Abstract: An illustrative method for validating integrity of a source server backup includes receiving, at a recovery server, data indicating a state of a data storage unit associated with a source server, creating a virtual hard drive image from the received data, and storing, in memory of the recovery server, the created virtual hard drive image. The method also includes booting a virtual machine using the stored hard drive image and mounting a second drive image to the virtual machine including tools facilitating access to an operating system running on the virtual machine by an application running on the recovery server. The tools are prevented from being installed in an operating system running on the source server.