You double-click a virtual machine's disk file and get an error, or the drive mounts but half your folders are gone. A damaged Virtual Hard Disk can take a whole VM's worth of data with it. VHD Files Recovery (listed by the vendor as VHD Recovery) is built to scan those damaged VHD and VHDX files and pull the contents back out.
Quick facts
- Formats: VHD and VHDX
- Platforms: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP/2000/98/NT/95, plus Windows Server 2016/2012/2008 R2/2008/2003 R2/2003
- Price: Single User License $99; Corporate License $199; Technician License $299
- Trial: free version scans, repairs and previews damaged VHD data, but saving is limited. The vendor's pages describe the limit as 250 MB in one place and as no saving at all in another.
What causes VHD damage
The vendor lists these common causes: faulty physical storage, virus attacks, corruption of virtual drives such as IDE, SATA or SCSI, and accidental deletion of files.
Key features
Three scan modes, from fast to thorough
Quick Scan handles minor corruption and is the fastest. Extensive Scan is for severely damaged files and runs a deeper scan, and you use it when Quick Scan fails. File Trace is the slowest and most powerful. It does a raw recovery for when everything else fails.
Recovers many file types from inside the disk
The tool repairs images, video and audio files, documents, archives and database files. It also recovers FAT and NTFS file systems within VHD/VHDX files.
Works with disks from Hyper-V and Windows
It handles VHD/VHDX files created in Windows 10, 8 and 7, Windows Server 2008 through 2016, and Hyper-V.
Preview before you save
You select the damaged disk and a partition, then preview the recovered data before saving it to a destination you choose. A fast search option can scan an entire partition, and a Show/Hide option lets you check on the process.
Who it's for
It suits Hyper-V admins, IT technicians and anyone with a damaged virtual disk. The vendor says it needs no specific technical skills. The Technician License is the edition aimed at people who recover data for others.
Pros and cons
- Pro: three escalating scan modes cover minor to severe damage.
- Pro: handles both VHD and VHDX.
- Pro: you can scan and preview in the free version before paying.
- Con: it is Windows-only.
- Con: the free version limits how much you can save, so you need a paid license for a full recovery.
- Con: File Trace is the slowest mode.
FAQs
Can I try it before buying?
Yes. The free version lets you scan, repair and preview damaged VHD data, but it restricts saving.
Which scan mode should I start with?
Start with Quick Scan. Move to Extensive Scan if it fails, and use File Trace as the last resort.
Does it support VHDX?
Yes, the vendor describes it as repairing damaged VHD/VHDX files.
Which editions are there?
Single User ($99), Corporate ($199) and Technician ($299) licenses.
System requirements
- Pentium class processor
- 64 MB RAM
- 50 MB of free disk space for installation
- Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP/2000/98/NT/95 or Windows Server 2016/2012/2008 R2/2008/2003 R2/2003