You now have temp.vmdk (descriptor) and temp-flat.vmdk (blank data).
The good news? As long as that -flat.vmdk file exists, your data is intact. Here is how you can recreate the descriptor and get your Virtual Machine (VM) back online. Phase 1: Preparation and Identification how to fix flat vmdk
cat vmname.vmdk
If vmkfstools reports severe read errors or the filesystem inside the flat file is corrupted (the OS boots but crashes immediately), the issue may be deeper than the file structure. You now have temp
Log into your ESXi host via SSH and navigate to the VM's directory. Run the following command to find the exact byte size of your flat file: ls -l *-flat.vmdk Record the large number (e.g., 4294967296 for a 4GB disk). 2. Create a Temporary Descriptor Here is how you can recreate the descriptor
If the descriptor is lost/corrupt but the -flat.vmdk is intact:
Use chkdsk (Windows) or fsck (Linux) on the attached drive.