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Virtual Disk Image Files (VMDK) is used for storing data in order to use them in virtual machines like VMware Workstation, QEMU, Virtual Box, etc. Generally, it is used for cloud computing and virtualization. In other words, we can say that it is a direct competitor of MS VHD file format.
Just like VHD files, VMDK files are also prone to corruption, and recovering a VMDK file could be very complicated, as it contains the entire data of a disk, and any errors in the recovery process can lead to data loss. Thus, recovering corrupt VMDK files is crucial to saving the entire disk data.
Also, when it comes to choosing a recovery method for corrupt VMDK files, there are not enough options available. But, we can perform a basic VMDK file repair with the manual method.
Reasons for VMDK Corruption
Methods to Repair Corrupt VMDK Files
If you’re unable to access the data of your VMDK file for the first time, then some basic repairing tips can help you resolve this problem. Here is the detailed process to perform basic VMDK file recovery. But, before that, understand how these files are made up of.
A VMDK file is basically a combination of two types of files, which include VMDK and *-flat.vmdk. The VMDK file works as a plain text pointer for the *-flat.vmdk. The (*) denotes the VM server’s name.
1st Method: Restore VMDK File by Booting the Machine
If you’re unable to access VMDK files from Windows for the first time, then there are some basic repairing tips that can help you resolve this problem. Here is the detailed process to perform basic VMDK file recovery.
A VMDK file is basically a combination of two types of files, which include VMDK and *-flat.vmdk. The VMDK file works as a plain text pointer for the *-flat.vmdk. The (*) denates the VM server’s name. Whenever a VMDK file or VM server gets corrupt, the Virtual Machine fails to start. In such cases, the following steps can help you repair corrupt VMDK file.
This process might seem easy to execute. But, the hardest part of this procedure is to get Cylinders, Heads, and Sectors precisely according to the size of the *-flat.vmdk file. Most users, especially beginners often fail to recover their VMDK file with this process and wonder how they can recover their VMDK file.
Well, there is another method to recover the VMDK file using command prompt in the Windows operating system.
2nd Method: Use Command Prompt in Windows
Using Command Prompt is also a great technique to recover VMDK files, but it is more suitable for technical users who are well-versed with CMD. Even if you’re a beginner, you can try to recover VMDK files with this method. Follow the below steps to recover the VMDK file with cmd.
You might be able to recover your corrupt VMDK files using this technique, but this method also has the same limitations as the previous one. So, what is a secure and reliable solution to this problem? – use a third party VMDK recovery software.
Kernel VMDK Recovery is a great utility to recover corrupt VMDK files. It offers a flawless recovery for all types of VMDK files, whether it’s created by VMware Workstation or VirtualBox. Also, the built-in Find feature allows you to search specific file type in the file system. With the help of this software, you can even customize the number of sectors to be read on a single scan. You can overwrite, rename, skip, and include or exclude duplicate files with this software. Now, let’s have a clear look at how this software works.
Note: If you want to save a snapshot of the scanning process, you can accomplish it by clicking Save Snapshot.
Note: To search any specific file, use the Find option to find files by their name pattern.
Many organizations use VMware Workstations and VirtualBox for their daily tasks. When it gets corrupt, it becomes almost difficult to retain its data. And the manual approaches to recover the entire data are not viable. However, using Kernel VMDK Recovery software, you can easily recover the entire data of the VMDK file.
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