How to recover corrupted Eclipse workspace?

When workspace is damaged and Eclipse cannot start, even using the -clean option, removing single file workspace/.metadata/.plugins/org.eclipse.core.resources/.snap may help (source: comments to article https://web.archive.org/web/20200517003712/https://letsgetdugg.com/2009/04/19/recovering-a-corrupt-eclipse-workspace/).

Update: when Eclipse 4.X cannot start after crash, try to start with -clearPersistedState option; if it didn't help then remove file workspace/.metadata/.plugins/org.eclipse.e4.workbench/workbench.xmi (sources: https://www.eclipse.org/forums/index.php/m/1269045/ https://www.eclipse.org/forums/index.php/t/522428/ https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=404873). Note: you'll lose configuration of your perspective/views/tabs.

Update: Subversive plugin may be responsible for inability to start Eclipse with corrupted metadata. If you have Subversive plugin installed, update it to latest build (at least 0.7.9.I20120210-1700) from update-site. Related bugs 372621 and 370374 were fixed by Subversive developers.

You should be able to start your workspace after deleting the following file: .metadata.plugins\org.eclipse.e4.workbench\workbench.xmi as shown here :

I have some experience at recovering from eclipse when it becomes unstartable for whatever reason, could these blog entries help you?

link (archived)

also search for "cannot start eclipse" (I am a new user, I can only post a single hyperlink, so I have to just ask that you search for the second :( sorry)

perhaps those allow you to recover your workspace as well, I hope it helps.

I haven't been able to avoid rebuilding workspace occasionally (one or twice over several years of using eclipse). Delete the .metedata and rebuild.