How to open vmdk image. How to open a .VMDK file? Best PC operating systems

What is this file - VMDK?

Files with the .VMDK extension contain data in the form of a virtual disk representing the contents of the hard disk of a VMware virtual machine. Accessing a VMDK disk is possible in the same way as accessing a physical disk using virtualization software. Disk configuration, such as fixed or growing capacity, can be done using the Virtual Disk Manager utility. Earlier versions of the software used the .DSK extension.

Naming VMDK files can be tricky. The main disk file is just name.vmdk, but it can be saved in parts, where each part of the file has a name -s [

Program(s) that can open the file .VMDK

Windows

MacOS

linux

How to open VMDK files

If a situation has arisen in which you cannot open a VMDK file on your computer, there may be several reasons. The first and at the same time the most important (the most common) is the lack of a suitable application that supports VMDK among those that are installed on your computer.

The easiest way to solve this problem is to find and download the appropriate application. The first part of the task has already been completed - you will find programs for servicing the VMDK file below. Now it is enough to download and install the appropriate application.

This site also defines other possible causes causing the problems with VMD files.

Possible problems with the VMDK format files

The inability to open and work with the VMDK file should not mean at all that we do not have the appropriate software installed on our computer. There may be other problems that also block our ability to operate the VMware Virtual Disk Format file. Below is a list of possible problems.

• Corruption of a VMD file which is being opened
• Incorrect links to the VMDK file in registry entries.
• Accidental deletion of the description of the VMDK extension from the Windows registry
• Incomplete installation of an application that supports the VMDK format
• The VMDK file which is being opened is infected with an undesirable malware.
• There is not enough space on the computer to open the VMDK file.
• Drivers of equipment used by the computer to open a VMDK file are out of date.

If you are sure that all of the above reasons are absent in your case (or have already been ruled out), the VMDK file should work with your programs without any problems. If the problem with the VMDK file has not been solved, it may be due to the fact that in this case there is also another rare problem with the VMDK file. In this case, only the help of a specialist remains.

If you have a VMDK (Virtual Machine Disk) file that contains one or more VMware virtual machine partitions, you can mount it as a disk in the Windows operating system. There are several ways to connect a vmdk disk to Window.

Connecting a vmdk file in Windows Explorer

The Windows operating system has built-in support for VMDK files. If you are using Windows 7 or higher operating system, you can mount the VMDK file directly through Windows Explorer.

To do this, you need to go to the directory where the VMDK file is stored. In Windows Explorer, right-click on the file and select "Map Virtual Disk".

In the "Map Virtual Disk" window, select the letter that will be assigned to the disk and click the "OK" button.

To disconnect a virtual disk, right-click on the disk and select "Disconnect Virtual Disk".

VMware Workstation is desktop virtualization software from VMware. It has a built-in function for connecting vmdk images - "Map Virtual Disks", with which you can also mount and open the VMDK file. If you cannot open the VMDK file using the first method we described (Windows Explorer), then with the help of VMware Workstation you will be able to do this for sure.

It's quite simple, go to the "File" menu and select "Map Virtual Disks ..." from the drop-down list.

Mounting the VMDK using the vSphere Disk Development Kit

vmware-mount is a console utility that you can use to mount VMDK disks without using a GUI. This utility is included in the developer's package vSphere Disk Development Kit, so you'll need to install it to use it.

To mount the VMDK file (saved in the C:\temp directory) in read-only mode, use the following command:

vmware-mount.exe X: “C:\Temp\TestVM.vmdk”

If the VMDK file contains more than one partition, you can use the /v:x option to mount other volumes:

vmware-mount.exe /v:2 X: “C:\Temp\TestVM.vmdk”

If you need write capability, use the "/m:w" option. This can be used, for example, if you need to replace a corrupted system file.

vmware-mount.exe /m:w X: “C:\Temp\TestVM.vmdk”

If you want to display all connected virtual disks, you must use the option /L:

vmware-mount.exe /L

The command line is very easy to use and quite functional.

Using OSFMount to mount vmdk

OSFMount is a free third-party utility that mounts not only ISO image files, but also VMDK files. It works on almost all versions of Windows.

This utility is quite easy to use. It is enough to click the "Mount new ..." button located at the bottom of the window, select the vmdk file and specify the connection parameters.

