How to Repair Corrupt VDI File on Windows – 8 Verified Steps

Virtual machines are the backbone for many businesses in internal operations and customer-facing apps. These systems go down when unexpected shutdowns happen due to power failure or forced restarts. When such events occur, it prevents proper shutdowns and compromises the system’s integrity. It may also lead to potential data loss. So, how do we repair VDI File? Before addressing the error, take a moment to identify the root cause. This blog provides a comprehensive guide to help you troubleshoot the issue. Also, for added security, we recommend using the VDI Recovery Software.

A VDI (Virtual Disk Image) file is a single file that acts like the hard drive for the virtual machine. It is primarily used by Oracle’s VM VirtualBox. 

Need to Repair Corrupt VDI File 

Before resolving the issue, it is essential to first examine the need as to why repair the corrupt VDI File. The following points highlight the same: 

• A damaged VDI File can lead to VM startup failure, affecting operations. Repairing it can restore access without having to reinstall from scratch.
• A corrupted virtual disk may risk the loss of critical data and applications. Repairing the file will ensure workflow continuity.
• Virtual machines play a central role in enterprise operations. A corrupt VDI File can halt the systems, and therefore, repairing it will help restore the operations quickly.
• Rebuilding a virtual machine from scratch can take a lot of time and is complex. Therefore, repairing the existing VDI File is a faster and efficient approach.
• Some of the repair tools not only repair the VDI File but also detect the source of corruption to prevent it next time.

How to Repair VDI File?

To fix this problem, users can try a manual method or choose an expert recovery software for greater efficiency. Let’s start with the manual methods first.

Clone the VDI File Using VirtualBox’s In-built Tools

Cloning the VDI File helps when there’s only a minor or small corruption. It is used when some contents of the file are still readable. 

Follow the steps given below and try to recover files from the corrupt VDI File:

1. First, open the Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Run this command to go to the VirtualBox directory:

cd “C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox”

3. Run this command to clone your VDI File:

VBoxManage clonehd “path\to\corrupt.vdi” “path\to\new.vdi” –format VDI

4. After that, replace the path where your actual files are stored.
5. Once the cloning process is completed, attach the new VDI File to the VM and try booting.

Limitations: This method does not fix the badly corrupted VDI File. It will also take more time to clone a large VD File. There’s no selective recovery option, it clones the entire file. 

Convert VDI to VHD and Mount on Windows to Repair VDI File

Converting VDI to VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) format helps to open the VDI files outside the VirtualBox. 

Go through the steps below to troubleshoot the problem:

1. Press Win+S to open the Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Navigate to the VirtualBox installation folder by running this command:

cd “C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox”

3. Run the following command to convert VDI to VHD:

VBoxManage clonehd “C:\Path\to\your.vdi” “C:\Path\to\new.vhd” –format VHD

4. Now, press Win+X and go to Disk Management.
5. Navigate to Action > Attach VHD. Then, browse the VHD File that was created and attach it.

Limitations: This method does not repair the corruption, rather only changes the format. Also, the larger the VDI File, the more time it will take to convert it to VHD format.

Repair Host Drive Errors Using CHKDSK to Repair Corrupt VDI File

This method scans and repairs the file system errors and rules out the hardware and storage-related issues. It also helps in preventing future corruption of the VDI File. 

Proceed with the steps to repair the corrupt VDI File:

1. Open File Explorer and right-click on the drive where your VDI File is located.
2. Select Properties > Tools > Error Checking > Check.
3. The error-checking tool gets opened up. 
4. Now, select Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.
5. Then, click on the Start button. 
6. Restart your Desktop. The CHKDSK will scan and repair the file system. 

Limitations: There’s a possibility of data loss while using CHKDSK. It is not suitable for severely damaged files and helps only with those that are still present on the drive. It does not recover the deleted VDI Files.

Expert Solution to Repair VDI File on Windows

VDI Recovery Software is a comprehensive tool for repairing corrupted or damaged VirtualBox VDI Files. It works with both dynamic and fixed disk formats and offers dual scanning modes. The user also has the option to choose from multiple recovery modes to target the severity of corruption. Moreover, it can recover deleted files from your VDI File, making it an all-in-one data recovery solution. 

Implement the steps outlined below to repair corrupt VDI File:

1. Download and install the VDI Recovery Software.
2. Now, choose from Dynamic Disk or Fixed Disk.
3. Click on the browse button, locate your corrupt VDI File, and open it.
4. Press Next to select the scanning mode.
5. Then, select the Volume to repair the VDI data and click on Next.
6. Choose the Recovery Mode and click Next.
7. Once the scanning process is done, preview the recovered data.
8. Next, choose the destination folder to save the recovered VDI File and then hit Ok.

Conclusion

Fixing a corrupted VDI File in Windows can be challenging, but with the right approach, recovery is possible. The solution depends on whether the user wants to repair the virtual machine or only recover the important data. The right solution depends on the severity of the corruption. In this blog, we have addressed both manual ways and an expert solution by using VDI Recovery software to repair VDI File. This software does the job in no time, irrespective of how badly the VDI File is damaged. It is also recommended to regularly back up the virtual machines and safely shut them down. 

Similar Article: Open VDI Files in VirtualBox.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q- Does CHKDSK fix corrupt files?

Ans- It is primarily used to repair file system errors. It also scans the parts of the disk that are damaged. CHKDSK doesn’t repair corrupted files or recover deleted files. It helps repair the overall health of your storage drive.

Q- Is it safe to delete the VDI files?

Ans- Yes, it is safe to delete the VDI File only if they are not in use by a virtual machine. Deleting a VDI File will remove all the files stored within it. Usually, users delete it to free up space. Before deleting it, check once if it is still being used or not. 

Related Post