How to Fix: Virtual Disk is not Accessible on the Host

Are you trying to open a virtual virtual machine but are unable to access it? Receives an error message “virtual disk is not accessible on the host”? How do I solve this error?

Don’t worry we are here to solve this error. In this section, you will get to know about this error and an explanation to solve this error with some smart tricks and methods to handle the virtual disk file error.

In the beginning, I would like to tell you about the files which are involved with this error. The virtual machine uses three-four types of the file format to save the data in their database namely .vmdk, .vhd, .vdi, .vhdx. These file formats are the most common formats for storing the data in the virtual hard disk of the virtual machine.

The data in these files are at a high risk of corruption when these virtual files are no longer safe from corruption. So let’s know how to save your valuable data from corruption and repair your inaccessible virtual machine.

How virtual disk is not accessible on the host error occurs?

If you’re encountering the “virtual disk is not accessible on the host” error, it may be due to corruption in your VMDK (Virtual Machine Disk) file. VMware provides a utility called vmware-vdiskmanager that can assist in repairing such issues. Follow these steps carefully:

As the data in the VHD or VMDK files are sometimes prone to corruption which makes the VHD or VMDK file corrupted. And which in results many times makes the whole virtual hard disk inaccessible.

Due to these unpredictable errors in the virtual disk files, the virtual machine gets damaged from inside and when you try to access it then it throws an error in the form of the virtual disk is not accessible.

What makes virtual disk files corrupted?

There are various facts which are knowingly or unknowingly happens with the virtual hard disk files that become the reason in making the virtual disk data corrupted. Some of the reasons have been listed below:

• Virus attack.
• Wrong and force shut down of the system.
• Human errors.
• Accidental deletion of important files and folders.
• Cleaning the system registry.
• Disk management in an improper way.
• Forceful termination of the virtual files.

If you have performed any of the above-mentioned mistakes which make your VHD or VMDK files corrupted then most of the times you have face the virtual machine is no accessible on the host error which can also cost you in losing your important VMDK virtual data.

How to repair the VMDK file manually.

You can fix your VMware VMDK file by using these listed steps to do so. This will help you to manage your VMDK file which then automatically removes the virtual disk error from your system.

• Press the Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
• Type cmd and press Enter to launch the Command Prompt.
• Use the cd command to change directories. The default installation path is typically:
  “cd C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Virtual Disk Development Kit\bin“
  Note: If you installed the VMware Virtual Disk Development Kit in a different location, adjust the path accordingly.
• Now type the command “VMware-vsdiskmanager.exe”-R along with the path of your corrupt virtual machine disk file.
• Execute the following command to repair the corrupted VMDK file:
  “vmware-vsdiskmanager.exe -R “full\path\to\your\corrupt.vmdk“
• Replace "full\path\to\your\corrupt.vmdk" with the actual file path of your corrupted VMDK file. For example:
  “vmware-vsdiskmanager.exe -R “C:\Virtual Machines\MyVM\MyDisk.vmdk“
• The utility will scan and attempt to repair the VMDK file. This process may take some time, depending on the size of the disk and the extent of the corruption.
• Once the process is complete, try accessing your virtual machine to see if the issue has been resolved.
  

Note: Use this manual method if you have enough technical knowledge as a minor mistake can cost you a large amount of damage to your virtual hard disk and all the important data may vanish from the hard disk.

Last word

So if you want to save your VMDK files data and want to access your virtual machine again then you can follow the above-mentioned trick. And if you are not sure of using this manual method then you can use the third party VMDK recovery software which is the easiest way to get rid of the virtual disk is not accessible on the host error and to repair VMDK files and to save your virtual data back to you after corruption.

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Also read: How to solve virtual machine error 32788