If the VM won't boot but the disk is readable:

| Severity | Action | |----------|--------| | Minor (descriptor only) | vmkfstools -x repair | | Moderate (flat disk corruption) | Clone with vmkfstools -i | | Severe (snapshot chain failure) | Clone chain to a new VMDK | | Unrecoverable via tools | Use third-party recovery tools |

When facing VMDK errors, the source of corruption typically falls into one of two categories: Descriptor File Corruption

vmkfstools -x check /path/to/your.vmdk

By following these methods and taking preventive measures, you can effectively repair VMDK file corruption in ESXi and minimize the risk of data loss and downtime.