.vhd
Disk images · application/octet-stream
Opens with
A whole disc captured as one file. Open it and it mounts just like the original disc.
| MIME type | application/octet-stream |
|---|---|
| Category | Disk images |
| Opens in a browser | No |
| Plain text | No |
| Registered type | Yes |
The same file, another name
These share a MIME type. Renaming between them usually just works.
How to read this
- An extension is a label, not the contents. Rename a file to .png and if the bytes inside are JPEG, it is still a JPEG.
- A MIME type is how the internet names a file kind. Browsers look at that value, not the extension, to decide whether to display or download.
- A MIME type starting with x- was never registered as a standard. Plenty are in wide use, but they are not official names.
- Video extensions name a container. The same .mp4 may play on one device and not another, depending on the codec inside.
Frequently asked questions
QWhat is a .vhd file?
It belongs to the disk images category and its MIME type is application/octet-stream. The contents are binary, so opening it in a text editor shows garbage.
QWhat opens a .vhd file?
Hyper-V, VirtualBox, Disk Management all handle it. In a browser it does not display — the browser downloads it instead.
QWhat is the MIME type of .vhd?
application/octet-stream. The first half, application, names the broad kind; the second half, octet-stream, names the exact format. It is a registered standard name.
QIs any other extension the same format as .vhd?
.bak, .tmp, .img, .fbx, .ipa, .app, .bin share the very same MIME type. Renaming between them usually just works.
QMy .vhd file will not open.
First check that Hyper-V is installed. If it still fails, the download may have been cut short, or the file may only be named .vhd while holding a different format inside.