1. Server is shut down. Server contain VMs and Data within 1 Hard Drive.
2. Turned on next day...."Missing Operating System"
3. Called VMWare Support, representative told to use ESXi 4.0 install CD to do a (R) Repair and said data will be saved.
4. Did the (R) Repair option. Boot into ESX console.
5. Huge problem: 1.3TB drive became Free Space and Unallocated. Partition table is gone.
6. Contacted VMWare support again, rep asked to use the same ESXi 4.0 install CD and use Alt+F1
7. ran ls -vmfs/volumes and got nothing. Rep said there nothing she can do now unless we can find some ways to recover vmdk and vmx files. We asked how can we retrieve the flat.vmdk file and other? Ans: Not sure. Issue is escalated.
Solution:
Took a while but A miracle happened when I got in touch with an expert from Germany and Ulli is his name. Believe it or not a lot of poeple have VMDK files either deleted or corrupted and went to Ulli and got it resolved. So gave it a try and yes he is an expert.
http://sanbarrow.com/
We used Skype between here in the USA and his place Winterberg, Germany and within 1 hr he helped us to retrieve all the vmdk and vmx files with other directories. Thank God for his existence. So anything relate to VMDK, Ulli is your guy! Just thought I share this valuable individual.
Thank you
kevintran6227
