- 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?
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 software bugs or glitches impact data integrity on NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-HS1.5TQ devices?
Software bugs or glitches on NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-HS1.5TQ devices can impact data integrity in several ways:
- Data corruption: Bugs or glitches in the software can cause data corruption, where the stored data becomes unreadable or unusable. This can result in the loss of important files or documents.
- File system errors: Software issues can lead to file system errors on the NAS device. This can cause the device to be unable to properly organize and manage the stored data, leading to data loss or inconsistency.
- Data loss: In extreme cases, software bugs or glitches can cause data loss on the NAS device. This can happen if the bug affects the device's ability to properly write or save data, leading to permanent loss of important files.
- Incomplete or failed backups: NAS devices often have built-in backup functionality. However, software bugs can interfere with the backup process, resulting in incomplete or failed backups. This can leave the user without a reliable backup of their data, making recovery difficult in case of data loss.
- Performance degradation: Bugs or glitches in the software can also impact the performance of the NAS device. Slower data transfer speeds, unresponsive interfaces, or frequent system crashes can all affect the overall integrity of the stored data.
To mitigate the impact of software bugs or glitches on data integrity, it is important to regularly update the device's firmware to the latest version provided by Buffalo. Additionally, maintaining regular backups of important data on separate storage devices or in the cloud can help minimize the risk of permanent data loss.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS Drive Station HD-HS1.5TQ 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Buffalo Drive Station HD-HS1.5TQ. 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.
How to recover data from a Buffalo
Drive Station HD-HS1.5TQ 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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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-HS1.5TQ 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
| Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes, data recovery from a NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-HS1.5TQ device can be attempted even if the storage disks have bad sectors. However, the success of the recovery process depends on the severity of the bad sectors and the condition of the disks.
In such cases, it is recommended to seek professional data recovery services that specialize in dealing with faulty storage devices. These experts have the necessary tools and expertise to recover data from damaged disks. They may use specialized software or techniques like disk imaging to bypass the bad sectors and retrieve the data.
It is important to note that attempting to recover data from disks with bad sectors carries a risk of further data loss. Therefore, it is advisable to make a backup of the damaged disks or create disk images before attempting any recovery procedures.