A method and apparatus for creating and utilizing a map of files related to a virtual disk of a virtual machine. In one embodiment, the method comprises inspecting file system entries within at least one volume of the virtual disk; converting information related to file system entries into a map, where the map comprises file locations within a physical disk for the files related to the virtual disk. In another embodiment, the method comprises examining a map of an image of at least a portion of a virtual disk, accessing the image, extracting and utilizing at least one file. In yet another embodiment, the method comprises creating a map related to an image representing stored files in a virtual disk, storing the map and the image, selecting a file, examining the map, accessing the image, extracting the file from the image and restoring the file to a storage system.