How to Recover Deleted or Corrupted VHD/VHDX Files

Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) and Virtual Hard Disk eXtended (VHDX) files are disk image files used by virtualization software to create virtual machines. These files contain the entire operating system, applications, and data that are running on a virtual machine. Losing or corrupting these files can cause significant problems, and in this article, we will discuss some ways to recover deleted or corrupted VHD/VHDX files.

Recovering Deleted VHD/VHDX Files If you have accidentally deleted a VHD/VHDX file, there is still hope to recover it. Here are some steps you can follow:

Step 1: Check the Recycle Bin The first place you should look for a deleted VHD/VHDX file is the Recycle Bin. If you find the file there, right-click on it, and select the “Restore” option.

Step 2: Use a File Recovery Tool If the file is not in the Recycle Bin, you can use a file recovery tool to recover it. There are many free and paid file recovery tools available on the internet. Download and install one of these tools and follow the instructions to recover the deleted VHD/VHDX file.

Step 3: Use a Backup If you have a backup of the VHD/VHDX file, you can restore it from there. If you do not have a backup, it is recommended that you start backing up your important files regularly to avoid such situations in the future.

Recovering Corrupted VHD/VHDX Files If your VHD/VHDX file is corrupted, it may not be possible to recover it fully, but you can still try the following steps to retrieve as much data as possible:

Step 1: Use a Built-in Tool Windows provides a built-in tool called “Check Disk” (chkdsk) that can help repair minor file system errors. To use this tool, right-click on the VHD/VHDX file and select “Properties.” Go to the “Tools” tab and click on the “Check” button under “Error-checking.” Follow the instructions to complete the process.

Step 2: Use a Third-Party Tool If the built-in tool does not work, you can use a third-party tool like Virtual Machine Data Recovery. This tool can recover data from corrupt VHD/VHDX files and restore them to a healthy state. Download and install the tool and follow the instructions to recover your data.

Step 3: Use a Backup If you have a backup of the VHD/VHDX file, you can restore it from there. If you do not have a backup, it is recommended that you start backing up your important files regularly to avoid such situations in the future.

Conclusion

Losing or corrupting VHD/VHDX files can be a nightmare, but there are ways to recover them. Always check the Recycle Bin and use a VHD/VHDX file recovery tool to recover deleted files. Use the built-in tool and third-party tools to recover corrupt files. And most importantly, start backing up your important files regularly to avoid such situations in the future.