- Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
- Key Information About the NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-HS1.5TQ
- How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
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 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 Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
Although the NAS Drive Station HD-HS1.5TQ 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:
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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.
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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.
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Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.
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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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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-HS1.5TQ. 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.
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;
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:
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Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.
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In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.
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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.
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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-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.
RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison
| Product | Operating system | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, exFAT, NTFS, ReFS, APFS, HFS+, Ext4, Ext3, Ext2, ReiserFS, Btrfs, VMFS, Hikvision, XFS, UFS, ZFS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Yes, over 10 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | 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.