The table below provides useful information about the .vmdk file extension. He answers questions such as:

• What is a file. vmdk?
• What software do I need to open the . vmdk?
• Like a file. vmdk be opened, edited or printed?
• How to convert. vmdk files to another format?

We hope you find this page a useful and valuable resource!

1 extensions and 0 aliases found in the database

✅ VMware Virtual Disk File

Description (in English):
VMDK file is a VMWare Virtual Disk File. VMware products use the VMDK(Virtual Machine Disk Format) file format to store a virtual machine's hard-disk images.

MIME type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic number: -

Sample: -

VMDK aliases:

VMDK related links:

VMDK related extensions:

VirtualBox Virtual Disk Image

VMware Virtual Machine Snapshot Metadata

Fast Virtual Disk

VMware Virtual Machine Snapshot State Data

VMware Virtual Machine Suspended State

VMware Virtual Machine Team Data

VMware Virtual Machine NVRAM Data

VMware Virtual Machine Configuration

VMware Virtual Machine Team Member Configuration

Other file types may also use the file extension .vmdk.

🚫 The .vmdk file extension is often given incorrectly!

According to Search on our site, these typos were the most common in the past year:

mdk , vmk , vdk , vmrk , vmd

Is it possible that the filename extension is incorrect?

We have found the following similar file extensions in our database:

🔴 Can't open .vmd file?

When you double-click a file to open it, Windows checks the file name extension. If Windows recognizes the filename extension, the file opens in the program that is associated with that filename extension. When Windows does not recognize the file name extension, the following message appears:

Windows cannot open this file:

Example.vmdk

To open this file, Windows needs to know which program you want to use to open it...

If you don't know how to set up file associations .vmdk, check .

🔴 Is it possible to change the file extension?

Changing the file name of the file extension is not a good idea. When you change the file extension, you change the way programs on your computer read the file. The problem is that changing the file extension does not change the file format.

If you have useful information about the file extension .vmdk, !

🔴 Rate our VMDK page

Please help us by rating our page VMDK in the 5 star rating system below. (1 star bad, 5 stars great)

When installed on a VHD virtual hard disk, the second Windows operating system is in no way inferior to the one that is located on another partition of the disk. On the contrary, the first has two significant advantages over the second. First of all, to install Windows on a VHD disk, there is no need to redistribute disk space if there is initially no extra empty disk partition for the second operating system.

A VHD disk is created as part of the Windows installation process using the command line, and with its help it is mounted into the system in order to be visible among the partitions for installing the system. Secondly, you can work with the second Windows installed on a virtual VHD disk either by directly loading it on the computer or using the tools of hypervisor programs.

Any operating system installed on a VHD can be opened inside programs and and work with them in exactly the same way as with any systems created by means of these programs. Moreover, both programs initially provide the ability to create operating systems using a VHD disk. VirtualBox openly allows you to select the VHD format when creating a virtual machine's hard disk. But in the VMware Workstation program, at least such a moment is provided, but there is no usable selection menu, as is the case with VirtualBox. Extension ". vhd" for the hard disk being created, you need to manually register, replacing the pre-installed ".vmdk" – native VMware Workstation virtual hard disk format .

The only point in which the VHD-disk will be inferior "native" VMware Workstation and VirtualBox software formats, respectively, VMDK and VDI, this is the use of disk space in full. Whereas virtual hard disks of programs - VMDK and VDI– compress virtual machine data to save space on a real computer. In particular, VMware Workstation virtual machines on a physical hard drive take up almost half the amount of space available to guest operating systems.

So, we have an operating system installed on a virtual VHD disk.

How to open it inside the main operating system using VMware Workstation and VirtualBox hypervisor programs?

Opening a VHD in

In the main window of VMware Workstation, we start the process of opening a new virtual machine. This can be done both using the visual button on the home tab of the program, and in the menu.

The wizard for creating a new virtual machine will start, and in its first window, click on the custom configuration type.

Click in the program version compatibility settings window.

We do not install the operating system, therefore, there can be no download source. Choose the third item – installing the system later. We press.

In our case, there is a VHD disk with Windows 8.1 installed, and we select it in the lists of operating systems and their versions. We press.

We name the virtual machine and indicate its location on the computer. Work files will be stored in the specified location . The VHD disk itself, of course, will be where it was. We press.

