How to recover data from Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 NAS

Is your network drive gone, and you are wondering what to do? Has a RAID system crashed, and your files are no longer accessible? Does your device display an error while booting? Have you accidentally rebuilt your RAID system? Are several hard disks out of order?

How to recover data from NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2

Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 NAS Data Recovery in 2024

In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll show you how to rebuild your RAID and recover data from TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2.

How to recover data from NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2

Recover data from damaged RAID arrays inaccessible from a computer.

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 hardware failure lead to data loss in NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 devices?

Hardware failure in NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 devices can lead to data loss in several ways:

  1. Hard Drive Failure: The most common type of hardware failure in NAS devices is the failure of hard drives. If one or more hard drives fail in a RAID configuration, it can result in data loss. The data stored on the failed drive(s) may become inaccessible, and in some cases, the entire RAID array may become unusable.
  2. Power Supply Failure: If the power supply unit (PSU) of the NAS device fails, it can cause sudden power outages or fluctuations, which may result in data corruption or loss. Power surges or spikes can damage the internal components of the NAS, including the hard drives, leading to data loss.
  3. Controller Failure: The controller board in the NAS device manages the communication between the hard drives and the rest of the system. If the controller fails, it can prevent the NAS from accessing the data stored on the hard drives, resulting in data loss.
  4. Firmware or Software Corruption: If the firmware or software of the NAS device becomes corrupted due to a hardware failure, it can lead to data loss. Corrupted firmware may cause the NAS to malfunction or become unresponsive, preventing access to the stored data.
  5. Network Interface Failure: NAS devices rely on network connectivity to access and share data. If the network interface card (NIC) or other network-related components fail, it can result in the NAS becoming inaccessible, leading to potential data loss.
  6. Overheating: NAS devices generate heat during operation, and if the cooling system fails or becomes inadequate, it can lead to overheating. Excessive heat can cause damage to internal components, including hard drives, which may result in data loss.

To mitigate the risk of data loss due to hardware failure, it is essential to regularly back up the data stored on the NAS device to an external location. Additionally, implementing RAID configurations with redundancy can help protect against data loss caused by hard drive failures.

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

Although NAS TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 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.

    Go to view
    How to Order Remote Data Recovery

    How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

Hetman Raid Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2. 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.

Go to view
How to recover data from a Buffalo

How to recover data from a Buffalo

TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

  • RAID 0;
  • RAID 1;
  • RAID 5;
  • RAID 6;
  • 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 ToolsSave 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.

    Hetman Raid Recovery: Image Creation Wizard
  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.

    Hetman Raid Recovery: hoose any disk connected to this PC, or save the image by FTP

Where are user’s files stored?

The Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 network-attached storage keeps Windows Storage Server 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

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We will be happy to answer your questions!

Comments (3)

  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 9.08.2022 12:31 #
    If you want to ask a question about data recovery, from NAS TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2, feel free to leave a comment!
  • Kelsey Legge
    Kelsey Legge 31.08.2023 21:46 #
    Is it possible to recover data from a NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 device that has undergone a system update or software upgrade?
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 31.08.2023 22:02 #

      Yes, it is possible to recover data from a NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 device that has undergone a system update or software upgrade. However, it depends on the specific circumstances and the extent of the update or upgrade.

      If the update or upgrade process was smooth and did not encounter any issues, the chances of data loss are minimal. In such cases, you should be able to access your data without any problems after the update or upgrade is complete.

      However, if the update or upgrade process encountered errors or issues, there is a possibility of data loss or corruption. In such cases, you may need to seek professional data recovery services to recover your data. Data recovery experts have specialized tools and techniques to recover data from various storage devices, including NAS devices.

      It is always recommended to have a backup of your important data before performing any system update or software upgrade to avoid potential data loss situations.

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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • What are the virtualization features offered by the NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2?

    The NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 offers several virtualization features, including:

    1. Virtualization Station: This feature allows you to create and manage multiple virtual machines (VMs) on the NAS. You can run various operating systems and applications within these VMs, providing flexibility and resource optimization.
    2. Container Station: This feature enables you to run and manage multiple lightweight Linux containers on the NAS. Containers offer a more efficient and isolated environment for running applications, making it easier to deploy and scale them.
    3. Snapshot: The NAS supports snapshot technology, allowing you to take point-in-time snapshots of your data. This feature is useful for data protection and recovery, as it enables you to quickly revert to a previous state in case of accidental deletion or data corruption.
    4. Remote Desktop: The NAS provides a remote desktop feature, allowing you to access and control a Windows virtual machine hosted on the NAS from a remote device. This feature is particularly useful for remote work scenarios or accessing specific applications running on the VM.
    5. High Availability: The TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 supports high availability, which means you can configure two NAS devices in a redundant setup. If one NAS fails, the other takes over seamlessly, ensuring continuous availability of your data and services.

    These virtualization features enhance the functionality and versatility of the NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2, making it suitable for various business and IT environments.

  • How does the NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 support virtualization environments?

    The NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 supports virtualization environments through its ability to function as an iSCSI target. iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) is a protocol that allows storage devices to be connected over a network and accessed by servers as if they were local disks.

    By setting up the TeraStation as an iSCSI target, it can provide virtual machines with dedicated storage resources. This enables virtualization platforms such as VMware, Hyper-V, or VirtualBox to create and manage virtual disks on the TeraStation.

    The TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 also supports other features that enhance its compatibility with virtualization environments, such as support for multiple RAID levels, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10. This allows for data redundancy and performance optimization, which are crucial in virtualization environments.

    Additionally, the TeraStation has a powerful processor and ample memory to handle the demands of virtualization workloads. This ensures smooth performance and efficient utilization of virtual machines running on the NAS.

    Overall, the NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 provides the necessary features and capabilities to support virtualization environments by acting as a reliable and scalable storage solution for virtual machines.

  • Can you provide details on the virtualization capabilities and benefits of the NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2?

    The NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 is a network-attached storage (NAS) device that offers virtualization capabilities and several benefits. Here are the details:

    Virtualization Capabilities:

    1. Virtual Machine (VM) Support: The TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 supports hosting virtual machines, allowing you to run multiple operating systems and applications on a single physical device.
    2. VMware Ready: It is certified to work seamlessly with VMware virtualization environments, ensuring compatibility and optimized performance.
    3. iSCSI Target Support: The NAS can function as an iSCSI target, enabling you to create virtualized storage volumes that can be accessed by virtual machines over the network.

    Benefits of Virtualization on TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2:

    1. Consolidation: By hosting multiple virtual machines on a single device, you can consolidate your hardware infrastructure, reducing the need for multiple physical servers.
    2. Cost Savings: Virtualization helps save costs by reducing hardware requirements, power consumption, cooling needs, and overall maintenance expenses.
    3. Improved Efficiency: With virtualization, you can allocate resources dynamically, ensuring optimal utilization of CPU, memory, and storage capacity.
    4. Disaster Recovery: Virtual machines can be easily backed up and replicated, simplifying disaster recovery processes and minimizing downtime in case of system failures.
    5. Flexibility and Scalability: Virtualization allows for easy deployment and scalability of new virtual machines, providing flexibility to adapt to changing business needs.
    6. Centralized Management: The TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2 provides a centralized management interface for virtual machines, making it easier to monitor, configure, and maintain your virtualized environment.

    Note: It's always recommended to refer to the official documentation or contact Buffalo support for specific details and features related to the TeraStation WS5400DN1204W2's virtualization capabilities.

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