How might I make an .hdd file and put stuff in it?

Sorry to ask a dumb tech question that's no doubt answered elsewhere, but I've failed to find it.

The idea is to create a file of .hdd (or .fdd) type, which is trivial; and format it comprehensibly, like in FAT-16; and put some files in it; and have it available to a VM. Specifically, this would be a text file to be read by the installation process for eComStation 1.2 . It would be read by the installer itself, which runs in a stripped-down version of the OS itself; but this sounds doable if one just knew how to make the file.

Thanks for your indulgence.

 

to create hdd file -separate from pvm and with no OS on it, but FAT or NTFS formatted - go to virtual machine Configuration --> Hardware --> "+" Hard Disk --> new image.

 

Thanks for the response and the pointer, but it turns out I've already been there -- or somewhere around there. I re-tried what I'd done, and then did a dummy creation of a VM for a Win 7 system to see if I'd missed some option, but I still don't get it: I can make that .hdd file, and Parallels will then gladly attach it to a VM -- but I still can't find anything that formats it, much less allows me to write on it!

(I've also seen a reference to a possibility of using a Mac .dmg file for a virtual disk, but nothing I've tried has got me close to an invitation to actually use it that way.)

However, thanks to this guideline, I tried to look at the .hdd I'd made, and double-clicked on it, and the Mac brought up Parallels Mounter. (Why didn't I try this before? I thought I had, but I was wrong.)

But the message I get is "Parallels Mounter is unable to open the virtual hard disk." And I'm supposed to start the virtual machine and check for file system errors. I suppose that the error is that it hasn't been formatted in any way. Which is because I haven't found anything that would let me do that.

So I'm still missing some step that must be fairly obvious, which would let me format the image and then write to it. Much obliged if you could show me the next step I take after creating the .hdd file

 

You're missing the step where you have to actually partition and format (FAT or NTFS) the new virtual HD inside Windows. You can find instructions for doing that via google, if not, I'm sure someone at Parallels will provide step by step instructions.

 

Ah, this clarifies it, and if I read it right, it's quite reasonable and simple. Almost.

Is the idea that you fire up the Windows system you already have set up as Guest? And of course it can see the virtual disk, and format it, and write on it, no problem. If so, my problem is one of chickens and eggs: I'm not using Windows, and the reason I want to write .hdd is to get past a dumb problem in installing the *first* guest system here. (eComStation, to be specific)

So I'm now pondering getting *something* running as a guest, whether Windows or Linux or whatever, with which I can put a FAT-16 system in the .hdd file, which would get me past the present hangup in installing the system I actually want. Or, in fact, a couple of other approaches that occur to me.

Thanks for setting me straight. This is at least a question that I can probably work out with sufficient effort. (Or is there an obvious shorter way I've overlooked?)

 

this user guide page may be helpful http://download.parallels.com/desktop/v6/docs/en/Parallels_Desktop_Users_Guide/27773.htm

 

Thanks for the pointer. But as far as I can tell, this too requires an already installed Windows system, so it doesn't hlep me. BUt I've found a workaround for the problem I was trying to solve in this way. So it's now time for me to work on the next radblock in the installation.

 

What i did actually when i need to format hard drive - i used Windows 98 installation iso - it si very useful as far as all the steps are manual - so that you can format the drive and disconnect Windows 98 iso - and continue with installation of any other OS