In our case, there are as many as four cores, so with a generous gesture from the master's shoulder, we will give two of them to the virtual machine. We press.

But a generous gesture in terms of RAM will not work. We select only the necessary minimum - 1 GB . We press.

Preset network type NAT suitable in our case. We press.

Do not change the controller type I/O. We press.

The same applies to the type of disk - leave the preset SCSI. We press.

Finally, we got to the point of changing the preset parameters. In the virtual disk selection window, we need the second option -. We press.

In the next window, click the button review and point the way to VHD file. By default, VMware Workstation does not want to see this file format , presenting only files of its own production. And to see the VHD file, in the explorer window you need to install option to display all files .

Having registered the path for placing the VHD disk, click .

The virtual machine setup is complete.

Let's return to the main window of VMware Workstation and see the new virtual machine in the list of existing ones. Let's launch it.

The Windows startup process will begin with the adaptation of the system to the conditions of the hypervisor. Drivers, system settings, Windows 8.1 Metro apps will be updated. In some cases, starting a virtual machine may be accompanied by a Windows Recovery Environment window. In this case, you just need to choose continued use of the system.

The system will boot soon.

Opening VHD disk in VirtualBox

In VirtualBox, the process of opening a VHD file is simpler. In the main window of the program, click the button. Then, in the first window of the launched wizard for creating a new virtual machine, set it name, choose operating system and her version. We press Next.

Specify RAM size. We press Next.

In the virtual hard disk selection window, as in the previous case, select using an existing drive. Using the browse button, specify the path to VHD file. We press.

We return to the main window of VirtualBox and start the newly created virtual machine.

VirtualBox will also adapt the guest operating system to its specific work - drivers will be installed, system settings will be applied, etc.

In a minute or two, in the program window, we will observe the same Windows installed on the VHD disk.

VMDK File Summary

VMDK files are associated with one file type(s) and can be viewed using VMware Workstation developed VMware. In general, this format is associated with four existing application(s) software(s). They usually have the format Virtual Machine Disk File. Most often, VMDK files are classified as Disk Image Files.

The VMDK file extension can be viewed on Windows, Linux, and Mac. They are supported primarily on desktops and some mobile platforms. The popularity rating of the VMDK file extension is "Low", which means that these files are generally not found in most of the user's file shares.

Interested in learning more about the VMDK file extension? In order to learn about the program that opens VMDK files, as well as other troubleshooting tips, it is recommended that you refer to the detailed file information provided below.

Popularity of File Types

File Rank

Activity

This file type is still relevant and is actively used by developers and application software. Although the original software of this file type may be overshadowed by a newer version (eg Excel 97 vs Office 365), this file type is still actively supported by the current version of the software. This process of interacting with an old operating system or an outdated version of software is also known as " backward compatibility».

File Status

Page Last updated

VMDK File Types

Association of the main VMDK file

VMDK

The VMDK file extensions are files associated with virtual disk files and it is created and used by VMware to run in a virtual machine. The VMDK files rise in size to a maximum of 2 GB as the data is added to the virtual disk. The .dsk extension is an early version of files created with VMware software.

Softwares that open Virtual Machine Disk File:

Compatible with:

Compatible with:

Compatible with:

Compatible with:

Try Universal File Viewer

In addition to the products listed above, we suggest you try the universal file viewer like FileViewPro. This tool can open over 200 different types of files, providing editing functionality for most of them.

License | | Terms |

Troubleshooting Opening VMDK Files

General problems opening VMDK files

VMware Workstation not installed

By double-clicking on the VMDK file, you can see a system dialog that says "Can't open this type of file". In this case, this is usually due to the fact that VMware Workstation for %%os%% is not installed on your computer. Since your operating system doesn't know what to do with this file, you won't be able to open it by double-clicking on it.

Advice: If you know of another program that can open the VMDK file, you can try opening the given file by selecting that application from the list of possible programs.

Wrong version of VMware Workstation installed

In some cases, you may have a newer (or older) version of the Virtual Machine Disk File, not supported by the installed version of the application. If you do not have the correct version of the VMware Workstation software (or any of the other software programs listed above), you may need to download a different version of the software or one of the other software applications listed above. This problem most often occurs when working in an older version of the application software with a file created in a newer version, which the old version cannot recognize.

Advice: Sometimes you can get a general idea of ​​the version of a VMDK file by right-clicking on the file and then choosing Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac OSX).

