A virtual machine that won't power on, a VMDK that's gone corrupt, or a snapshot chain that's broken can lock away a server that only exists as a file. In most cases the data inside is still recoverable — the virtual disk or datastore just needs rebuilding properly. We recover VMware, Hyper-V, Proxmox and every other platform for organisations across Belfast and Northern Ireland, in-house.
$ bdr diagnose /dev/vmfs → Host: VMware ESXi · VMFS · VMDK → Status: VM DELETED — removed from inventory → Client: confidential · Belfast $ bdr engineer-working → Datastore: scanned · blocks intact → VMDK: rebuilt from datastore → Guest: NTFS mounted · files back $ bdr verify → ✓ virtual machine — 1.4 TB → ✓ SQL databases — restored → ✓ VM recovered — data back
When a VM misbehaves the temptation is to delete snapshots, consolidate, or roll back — and on a broken chain any of those can discard the very deltas that hold your latest data. Don't create new snapshots either. Leave the datastore as it is, stop the host writing to it if you can, and let us assess the chain before anything changes.
Virtual machines fail through their disks, their snapshots, their datastores and the storage beneath them. These are the situations we recover most.
We recover every hypervisor and virtual disk format, on every datastore and the storage beneath it.
VMware ESXi and vSphere, Hyper-V, Proxmox VE, Citrix XenServer, XCP-ng, VirtualBox, KVM and Nutanix AHV — across VMDK, VHDX, VHD, VDI and QCOW2 disks, on VMFS, CSV, NFS and vSAN datastores, including snapshots, checkpoints and thin-provisioned and differencing disks.
Virtual machine recovery works down through the layers — datastore, virtual disk, snapshot chain, guest file system. We recover from a copy of the storage, rebuild whichever layer failed, and reassemble your VM and the data inside it, never touching the live datastore under strain.
We identify the hypervisor, datastore, disk format and snapshot chain, and establish what failed and whether the storage beneath is healthy — then send a written quote.
We image the datastore or the disks beneath it read-only — rebuilding a failed RAID, NAS or SAN first if needed — so the live storage is never altered.
From the image we repair or rebuild the VMFS, CSV or NFS datastore and locate the virtual machines and their disks within it.
We repair the VMDK or VHDX, rebuild a broken snapshot chain, and merge the deltas into a single consistent virtual disk.
We open the reconstructed disk and recover the guest's files — repairing its file system, or its SQL, Exchange or other databases, where they're damaged.
Recovered VMs and data are checked to confirm they open and are intact, and we can show you what's come back before anything is returned.
Your VMs and data come back as usable virtual disks or extracted files, on storage sized to the recovery or via secure transfer — whichever suits you.
From a deleted VM to a corrupt VMDK, a broken snapshot chain or a datastore lost when its RAID failed, we recover virtual machines on every platform — rebuilding the layer that broke, always from a copy of the storage.
Give us a few details about what went wrong and an engineer will come back to you, usually inside one working day.
We will get back to you soon. If it is urgent, call 028 9002 0144.
A free assessment first, then a fixed written quote before any work begins. Virtual machine recovery starts at £800 + VAT for a single VM or virtual disk on healthy storage, with a full datastore or host of multiple VMs from £1,200 and quoted per case, and no fix, no fee on most jobs — where disks need physical repair, a 50% deposit covers parts and bench time, with the balance only on success.
A representative selection of virtual machine recoveries across different platforms and faults — configurations and outcomes shown, customer details kept private.
The VM had been removed but its blocks were untouched. We imaged the datastore, located the VMDK, and recovered the virtual machine intact.
A missing AVHDX delta had broken the chain. We reassembled the checkpoints and merged them into a consistent VHDX, recovering the latest state.
A storage event had corrupted the VMFS header. We rebuilt the datastore from an image and recovered all the virtual machines on it.
A crash had left the VHDX unbootable. We repaired the virtual disk, recovered into the guest, and repaired its NTFS to reach the data.
A migration had left the QCOW2 disk half-written. We rebuilt it from the pieces and recovered the guest's data in full.
The array beneath the datastore had dropped offline. We rebuilt the RAID 5 from images, recovered the VMFS, and restored the VMs.
Post or drop in your device for a free diagnostic, with a note on what happened — an engineer reviews it and confirms your exact quote in writing before any work begins.
First step: get the device onto our Belfast bench. Wrap it well, tuck your contact details in the box, and post it over — the diagnostic costs nothing, and you’ll have a firm written price to approve before we touch a single sector.
Posting it? A tracked, insured service is best. Dropping it off instead? You’re welcome Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm — please still pack the device as above.
Not ready to send anything yet? Use the form to describe the fault in your own words and one of the engineers will come back with a quote tailored to your situation.
We will get back to you soon. If it is urgent, call 028 9002 0144.
The questions we're asked most about virtual machine recovery.
Usually, yes. A deleted VM's virtual disk stays on the datastore until its space is overwritten, so if the datastore is left alone the chances are good. We image it, locate the VMDK or VHDX, and recover the machine. The sooner the host stops writing to that datastore, the better.
Usually not. A VM that won't start most often has a broken snapshot chain, a corrupt virtual disk, or a datastore problem — the data inside is typically intact. We rebuild whichever layer failed and recover the machine or the files within it.
Yes — it's one of the most common VM jobs we do. A missing or corrupt delta breaks the chain and can seem to roll the VM back, but the data is usually still in the pieces. We reassemble the chain and merge the deltas into a single consistent disk. Don't delete snapshots or consolidate first.
Yes. A virtual disk corrupted by a crash or storage fault can usually be repaired, and where it can't be fully rebuilt we recover into the guest and pull the files and databases out directly. VMDK, VHDX, VHD, VDI and QCOW2 are all recoverable.
VM recovery starts at £800 + VAT for a single virtual machine or disk on healthy storage, with a full datastore or host of multiple VMs from £1,200 and quoted per case after the free assessment. There's no fix, no fee on most jobs; where disks need physical repair, a deposit covers parts and bench time, with the balance only on success.
On most jobs, yes — no recovery, no fee. Where disks beneath the VMs need physical repair, a deposit covers those parts and the bench time; the balance is still only charged on success. We're clear about which applies before any work begins.
All the common ones — VMware ESXi and vSphere, Hyper-V, Proxmox VE, XenServer, XCP-ng, VirtualBox, KVM and Nutanix AHV — across VMDK, VHDX, VHD, VDI and QCOW2 disks, on VMFS, CSV, NFS and vSAN datastores.
Yes — this is a big part of what we do. When the RAID, NAS or SAN beneath a datastore fails, we rebuild that underlying storage first, then recover the datastore and the virtual machines on it. It's the same reconstruction work, one layer down.
Yes. Once the virtual disk is reassembled, we recover into the guest and pull out its files — and repair the guest file system, or its SQL, Exchange or other databases, where they're corrupt. The recovery doesn't stop at the VM; it reaches the data inside.
A single VM on healthy storage is often done in 3 to 7 working days; a full datastore, or one that needs the underlying array rebuilt first, typically takes 7 to 14. The assessment is usually finished within a couple of days, and we can prioritise business-critical cases.
If they're on removable disks, deliver or post them to our Belfast office fully insured, numbered by slot. If the VMs sit on a RAID, NAS or SAN, send those disks as a set. We're open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm — include your contact details so we can book it in and quote after the free assessment.
A free assessment, fixed written pricing from £800 + VAT, and no fix no fee on most jobs — every hypervisor and virtual disk format recovered in-house, right here in Belfast. Don't delete snapshots or consolidate — leave the datastore and send it in.