You can access data that is contained within a VMDK without starting a virtual machine.

Using vmware-mount.pl:
http://www.vmware.com/support/reference/linux/loopback_linux.html

Keep in mind that using the above tool in linux 2.6 has issues and might bring the system into a dead lock state.

A simple guide for Linux for mounting a file as a loopback device without vmware-mount.pl:
http://www.cromoteca.com/en/blog/mountflatvmwarediskimagesunderlinux/index.html



A guide for Windows:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/VMwareDiskMount.pdf

Windows mounting tool download: http://www.vmware.com/download/eula/diskmount_ws_v55.html