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RAID and NAS recovery

RAID and NAS data recovery: don't rebuild yet.

When a RAID array or a NAS fails, the most common way to lose the data for good is the fix itself: a rebuild onto the wrong drive, a re-initialized volume, or drives put back in the wrong order. Stop, write down the configuration, and get the whole set to a lab. Per DriveSavers, RAID and NAS recovery is one of their specialties.

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What to do right now

  1. Don't rebuild, re-initialize, or create a new volume. If the controller or NAS offers to rebuild or initialize, decline. A rebuild onto a stale or failing drive can overwrite good data.
  2. Don't run file system repair. CHKDSK, fsck, and NAS repair functions write to the array.
  3. Label every drive with its slot number before removing anything, and keep the order. Include drives that were marked as failed: they may hold data the others need.
  4. Write down the configuration. The RAID level, the number of drives, the controller or NAS make and model, and what happened just before the failure. Photos of error messages help.
  5. Power down instead of retrying. Repeated mount and rebuild attempts stress drives that may already be failing.

Common RAID and NAS failures

A second drive fails during a rebuild

A rebuild reads every sector of the remaining drives. If another drive is weak, it can fail partway through and take the array offline.

Controller or NAS failure

The drives may be fine while the controller, the NAS unit, or its configuration has failed. The data is still on the drives, laid out in a pattern the lab reconstructs.

Re-initialized or deleted by mistake

A volume deleted, re-created, or initialized in error. Stop writing to it at once; the original data may still be on the drives.

RAID 0 with one failed drive

RAID 0 has no redundancy, so one failed drive takes the whole volume down. Recovery means repairing or imaging the failed drive and reassembling the stripe.

What to send

Send every drive from the array, labeled with its slot number, along with the configuration details. DriveSavers recovers multi-drive RAID and NAS systems for homes and businesses, and virtual machines stored on them. They walk you through exactly what to ship when you start the case.

Two ways to start

Path 1 · You know it's the drive

Go straight to DriveSavers

Array offline, volume missing, or a rebuild that failed: start a case with DriveSavers and use code DS22831 for 10% off. The evaluation is free and inbound shipping is free.

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Path 2 · You're not sure

Bring it to us first

One drive failed and the array is still running degraded? Call us before you replace anything. If the data matters and there is no current backup, getting a copy off comes before a rebuild.

Call (585) 388-8780

J&N referral code

10% off your DriveSavers recovery

Give DriveSavers this code when you start your case, or use our referral link, and they'll take 10% off. Mention it up front: it can't be added once a job is already underway.

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RAID and NAS recovery questions

Can data be recovered from a failed RAID array?
Often, yes, if the drives haven't been overwritten by a rebuild or re-initialization. A lab images each drive and reconstructs the array from the images. Per DriveSavers, RAID and NAS recovery is one of their specialties.
Should I rebuild a degraded RAID array?
Not before the data is safe. A rebuild reads every sector of the remaining drives, and a weak drive can fail partway through. If the data matters and there is no current backup, copy it off first, or talk to a lab if the array is already offline.
Can DriveSavers recover a Synology or QNAP NAS?
DriveSavers recovers NAS systems for homes and businesses. Send all of the drives, labeled with their bay numbers, and tell them the NAS make and model when you start the case.
Do I need to send all the drives?
Yes. Send every drive from the array, including any marked as failed, labeled with its slot number. The lab needs the full set to reconstruct how the data was laid out.
Can a RAID 0 array be recovered after a drive failure?
Often, if the failed drive can be repaired or imaged in a lab. RAID 0 has no redundancy, so every drive is needed to reassemble the volume.
What does data recovery cost?
It depends on the device and what's wrong with it, so DriveSavers quotes each case after a free evaluation. Per DriveSavers, if they can't recover your data, you don't pay for the recovery. Our code takes 10% off the recovery.
How do I get the 10% off?
Give DriveSavers our referral code, DS22831, when you start your case, or start it through the referral link on this page. The discount is applied by DriveSavers, so mention the code before the job begins; it can't be added to a case that's already underway.

Other recovery guides

Clicking or dead hard driveClicking, beeping, grinding, or not spinning. SSD and NVMeNot detected, wrong capacity, or files deleted. External drives, USB, and SD cardsNot recognized, dropped, or asking to format. Phones and tabletsWon't turn on, water damage, broken. Deleted and formattedDeleted files, formatted drives, lost partitions. RansomwareEncrypted files and a ransom note.

Start from the main page: data recovery through DriveSavers, or data recovery in Rochester, NY.

Near Rochester Rochester Fairport Penfield Pittsford Victor Webster Gates Greece Hilton

Stop the rebuild, start a case.

Start a case with DriveSavers using code DS22831 for 10% off, or call us before you replace a drive in a degraded array.

Start a case with DriveSavers Call (585) 388-8780

J&N Computer Services is a DriveSavers referral partner and may receive a referral fee when you use our code or link. DriveSavers performs all recoveries and sets its own pricing, terms, and turnaround.