Virtual machines (VMs) have become a cornerstone of modern IT infrastructure, but like any system, they’re vulnerable to human error and technical mishaps. Recovering deleted files from a VM safely requires a mix of foresight, methodical action, and the right tools. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the most reliable methods to recover lost data from virtual machines, whether you’re dealing with VMware, Hyper-V, or VirtualBox.
Understanding the Basics
A virtual machine is a software-based emulation of a computer, allowing multiple OS environments to run on a single physical host. Popular virtualization platforms include:
- VMware (uses VMDK files).
- Hyper-V (uses VHD/VHDX files).
- VirtualBox (uses VDI or VMDK files).
- KVM/QEMU (uses QCOW2).
Each VM stores its data in virtual disk files (VMDK, VHD, etc.) which act like physical hard drives for the guest OS.
File deletion within a VM works similarly to a physical machine but depends on two layers:
- Guest-level deletion: Happens inside the virtual OS (e.g., deleting a file from Windows Explorer or rm in Linux).
- Host-level deletion: Involves deleting or modifying the virtual disk or snapshots on the host OS.
Different file systems behave differently upon deletion. For example:
- NTFS (Windows): Moves files to Recycle Bin, marking space as available after permanent deletion.
- EXT4 (Linux): Removes inode references but leaves data intact until overwritten.
Safety First – Preparation Before Recovery
Power Off or Isolate the Virtual Machine
Immediately shut down the VM to prevent further writes that could overwrite deleted data. If live analysis is needed, create a snapshot or clone first.
Avoid Writing to the Virtual Disk
Any write operation could destroy recoverable data. To prevent changes, mount the virtual disk as read-only on another system or recovery tool.
Backup the Current VM or Disk Image
Before proceeding, create a full backup of the VM’s virtual disk file. You can use:
- qemu-img convert -O raw vm.qcow2 backup.img
- dd if=vm.vhd of=vm_backup.vhd
- VMware Workstation’s “Clone” feature
This ensures you can always revert if something goes wrong.
Recovery Methods Inside the Guest OS
Use the OS’s Recycle Bin/Trash
Check the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Linux GUI) — deleted files may still be there if not permanently removed.
Restore from File History or Previous Versions (Windows)
If File History or Volume Shadow Copy was enabled:
- Right-click the folder → Restore previous versions.
- Browse versions and restore needed files.
Use extundelete or TestDisk on Linux
For EXT3/EXT4 partitions:
- extundelete can recover recently deleted files:
extundelete /dev/sdX –restore-all
- TestDisk can recover partitions and lost files safely
Always work on a cloned image, not the live system.
Specialized File Recovery Software
Some reliable options include:
- Recuva (Windows).
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
- R-Studio.
Important: Install recovery software on a different VM or host, then scan the mounted virtual disk to avoid overwriting.
Recovery at the Host Level
Mounting Virtual Disks on the Host
You can mount virtual disks directly:
- VMDK (VMware): Use VMware Workstation or vmware-mount
- VHD/VHDX (Hyper-V): Mount directly in Windows Disk Management
- QCOW2 (KVM): Use qemu-nbd to expose as block device
Example for Linux:
bash
modprobe nbd max_part=8
qemu-nbd -c /dev/nbd0 vm.qcow2
mount /dev/nbd0p1 /mnt/vm-disk
Recovering Files from the Virtual Disk
If after mounting you still have questions about how to recover deleted files from virtual machine, use advanced recovery tools such as:
- DiskInternals VMFS Recovery – great for VMware and ESXi.
- UFS Explorer Professional Recovery.
- Stellar Data Recovery Technician.
Perform a sector-level scan, preview recoverable files, and export only what you need.
Recovery from Snapshots or Backups
Restoring from VM Snapshots
If you took a snapshot before the file deletion:
- Revert to the snapshot.
- Export the deleted files.
- Optionally merge changes back or discard snapshot.
Using Backup Solutions
If using a tool like Veeam, Acronis, or Nakivo:
- Mount the backup as a virtual disk.
- Use “file-level recovery” to avoid full VM restoration.
- Extract and save the files you need.
Advanced Recovery for Corrupt VM Disks
Repair Corrupted Virtual Disk Files
Virtual disks may become corrupted. Repair them using:
- vmware-vdiskmanager -R disk.vmdk (VMware).
- VBoxManage modifymedium –repair (VirtualBox).
- Convert disk formats (e.g., VHDX → VHD) to regain access.
Rebuild Partition Tables or File Systems
If the partition table or filesystem is broken:
- TestDisk can rebuild MBR/GPT and recover partitions.
- GParted helps repair or recreate partitions safely.
Mounting Recovered Disks to Extract Files
After recovery, attach the disk to another VM as a secondary drive, boot into the VM, and browse the filesystem to safely copy your files.
Best Practices to Prevent Future Data Loss
To prevent future data loss in virtual environments, it’s essential to follow best practices such as automating full and incremental backups, storing them securely offsite or in the cloud, and regularly testing recovery procedures. Snapshots should be used cautiously—avoid excessive accumulation and never treat them as backups; instead, maintain a documented schedule.
Proactive disk monitoring using tools like Zabbix, Prometheus, or Host-Tracker can help detect anomalies early through real-time alerts. Finally, ensure both administrators and users are trained in file recovery basics, maintain clear recovery SOPs, and conduct quarterly tests to validate your disaster recovery readiness.
Takeway
Recovering deleted files from virtual machines is possible and often successful — if you act quickly and carefully. Whether you’re restoring from a guest OS tool, a backup, or digging deep into disk-level recovery, your first step should always be to preserve the current state of the VM.
By using safe recovery methods, specialized tools, and following best practices, you’ll minimize downtime and avoid data loss. Most importantly, regular backups and proactive monitoring remain your best defense.