Introduction

Get-VM | Where-Object {
($_ | Get-HardDisk).Count -gt 3
} | Select Name, PowerState, @{N="DiskCount";E={($_ | Get-HardDisk).Count}} | Export-Csv "C:ReportsDiskAudit.csv" -NoTypeInformation

Diagram: Virtual Disk and ISO Cleanup Flow

Step 5: (Optional) Remove Orphaned VMDKs

In this article, you will learn to:

  • Identify VMs with multiple virtual disks
  • Find disks not attached to a VM (orphaned VMDKs)
  • Unmount ISO files from VM CD drives
  • Export cleanup candidates to a review CSV
  • Perform safe disk and ISO removal operations

Step 1: Find VMs with More Than One Virtual Disk

Get-VM | Where-Object {
($_ | Get-HardDisk).Count -gt 1
} | Select Name, @{N="DiskCount";E={($_ | Get-HardDisk).Count}} | Export-Csv "C:ReportsVMs_Multiple_Disks.csv" -NoTypeInformation

Step 2: Detect Unused or Orphaned VMDK Files

Get-VM | Get-CDDrive | Where-Object {$_.IsoPath -ne $null} | Select Parent, IsoPath

Get-VM | Where-Object {
($_ | Get-HardDisk).Count -gt 1
} | Select Name, @{N="DiskCount";E={($_ | Get-HardDisk).Count}}

Get-Datastore -Name "Datastore1" | Get-ChildItem -Recurse | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*.vmdk"}

Remove-Item -Path "[Datastore1] VMName/VMName_2.vmdk" -Confirm:$false

Get-VM | Get-CDDrive | Where-Object {$_.IsoPath -ne $null} | Set-CDDrive -NoMedia -Confirm:$false

Step 4: Export Potential Cleanup Items

Over time, environments accumulate unused virtual disks and mounted ISOs that consume critical datastore space. Identifying and removing them manually is time-consuming and error-prone. PowerCLI allows you to detect these stale resources and clean them up automatically or in a controlled review process.

Get-Datastore -Name "Datastore1" | Get-ChildItem -Recurse | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*.vmdk"} | Select Name, DatastoreFullPath, Length

Use Case: Monthly Storage Reclamation Job

  1. Identify all ISOs still mounted
  2. Export list of VMs with 3+ disks
  3. List all VMDK files not attached to powered-on VMs
  4. Unmount ISOs
  5. Schedule reports to email storage admins

Troubleshooting

Issue Solution
CD-ROM remains mounted after script Use -NoMedia and confirm VMware Tools is working
Cannot delete VMDK File may be locked or still attached to an active snapshot
Get-ChildItem fails on datastore Ensure datastore browser access is enabled and PowerCLI has permissions
VMs not reporting IsoPath Requires up-to-date VMware Tools for guest metadata

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