
- Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
- Key Information About the NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH
- 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 continuous data protection mechanisms help in minimizing potential data loss on NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH devices?
Continuous data protection mechanisms can help minimize potential data loss on NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH devices in the following ways:
- Real-time synchronization: Continuous data protection mechanisms constantly monitor changes to files and folders on the NAS device. Any modifications, additions, or deletions are immediately synchronized to a backup location, ensuring that the latest version of data is always available.
- Incremental backups: Instead of performing full backups every time, continuous data protection mechanisms only backup the changes made since the last backup. This reduces the backup time and minimizes the risk of data loss.
- Versioning: Continuous data protection mechanisms often maintain multiple versions of files, allowing users to restore previous versions if needed. This can be crucial in case of accidental file modifications, data corruption, or ransomware attacks.
- Quick recovery: In the event of data loss or system failure, continuous data protection mechanisms enable quick recovery by providing multiple restore points. Users can easily restore their data to a specific point in time, minimizing downtime and data loss.
- Redundancy: Some continuous data protection mechanisms offer redundancy options, such as storing backups on multiple devices or in different locations. This ensures that even in the event of hardware failure or physical damage, the data remains safe and accessible.
- Automatic backup scheduling: Continuous data protection mechanisms often allow users to schedule automatic backups at regular intervals. This eliminates the need for manual backups and reduces the risk of forgetting to back up important data.
Overall, continuous data protection mechanisms provide a proactive approach to data backup and recovery, significantly reducing the potential for data loss on NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH devices.
How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
Although the NAS LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH 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 LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH. 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
LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH 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 LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH 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, it is possible to recover deleted files from a NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH device. When a file is deleted from a NAS device, it is not immediately removed from the storage. Instead, the file system marks the space occupied by the deleted file as available for reuse. Until that space is overwritten by new data, the deleted file can potentially be recovered using data recovery software or services.
To increase the chances of successful file recovery, it is important to stop using the NAS device immediately after realizing that files have been deleted. Continuing to use the device or adding new data to it can overwrite the deleted files, making recovery more difficult or even impossible.
It is recommended to consult with a professional data recovery service or use specialized data recovery software specifically designed for NAS devices. These tools can scan the NAS storage and attempt to recover deleted files by searching for remnants of the deleted data.