Ensure this line points to the correct parent (either the base -flat.vmdk or the previous delta in the chain).
If you are working on a VMware ESXi host, the most reliable way to recover data is to let the hypervisor mount the snapshot chain correctly. recover data from vmdk delta files
Recovering data from VMDK delta files is feasible in most cases where the delta file remains structurally intact, even if the parent is missing. Success depends on the extent of metadata corruption and availability of forensic tools. For critical data, professional recovery services using tools like UFS Explorer or Klennet are recommended over manual hex editing. Ensure this line points to the correct parent