Summary: In any case, most of the problems that occur while opening VMDK files are due to the lack of the correct application software installed on your computer.

Install optional products - FileViewPro (Solvusoft) | License | Privacy Policy | Terms |

Other Causes of Problems Opening VMDK Files

Even if you already have VMware Workstation or other VMDK-related software installed on your computer, you may still encounter problems while opening Virtual Machine Disk Files. If you still have problems opening VMDK files, the reason may lie in other problems preventing these files from being opened. Such problems include (listed in order from most to least common):

• Incorrect links to VMDK files in the Windows registry ("phone book" of the Windows operating system)
• Accidental deletion of description VMDK file in the Windows registry
• Incomplete or incorrect installation application software associated with the VMDK format
• File corruption VMDK (problems with the Virtual Machine Disk File itself)
• VMDK infection malware
• Damaged or outdated device drivers hardware associated with a VMDK file
• Lack of sufficient system resources on the computer to open Virtual Machine Disk File format

Poll: How often do you encounter a file extension that you don't recognize?

Most popular operating systems

Event of the day

The lack of native compression, and no KTV or file tree for navigating file contents, make TAR files less convenient than many other archive options. However, using a compression program like gzip or bzip2 solves these dips.

How to Fix Problems Opening VMDK Files

If your computer has antivirus program can scan all files on the computer, as well as each file individually. You can scan any file by right-clicking on the file and selecting the appropriate option to scan the file for viruses.

For example, in this figure, file my-file.vmdk, then you need to right-click on this file, and in the file menu select the option "scan with AVG". Selecting this option will open AVG Antivirus and scan the file for viruses.

Sometimes an error can result from incorrect software installation, which may be due to a problem that occurred during the installation process. It may interfere with your operating system associate your VMDK file with the correct software application, influencing the so-called "file extension associations".

Sometimes simple reinstalling VMware Workstation may solve your problem by correctly linking VMDK to VMware Workstation. In other cases, file association problems may result from bad software programming developer, and you may need to contact the developer for further assistance.

Advice: Try updating VMware Workstation to the latest version to make sure you have the latest patches and updates.

This may seem too obvious, but often the VMDK file itself may be causing the problem. If you received a file via an email attachment or downloaded it from a website and the download process was interrupted (for example, by a power outage or other reason), the file may be corrupted. If possible, try getting a fresh copy of the VMDK file and try opening it again.

Carefully: A corrupted file can cause collateral damage to previous or pre-existing malware on your PC, so it's important to keep your computer up to date with an up-to-date antivirus.

If your VMDK file associated with the hardware on your computer to open the file you may need update device drivers associated with this equipment.

This problem usually associated with media file types, which depend on the successful opening of the hardware inside the computer, for example, sound card or video card. For example, if you are trying to open an audio file but cannot open it, you may need to update sound card drivers.

Advice: If when you try to open a VMDK file you get .SYS file related error message, the problem could probably be associated with corrupted or outdated device drivers that need to be updated. This process can be facilitated by using driver update software such as DriverDoc.

If the steps didn't solve the problem and you are still having problems opening VMDK files, this may be due to lack of available system resources. Some versions of VMDK files may require a significant amount of resources (eg. memory/RAM, processing power) to open properly on your computer. This problem is quite common if you are using fairly old computer hardware and a much newer operating system at the same time.

This problem can occur when the computer is having a hard time completing a task because the operating system (and other services running in the background) can consume too many resources to open VMDK file. Try closing all applications on your PC before opening Virtual Machine Disk File. By freeing up all available resources on your computer, you will ensure the best possible conditions for trying to open the VMDK file.

If you completed all the above steps and your VMDK file still won't open, you may need to run hardware upgrade. In most cases, even with older hardware versions, the processing power can still be more than enough for most user applications (unless you're doing a lot of CPU-intensive work like 3D rendering, financial/science modeling, or intense media work) . Thus, it is likely that your computer does not have enough memory(more commonly referred to as "RAM", or RAM) to perform the task of opening a file.

Try to upgrade your memory to see if it helps open the VMDK file. Today, memory upgrades are quite affordable and very easy to install, even for the average computer user. As a bonus, you you will probably see a nice performance boost while your computer is performing other tasks.

Install optional products - FileViewPro (Solvusoft) | License | Privacy Policy | Terms |