The device is not ready

[Grybas]

Hi, so, I have windows 8.1 and I want to dualboot to windows 10 (I don't want to upgrade, because some work soft that I have barely works on win8.1 and I don't want to brick it and lose all my 4 months worth of work) so I installed a second ssd, but I am not confident to install barely on the ssd itself, so I created on that new ssd a .vhdx virtual disk. And I turned on the windows installation media from usb flash drive and when I open cmd to select vdisk it shows an error, that the device is not ready. The disk is completly empty, it is formated in NTFS and it is on GPT partition table. any solutions? 

[C2dan88]

33 minutes ago, Grybas said:

ut I am not confident to install barely on the ssd itself, so I created on that new ssd a .vhdx virtual disk.

I would disconnect all drives leaving only the new ssd connected. Now boot the install media and Install windows10 to the new ssd, (you can set the partition size if you like during the install process if you dont want windows to use entire ssd).

 

After install reconnect remaing drives. Now you can use bios boot menu to choose between Window8 and Windows10

[Electronics Wizardy]

Make a backup first just in case.

 

Why not install on the second SSD? I don't see what your gaining using a VHD here

[Grybas]

On 4/7/2025 at 7:14 PM, C2dan88 said:

I would disconnect all drives leaving only the new ssd connected. Now boot the install media and Install windows10 to the new ssd, (you can set the partition size if you like during the install process if you dont want windows to use entire ssd).

 

After install reconnect remaing drives. Now you can use bios boot menu to choose between Window8 and Windows10

I just did that and now its working and I am have a privlege to dualboot windows. Thanks!