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Chaz7
Contributor
Contributor

Accidently Deleted server - PLEASE HELP!!!

VMWare Community,

I can't believe I did this... I have a home lab where I am preparing for my CCIE in routing and switching. I had a VM, running server 2012 R2, and acting as an FTP. This server is where I store all my study information, personal backups, pictures, very important information that I really can't afford to loose. I've been digging through articles trying to find a way to recover the VM, but I haven't had any luck. I am running the build below. I'm running a licensed free version. Is there anyway to recover the VM? I have left the disks alone and haven't written any data over the drives. I have an HP DL360 Gen8, 2x Intel Xeon's, 64GB of RAM, PERC 5 RAID Card, and 5x 600GB 15K SAS drives in a RAID 5. I'm not an expert at VMWare, but I believe I am in need of one. If anyone can help with this please let me know. I'll even pay for assistance if need be. Please someone help!

Chaz.

VM - version.PNG

5 Replies
vHaridas
Expert
Expert

are you 100% sure that you have deleted VMs and all disk from storage? or you removed it from Inventory?

If you have deleted it from storage, there is only way to recover it is using specialized recovery software.

Below information will help you -

How to recover deleted files "vmdk" on a vmfs partition ?

Data recovery contacts provided by VMware -

https://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=1015413&s...

Recover Data from VMFS, ESX, ESXi, vSphere Disks

http://www.kvisoft.com/data-recovery/

Read similar experience -

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/324617-vmware-esxi-delete-from-datastore-no-easy-recover

Please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful" replies. Thanks....!!! https://vprhlabs.blogspot.in/
Chaz7
Contributor
Contributor

Thank you very much for your reply. Yes, I fully deleted it from the data store. Shouldn't the data still be on the RAID 5 disk's since nothing has been written over top of it? It is just one VM I deleted, which figures is the one that I backed up all my data too, and has very personal information on. Will the below make me take a chance of loosing my data forever?

Thanks,

Chaz.

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vHaridas
Expert
Expert

Using data recovery software deleted VM MAY* be recovered.

Either you can try any software mentioned in previous post or reach out to vendors provided by VMware?

It's not possible to recover VM without any data recovery software. You still have a chance to Try.

Good Luck. Smiley Happy

Please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful" replies. Thanks....!!! https://vprhlabs.blogspot.in/
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a_p_
Leadership
Leadership

Maybe continuum‌ can help. He's an expert in data recovery. Contact information can be found on his profile page.

André

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continuum
Immortal
Immortal

Hi
with ESXi 5.1 you have a decent chance to recover your files.
To give you an estimation I need the first 1536 MB of the VMFS-volume. Feel free to contact me via skype - see my signature.
Ulli


________________________________________________
Do you need support with a VMFS recovery problem ? - send a message via skype "sanbarrow"
I do not support Workstation 16 at this time ...

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