How to Fix a NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-HS1.0TQ RAID Array with Several Faulty Disks

Contents

• Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?
• How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
  • Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • Safe recovery from disk images
  • Where are user’s files stored?
  • Comparison of software for RAID recovery

Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?

Conventional hard disks keep user’s data by writing it to their surface in a consecutive way, and this is how an entire file is stored on a single hard disk. However, when data is written to a RAID system, a file is divided into several parts. Then these parts are written consecutively to all hard disks within such array. The size of such parts may range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so each file is stored on several hard disks at the same time.

Such approach helps to speed up read and write operations, and it is evident that saving two parts of a file having the size of 1 GB to two hard disks simultaneously is much faster than saving the same 1 GB of data to one hard disk. However, this peculiarity makes file recovery more complicated.

Various RAID levels store information in different ways. Additionally, manufacturers like Buffalo also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.

How can a NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-HS1.0TQ device's network throughput or bandwidth capacity affect data transfer and potential loss?

The network throughput or bandwidth capacity of a NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-HS1.0TQ device can significantly impact data transfer and potential loss in the following ways:

1. Data Transfer Speed: A higher network throughput or bandwidth capacity allows for faster data transfer speeds. This means that large files or backups can be transferred more quickly, reducing the time required for data transfer and potential loss due to interruptions or errors.
2. Concurrent Users: A higher network throughput allows for more concurrent users to access and transfer data simultaneously without experiencing a significant decrease in transfer speeds. If the network is congested or the bandwidth capacity is low, multiple users accessing the NAS device simultaneously may lead to slower transfer speeds and potential data loss.
3. Multimedia Streaming: NAS devices are often used for streaming multimedia content such as videos or music. A higher network throughput ensures smoother streaming experiences without buffering or interruptions. Insufficient bandwidth capacity may result in buffering issues, degraded video quality, or audio interruptions, leading to potential loss of data or a poor user experience.
4. Remote Access: NAS devices offer remote access capabilities, allowing users to access their files and data from outside their local network. Higher network throughput enables faster remote access, ensuring quick and efficient file transfers. Inadequate bandwidth capacity may result in slow remote access speeds, making it difficult to transfer or access data remotely.
5. Data Loss Prevention: Inadequate network throughput or bandwidth capacity can increase the likelihood of data loss during transfers. Insufficient bandwidth may cause data packets to be dropped, resulting in incomplete or corrupted files. Additionally, slower transfer speeds increase the exposure time to potential network interruptions, increasing the risk of data loss during the transfer process.

To mitigate these potential issues, it is essential to ensure that the NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-HS1.0TQ device is connected to a network with sufficient bandwidth capacity. Upgrading the network infrastructure, such as using a Gigabit Ethernet connection or implementing Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms, can help optimize network throughput and minimize the risk of data loss during transfers.

How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?

Although NAS Drive Station HD-HS1.0TQ can be accessed over the network, you still need to take the hard disks out of the storage device and connect them to a Windows computer. Only in this case will the software be able to scan them properly. Here is what you should do:

1. Turn off the storage and disconnect it from the power supply.

   WARNING! Before you start taking hard disks out of your NAS device, read the manual carefully. Incorrect actions may damage your network-attached storage and/or the hard disks within the RAID system.

2. Take the hard disks out of the NAS one by one, carefully removing them from their slots. Remember that the disks are extremely vulnerable: hitting or dropping them may result in serious physical damage.

3. Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.

4. Remove the hard disks and connect them to the computer. In this video, we have explored what ports are used to connect hard disks, and what to do if there are not enough ports or connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Buffalo Drive Station HD-HS1.0TQ. The hard disks that make up the RAID contain technical information about the algorithm used to save files. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery reads this information and puts the damaged array together. Then you can open the disk and save your files. Also, you can recover the files accidentally deleted from the network drive.

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How to recover data from a Buffalo

Drive Station HD-HS1.0TQ 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;

Safe recovery from disk images

This utility lets you save an entire copy of the disk to file and then work with this image instead of the actual disk. Such feature helps to protect data on the disk from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Loss resulting from bad sectors;
• User mistakes.

To create an image, do the following:

1. Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.

2. Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.

3. When the image creation wizard starts, you can choose to save the entire disk or select only a part of it. Specify the parameters and click Next.

   

4. At this stage, you need to choose a directory where to save the image. Choose any disk connected to this PC, or save the image by FTP.

   

Where are user’s files stored?

The Buffalo Drive Station HD-HS1.0TQ 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.

Comparison of software for RAID recovery