If you have the -flat.vmdk but the small descriptor file is missing, the hypervisor cannot attach the disk. You must generate a new descriptor.
Log into your ESXi host via an SSH client like . You may need to enable SSH under the Security Profile settings in your vSphere client first. 2. Identify Disk Specifications vmware recover flat vmdk
Note: In some cases, the file browser may not see the -flat.vmdk if the descriptor is missing. If this happens, proceed to Section 6 (Recreating the Descriptor). If you have the -flat
VMware provides the vmkfstools command to generate a new, matching descriptor file. vmware recover flat vmdk
: Most reliable for ESXi environments. You use command-line tools to create a new descriptor that points to your existing data.