. Windows asks you to initialize the disk before Logical Disk Manager can access it. Select MBR
        (Master Boot Record) and click OK.
     3. Right-click the unallocated space and click New Simple Volume.
     4. Click Next.
     5. Enter the size of the partition (in MB) and click Next.
     6. Select a drive letter and click Next.
     7. Select the file system type and volume name then click Next.
     8. Click Finish.
     9. Windows asks you to format the drive. Click Format.
        
        The second virtual disk is usable when the status is Healthy.
         
   • Windows XP / Server 2003
      
     1. Click Start > Run, type diskmgmt.msc, and click OK.
     2. Right-click Disk 1 and click Initialize Disk or use the initialization wizard.
     3. Right-click Unallocated space and click New Partition.
     4. Select Extended Partition and click Next.
     5. Enter the size of the partition in MB and click Next.
     6. Click Finish.
     7. Right-click Free space and select New Logical Drive.
     8. Enter the partition size, drive letter, and type.
     9. Click Finish.
        
        The second virtual disk is usable when the status is Healthy.