In summary, recovering a deleted VMDK file requires prompt action, the right tools, and a good understanding of the underlying storage and file systems. If you're not experienced in data recovery, it's recommended to seek professional help to minimize the risk of data loss or corruption.
If no backups exist, you must use tools that are "VMFS-aware" (capable of reading VMware’s File System). Standard file recovery tools like Recuva often fail to see deleted files on VMFS datastores. recover deleted vmdk
: Immediately shut down the host or disconnect the datastore. Any new data written to the drive can overwrite the "empty" space where your VMDK used to be. In summary, recovering a deleted VMDK file requires
Accidental deletion of a VMDK (Virtual Machine Disk) file—whether via the vSphere Client, CLI, or directly on a datastore—is a critical issue. Immediate action is required, as the file may still be recoverable if its data blocks haven't been overwritten. This review evaluates four primary recovery approaches. Standard file recovery tools like Recuva often fail
If you only deleted the descriptor file, the VM will fail to boot, but your data is safe and the file can be recreated manually using the VMware knowledge base guide. 2. Immediate Recovery Actions