Mounting Windows VHD backups

A .vhd backup image turned up during an engagement, and its contents were worth a look. A VHD is a virtual hard disk: a single file that holds a full disk image, including its partition table and file systems.

Instead of restoring the backup, you can attach the image as a block device and browse its file systems read-only. That keeps the original file untouched while giving access to the data it contains. The guide walks through mounting a VHD and inspecting its file systems.