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VMware ESXi, VMFS & Hyper-V

VMware & Virtual Machine Recovery you can trust

When a datastore goes inaccessible or a VM's disks won't open, an entire set of servers can disappear at once. Our VMware data recovery service rebuilds VMFS datastores, VMDK files, snapshot chains, and Hyper-V VHDX disks — priced per case after a free evaluation.

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Custom quote per case · pay on success
✓Free evaluation, fixed quote before work
✓ISO Class 100 cleanroom recovery
✓$0 if we can’t recover your data
✓Secure chain of custody

About vmware & virtual machine recovery

A VMware environment stacks several layers of storage. Physical drives sit in a RAID array or SAN, which presents a volume formatted with VMFS. Each virtual machine's disk is a VMDK — a small descriptor file plus a large data extent — and inside that extent is the guest's own file system, such as NTFS, ext4, or XFS. Damage at any layer can make everything above it unreachable, so recovery works from the bottom up.

Thin provisioning and snapshots make that harder. A thin-provisioned disk only allocates space as data is written, so its blocks can end up scattered across the datastore. Snapshots add delta disks that record changes since a point in time, linked to their parent by IDs in the descriptor files. If a descriptor is lost or a delta is corrupted, the chain breaks and the VM won't start, even though most of the data is still present.

Hyper-V follows a similar pattern with VHDX files and AVHDX differencing disks. Whether the problem is a deleted VM, a failed consolidation, or a datastore that vanished after a controller fault, recovery depends on how much of the underlying data has been overwritten since — which is why it helps to stop writing to the affected storage.

What we recover

  • ✓VMFS datastores and the VMDK files on them
  • ✓Snapshot and delta disk chains
  • ✓Deleted or unregistered virtual machines
  • ✓Hyper-V VHDX and AVHDX virtual disks

Common failures we handle

  • •Datastore inaccessible or missing after a storage failure
  • •VM won't power on due to a broken snapshot chain
  • •Virtual machine accidentally deleted from the datastore
  • •RAID or SAN failure underneath the hosts

Before you send it in: what not to do

  • ✕Don't reformat or recreate the datastore — it overwrites the VMFS metadata that maps where every VM lives.
  • ✕Don't delete or consolidate snapshots on a damaged VM — consolidating a broken chain can merge corrupted data into the base disk.
  • ✕Don't rebuild or reinitialize the underlying RAID — a wrong rebuild can overwrite the datastore permanently.
  • ✕Don't keep running other VMs on the same datastore after a deletion — new writes can overwrite the deleted VM's blocks.
  • ✕Don't edit VMDK descriptor files by hand without copies — a wrong value can make the chain harder to rebuild.

How we recover it

1

Free evaluation and fixed quote

We learn your host, storage, and VM layout and what happened, assess the hardware, and give you a fixed quote to approve before work begins.

2

Image and reconstruct the storage

Every member drive is imaged, and any failed RAID or SAN volume is reconstructed virtually from the images so the VMFS datastore can be read.

3

Rebuild the datastore and virtual disks

Engineers repair VMFS metadata, locate VMDK or VHDX extents, and map thin-provisioned blocks back into complete virtual disks.

4

Repair snapshot chains

We restore descriptor links between base and delta disks and merge the chain in the correct order to produce a consistent disk image.

5

Extract and verify

We mount the guest file systems, check that critical files and databases open, and return the virtual disks or extracted data on a secure return drive.

Failures we handle

RAID Controller Failure →RAID Rebuild Failure →

How it works

1

Free evaluation

Start online; we assess your system in our cleanroom.

2

Fixed quote

Approve a set price before any recovery work begins.

3

We recover

Certified engineers reconstruct and recover your data.

4

Pay on success

Charged only when your data is back.

Related troubleshooting guides

RAID & NAS RAID Array Failed? What to Do Before You Lose Everything RAID & NAS NAS Volume Crashed? Recover a Synology, QNAP or Buffalo NAS Ransomware Ransomware Encrypted Your Files? Your Real Recovery Options Prevention The 3-2-1 Backup Rule: How to Never Need Data Recovery Basics How Data Recovery Actually Works: A Complete Guide

VMware & Virtual Machine Recovery — common questions

How much does vmware & virtual machine recovery cost?+
Multi-drive cases are quoted per job after a free evaluation — the price depends on the configuration, the failure, and the work involved. There's no charge for the evaluation, and you pay nothing unless we recover your data.
Can you recover a deleted virtual machine?+
It may be possible if the space it occupied hasn't been reused. Stop creating or growing other VMs on that datastore as soon as you notice, since new writes can overwrite the deleted VM's data.
My VM won't start because of a snapshot error. Is the data gone?+
Not necessarily. Snapshot errors often come from broken links between the base disk and its delta files rather than lost data. Rebuilding the chain in the correct order can restore a consistent disk.
Do you recover Hyper-V as well as VMware?+
Yes. We work with Hyper-V VHDX and AVHDX differencing disks as well as VMware VMFS datastores and VMDK files.
What should I send if the datastore was on a RAID or SAN?+
All member drives, labeled with their slot positions, plus any details you have about the array configuration. The array has to be reconstructed before the datastore can be read.
Is my data still recoverable?+
In most cases, yes. A device that won't boot or mount usually has a hardware fault while the data itself is intact. The key is to stop using it — don't reformat, rebuild, or keep powering it on — and let our cleanroom handle it.
How do I send in a VMware & Virtual Machine system?+
Start online for a free evaluation and we'll arrange secure, insured shipping. Your system is assessed in our cleanroom, you approve a fixed quote before any work, and you only pay on a successful recovery.
How long does it take?+
Most cases are evaluated within a couple of business days of arrival, with a turnaround estimate provided alongside your quote. Emergency service is available when time is critical.

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Free evaluation, a fixed quote before any work, and $0 unless we succeed.

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