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AVHDX file still exists in Virtual Hard Disk folder of VM, after Checkpoint has bee removed

I have removed the Checkpoint for the VM on a Hyper-V 2012 R2 Host machine. However, when checking the folder, Virtual Hard Disks, the *.avhdx file is still there. It is huge, 182 gb. The VM's *.vhdx file is 214 gb. How can I remove the *.avhdx file to make more room? Do I need to run a PowerShell Command to remove it?

Cliff Galiher

Have you removed *all* the checkpoints? You can chain them or have multiples after all. And have you verified the status isn't still "merging?" Or is the VM itself set up yo use a differencing disk? Those are also avhd. Hyper-v is very good at cleaning up after itself. If the file is still there, I'd strongly suspect it is still in use.

OdneyTech

ASKER

They Hyper-V Manager shows all the Checkpoints are removed. It has finished merging since I removed them on Saturday. The VM is not setup to use a differencing disk.

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Cliff Galiher

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OdneyTech

ASKER

The suggestion Cliff Galiher had given worked for me. Before I did it, I opened the Hyper-V Manager and under Actions, I inspected the disk, or ahvdx file. I have not seen errors or missing data. However, these two articles did help me with my decision and provided ma a backup plan.
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/83adb645-0aea-4475-8bab-1827080f7ff0/data-recover-from-snapshot-file-avhdx
http://itproctology.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-to-manually-merge-hyper-v-snapshots.html