Windows Server 2012 Cannot Read Disk As Guest OS In ESXI
Solution 1:
You can try attching the VMDK to other VM (maybe Windows Server 2019 or any Linux VM) and try mounting VMDK inside. Alternatively there are various options to get contents of the VMDK. Might help: https://www.vmwareblog.org/4-ways-extract-content-vmdk-vm-totally-dead/