If you use VMware for your enterprise operations, you probably rely on its integrity and reliability. But, no technology is fail-proof, and you may face a corrupt VMDK file. Fortunately, things are not lost just yet and you can repair corrupt VMDK files in VMware.
VMDK stands for Virtual Machine Disk. It is a file format used by VMware virtualization software to represent a virtual hard disk drive (HDD). A VMDK file contains the contents of a virtual machine’s hard disk drive, including the operating system, applications, and data.
VMDKs can be used to store a virtual machine’s entire hard drive or just specific segments of it. They can be stored on local or network storage and moved between different hardware configurations or cloud environments. Multiple VMDKs can also be combined to create larger virtual disks.
If a VMDK file gets corrupted, it may result in data loss or an inability to access the contents of the virtual machine.
Repairing a corrupt VMDK file is possible by following specific steps. A VMDK file consists of four files on a VM: the .vmdk file (descriptor), the Delta file, the RDM VMDK file, and the -flat.vmdk file (flat).
If your damaged VMDK file is RDM or flat, you should contact a data recovery service as repairing these files is not easy.
You can repair the corrupt or damaged VMDK files (descriptor) in VMware using the below methods:
Type cmd in the Windows search box and then run as administrator. You can also press the Windows + X keys to open the command prompt.
After that, find the path for the VMware file installation location. A probable path would be C:\Program Files\VMware\Virtual Disk Development Kit\bin.
Use the path on the cmd window with the following command:
vmware-vsdiskmanager.exe – R “the qualified path to your VMDK.file”.
Hit Enter and wait while the scanning process repairs your corrupt VMDK files.
If the repair was successful you will see the following message:
The virtual disk “corrupt vmdk file path location” was corrupted and has been successfully repaired
If the issue is because of a corrupt VMDK file or VM server, the virtual machine fails to start. Then, you can try the following step to restore your files:
If you have a recent backup of your virtual machine data, you can restore the corrupt VMDK file with it.
You can use the SalvageData tool to create regular backups and then recover your lost or corrupted files from it wherever you need them. Create an image or clone your VM data into a new disk.
In case of a corrupt VMDK file, your best chance of recovering the data is with the help of a recovery professional.
Although the first three solutions are free, they are not as guaranteed as a professional virtual machine data recovery service. That is because these professionals are experienced and work with cut-edge technology and proper tools to repair corrupt VMDK files.
Contact SalvageData experts 24/7 for a free evaluation. Our technicians can explore the best approach to restore the data and return it to you safely and corruption-free. You can also look for a recovery center near you.
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