diff --git a/computestorage/format.go b/computestorage/format.go
index 4a5735e989..2140e5c9fc 100644
--- a/computestorage/format.go
+++ b/computestorage/format.go
@@ -4,74 +4,29 @@ package computestorage
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"os"
-	"syscall"
 
-	"github.com/Microsoft/go-winio/vhd"
 	"github.com/Microsoft/hcsshim/internal/oc"
-	"github.com/Microsoft/hcsshim/osversion"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
 )
 
-func openDisk(path string) (windows.Handle, error) {
-	u16, err := windows.UTF16PtrFromString(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0, err
-	}
-	h, err := windows.CreateFile(
-		u16,
-		windows.GENERIC_READ|windows.GENERIC_WRITE,
-		windows.FILE_SHARE_READ|windows.FILE_SHARE_WRITE,
-		nil,
-		windows.OPEN_EXISTING,
-		windows.FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL|windows.FILE_FLAG_NO_BUFFERING,
-		0,
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0, &os.PathError{
-			Op:   "CreateFile",
-			Path: path,
-			Err:  err,
-		}
-	}
-	return h, nil
-}
-
 // FormatWritableLayerVhd formats a virtual disk for use as a writable container layer.
 //
 // If the VHD is not mounted it will be temporarily mounted.
+//
+// NOTE: This API had a breaking change in the operating system after Windows Server 2019.
+// On ws2019 the API expects to get passed a file handle from CreateFile for the vhd that
+// the caller wants to format. On > ws2019, its expected that the caller passes a vhd handle
+// that can be obtained from the virtdisk APIs.
 func FormatWritableLayerVhd(ctx context.Context, vhdHandle windows.Handle) (err error) {
 	title := "hcsshim::FormatWritableLayerVhd"
 	ctx, span := oc.StartSpan(ctx, title) //nolint:ineffassign,staticcheck
 	defer span.End()
 	defer func() { oc.SetSpanStatus(span, err) }()
 
-	h := vhdHandle
-	// On RS5 HcsFormatWritableLayerVhd expects to receive a disk handle instead of a vhd handle.
-	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V19H1 {
-		if err := vhd.AttachVirtualDisk(syscall.Handle(vhdHandle), vhd.AttachVirtualDiskFlagNone, &vhd.AttachVirtualDiskParameters{Version: 1}); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		defer func() {
-			if detachErr := vhd.DetachVirtualDisk(syscall.Handle(vhdHandle)); err == nil && detachErr != nil {
-				err = detachErr
-			}
-		}()
-		diskPath, err := vhd.GetVirtualDiskPhysicalPath(syscall.Handle(vhdHandle))
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		diskHandle, err := openDisk(diskPath)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		defer windows.CloseHandle(diskHandle) // nolint: errcheck
-		h = diskHandle
-	}
-	err = hcsFormatWritableLayerVhd(h)
+	err = hcsFormatWritableLayerVhd(vhdHandle)
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "failed to format writable layer vhd")
 	}
-	return
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/computestorage/setup.go b/computestorage/setup.go
index faec837ca1..1c685aed0a 100644
--- a/computestorage/setup.go
+++ b/computestorage/setup.go
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ func SetupBaseOSLayer(ctx context.Context, layerPath string, vhdHandle windows.H
 // `volumePath` is the path to the volume to be used for setup.
 //
 // `options` are the options applied while processing the layer.
+//
+// NOTE: This API is only available on builds of Windows greater than 19645. Inside we
+// check if the hosts build has the API available by using 'GetVersion' which requires
+// the calling application to be manifested. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/sbscs/manifests
 func SetupBaseOSVolume(ctx context.Context, layerPath, volumePath string, options OsLayerOptions) (err error) {
 	if osversion.Build() < 19645 {
 		return errors.New("SetupBaseOSVolume is not present on builds older than 19645")