How to shrink Hyper-V VHD?

[win]

I have a hyperv guest server created in 2008r2 which has now been exported to a 2012r2 host. I need to shrink the fixed vhd, but it's not a vhdx as it was initially created within a 2008r2 host.

 

Can it be done like this?

 

Defrag the drive.

Open Disk Management and shrink the partition

Shut down the guest.

Compact the VHD using 2012r2 host.

 

Has anyone successfully done this?

[win]

On the other hand, has anyone unsuccessfully done this?

[SHimmer45]

you should be able to convert the vhd to vhdx and from fixed to dynamic by clicking edit button just under the disk path in the VM's properties. it will export out the existing hard disk into a new one and iirc keep them both, it can be quite a long process.

[win]

Just shutdown one of the DCs to inspect the disk and you are right, it can be converted to vhdx in 2012 and above. After that it should be easily shinkable. Thanks for info!