How to recover data from Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604 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 WS5400R1604

Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604 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 WS5400R1604.

How to recover data from NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604

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.

Is there a risk of data loss if a NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604 device is physically damaged or stolen?

Yes, there is a risk of data loss if a NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604 device is physically damaged or stolen. If the device is physically damaged, the hard drives inside may become inaccessible or corrupted, resulting in data loss. Similarly, if the device is stolen, the data stored on the NAS can be compromised or lost entirely. It is important to have proper backup strategies in place to mitigate the risk of data loss in such situations.

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

Although NAS TeraStation WS5400R1604 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 WS5400R1604. 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

How to recover data from a Buffalo

TeraStation WS5400R1604 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 WS5400R1604 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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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 WS5400R1604, feel free to leave a comment!
  • Truman Birtwistle
    Truman Birtwistle 31.08.2023 22:47 #
    Can deleted files be recovered from a NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604 device?
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 31.08.2023 23:00 #

      It is possible to recover deleted files from a NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604 device, but it depends on several factors.

      If the files were recently deleted, there is a higher chance of successful recovery. When a file is deleted, it is typically marked as "deleted" in the file system, but the actual data may still exist on the storage device until it is overwritten by new data. Therefore, if the device has not been used much since the deletion, there is a greater possibility of recovering the files.

      However, if the files were deleted a long time ago or if the device has been heavily used since then, the chances of recovery decrease significantly. Over time, the deleted files may have been partially or completely overwritten by new data, making recovery more difficult or even impossible.

      To attempt file recovery, it is recommended to use specialized data recovery software or consult professional data recovery services. It is important to note that attempting recovery on your own may carry some risks, such as further data loss or damage to the device.

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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 is SSH and how does it work?

    SSH, or Secure Shell, is a cryptographic network protocol that provides a secure way to access and manage remote systems over an unsecured network. It allows users to securely log in to a remote system, execute commands, transfer files, and forward network traffic.

    SSH works by establishing an encrypted connection between a client and a server. The client initiates a connection request to the server, and both parties negotiate encryption algorithms and keys to establish a secure channel. This encryption ensures that the data exchanged between the client and server remains confidential and protected from eavesdropping or tampering.

    Once the secure channel is established, SSH provides authentication methods to verify the identity of the client. This can be done using passwords, public key cryptography, or other authentication mechanisms. The server then grants access to the client based on the authentication result.

    After successful authentication, the client can execute commands on the remote system or transfer files securely. The SSH protocol also supports port forwarding, allowing users to securely access services running on the remote server through encrypted tunnels.

    Overall, SSH provides a secure and encrypted method for remote access, making it widely used for remote administration, secure file transfers, and secure communication between networked systems.

  • How does the NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604 utilize SSH protocol for secure remote access?

    The NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604 utilizes the SSH (Secure Shell) protocol for secure remote access by providing a secure and encrypted channel for communication between the client and the server.

    Here's how it works:

    1. SSH Server: The TeraStation NAS has an SSH server component installed that allows it to accept incoming SSH connections.
    2. Authentication: When a client wants to establish an SSH connection to the TeraStation NAS, it initiates a connection request and provides its credentials (username and password or SSH key) for authentication.
    3. Encryption: Once the client's credentials are verified, an encrypted channel is established between the client and the NAS. This encryption ensures that the data transmitted over the network cannot be intercepted or deciphered by unauthorized parties.
    4. Secure Remote Access: With the SSH connection established, the client can now securely access the TeraStation NAS remotely. It can perform various operations such as file transfers, remote command execution, and management tasks.

    Benefits of using SSH for remote access on the TeraStation NAS:

    1. Security: SSH provides strong encryption and authentication mechanisms, ensuring that the remote access to the NAS is secure and protected from unauthorized access.
    2. Data Integrity: The encrypted channel provided by SSH ensures that the data transmitted between the client and the NAS remains intact and unaltered during transit.
    3. Flexibility: SSH allows for secure remote access from various client devices and operating systems, making it a versatile solution for accessing the TeraStation NAS remotely.

    Overall, the utilization of SSH protocol on the NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604 ensures secure and encrypted remote access, protecting the confidentiality and integrity of the data transferred between the client and the NAS.

  • Can you explain the benefits and features of SSH in relation to the NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604?

    Sure! SSH (Secure Shell) is a network protocol that allows secure remote access to a device or server. In relation to the NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604, here are the benefits and features of SSH:

    1. Secure remote access: SSH provides a secure encrypted connection between a client and the NAS device. This ensures that data transmitted over the network is protected from unauthorized access or interception.
    2. Command-line interface (CLI): SSH allows you to access the NAS device's command-line interface remotely. This gives you more control and flexibility in managing and configuring the device compared to a graphical user interface (GUI).
    3. Secure file transfer: SSH includes the ability to securely transfer files between the client and the NAS device using the SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) or SCP (Secure Copy) protocols. This ensures that files are transferred securely without the need for additional encryption methods.
    4. Remote administration: SSH enables remote administration of the NAS device, allowing you to perform various administrative tasks such as managing users, configuring network settings, monitoring system performance, and more, from a remote location.
    5. Security and authentication: SSH uses strong encryption algorithms and authentication methods to ensure the security of the remote connection. It supports various authentication mechanisms, including password-based authentication, public-key authentication, and two-factor authentication, enhancing the overall security of the NAS device.
    6. Portability and interoperability: SSH is a widely supported protocol and is available on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This ensures that you can access and manage the NAS device from different platforms, making it highly portable and interoperable.
    7. Tunneling and forwarding: SSH allows you to create secure tunnels or forward ports between the client and the NAS device. This can be useful for accessing other services or resources on the NAS device's network securely, even if they are not directly accessible from the client's location.

    Overall, SSH provides a secure and efficient way to remotely access, manage, and transfer files to and from the NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400R1604, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of your data.

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