How to Fix Multiple Damaged Disks in a NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-CE500LU2 RAID Array

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-CE500LU2
• 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 Buffalo 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 file system corruption impact data integrity on NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-CE500LU2 devices?

File system corruption on NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-CE500LU2 devices can have a significant impact on data integrity. Here are a few ways it can affect the device:

1. Data Loss: File system corruption can result in the loss of data stored on the NAS drive. This can happen due to the inability to access or retrieve files, or even due to the complete corruption of the file system structure.
2. Inaccessibility: Corruption can render the NAS drive inaccessible, making it impossible to access any files or folders stored on it. This can lead to a complete loss of data until the corruption is resolved.
3. Data Corruption: The integrity of the data itself can be compromised during file system corruption. This means that even if the files are accessible, they may contain errors or be unreadable, resulting in data loss or incorrect information.
4. Unreliable Backups: If the NAS drive is used for backup purposes, file system corruption can affect the reliability of the backups. Corrupted files or an inaccessible file system may prevent successful backups, leaving the data vulnerable to permanent loss.
5. System Instability: File system corruption can cause the NAS device to become unstable, leading to frequent crashes, freezes, or other performance issues. This instability can further increase the risk of data loss or corruption.

To mitigate the impact of file system corruption on data integrity, it is important to regularly back up the data stored on the NAS drive to an alternative storage location. Additionally, implementing regular file system checks and maintenance, such as running disk checks and ensuring the device firmware is up to date, can help identify and resolve any file system issues before they lead to data loss or corruption.

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

Although the NAS Drive Station HD-CE500LU2 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 Buffalo Drive Station HD-CE500LU2. 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 Buffalo

Drive Station HD-CE500LU2 has 1 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• exFAT, VFAT, FAT 12 / 16 / 32;
• NTFS / ReFS;
• APFS / HFS+;
• Ext2 / 3 / 4 / ReiserFS / XFS / UFS / ZFS / Btrfs;
• VMFS / HikvisionFS;

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 Buffalo Drive Station HD-CE500LU2 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