How to Avoid Data Loss on NAS Asustor DRIVESTOR 2 Pro and Retrieve Deleted Files

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Asustor DRIVESTOR 2 Pro
• How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
  • Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images
  • Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?
  • RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID

Conventional hard drives store user data by writing it sequentially across the disk surface, which means an entire file is typically located on a single drive. In contrast, when data is written to a RAID array, each file is split into multiple fragments. These fragments are then distributed and written in sequence across all the drives in the array. Depending on the configuration, fragment sizes can range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so every file is physically stored across several disks at once.

This approach significantly increases read and write performance — after all, writing two halves of a 1 GB file to two drives simultaneously is much faster than writing the full 1 GB to a single disk. However, this same mechanism makes file recovery far more complex.

Different RAID levels use different methods to distribute and protect data. On top of that, manufacturers like Asustor often add their own proprietary structures and variations. As a result, data can be written to disks in many different formats, and each requires a specific approach during recovery.

How can data be recovered from a NAS Asustor DRIVESTOR 2 Pro device after a malfunction or data loss event?

To recover data from a NAS Asustor DRIVESTOR 2 Pro device after a malfunction or data loss event, you can follow these steps:

1. Identify the cause of the malfunction: Determine if the issue is hardware-related (e.g., failed hard drives, power supply, or motherboard) or software-related (e.g., corrupted file system, firmware issue, or accidental deletion).
2. Hardware troubleshooting: If the issue is hardware-related, check the connections, power supply, and replace any faulty components. If the hard drives are damaged, you may need professional data recovery services.
3. Software troubleshooting: If the issue is software-related, try the following steps:

a. Check the network connectivity: Ensure that the NAS device is connected to the network properly and can be accessed by other devices.

b. Update firmware: Check for firmware updates on the manufacturer's website and update the NAS device to the latest version. This may fix any software bugs or compatibility issues.

c. Check disk health: Use the NAS management interface to check the health status of the hard drives. If any drive shows errors or warnings, it may need to be replaced.

d. Rebuild RAID array: If the NAS device uses RAID for data redundancy, try rebuilding the RAID array using the management interface. This process may vary depending on the RAID level used.

e. Data recovery software: If the file system is corrupted or files are accidentally deleted, you can use data recovery software like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or Disk Drill to scan the NAS device and recover lost data. Install the software on a separate computer and connect the NAS device as an external drive.

1. Professional data recovery services: If the above steps do not resolve the issue or if the data is critical and cannot be recovered using software, consider contacting professional data recovery services. They have specialized tools and expertise to recover data from faulty NAS devices.

Remember to always have a backup strategy in place to prevent data loss in the future. Regularly backup your data to an external storage device or cloud storage to minimize the impact of any future malfunctions or data loss events.

How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS DRIVESTOR 2 Pro can be accessed over the network, you still need to remove its hard disks and connect them directly to a Windows PC. Only then can the recovery software properly scan and analyze the drives. Follow these steps:

1. Power off the NAS and disconnect it from the power source.

   WARNING! Before removing any drives, carefully read the device manual. Improper actions may damage both the NAS enclosure and the hard disks in the RAID array.

2. Remove the hard disks one by one, gently sliding each drive out of its slot. Remember that hard disks are highly sensitive: any impact or drop can cause serious physical damage.

3. Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.

4. Connect the drives to your computer. In this video, we explain which ports you can use to connect hard disks and what to do if your PC does not have enough free connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Asustor DRIVESTOR 2 Pro. Each hard disk in the array contains technical metadata describing how files were written. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery analyzes this metadata, automatically reconstructs the damaged array, and provides access to its contents. After that, you can browse the recovered disk and save your files. The program can also restore files that were accidentally deleted from the network drive.

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How to recover data from a Asustor

DRIVESTOR 2 Pro has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• Ext2;
• Ext3;
• Ext4;

How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images

This utility allows you to create a complete copy of a disk and work with the disk image instead of the physical drive. This approach helps protect your data from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Additional data loss caused by bad sectors;
• User errors.

To create a disk image, follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.

2. In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.

3. When the Image Creation Wizard opens, select whether you want to save the entire disk or only a specific region. Adjust the settings and click Next.

   

4. Choose the directory where the image will be saved. You may select any available disk connected to your PC or upload the image via FTP.

   

Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?

The Asustor DRIVESTOR 2 Pro network-attached storage keeps OS Linux operating system files on a separate RAID 1 (mirrored) array. Usually, all NAS systems create several volumes on every hard disk, and the first of them takes up to 2 Gb of space. This is where operating system files are stored. Other volumes are united into a RAID array where user’s data is written.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison