How to Prevent Data Loss on NAS D-Link DNS-1100-04 and Restore Deleted Data

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS D-Link DNS-1100-04
• How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
  • Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images
  • Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?
  • RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

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 D-Link 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 D-Link DNS-1100-04 devices?

Software bugs or glitches on NAS D-Link DNS-1100-04 devices can potentially impact data integrity in several ways:

1. Data corruption: Bugs or glitches in the software can result in data corruption, where the stored data becomes unreadable or unusable. This can lead to loss of critical information or make files inaccessible.
2. Data loss: In some cases, software bugs can cause data loss, where files or entire folders may disappear from the NAS device. This can occur due to issues like improper handling of file operations or incorrect data synchronization.
3. Unauthorized access: Security vulnerabilities caused by software bugs can allow unauthorized users to gain access to the NAS device and its data. This can result in data breaches, theft, or unauthorized modifications to important files.
4. Data inconsistency: Software bugs can cause data inconsistency, where the stored data becomes inconsistent or out of sync. This can happen due to issues with data replication, synchronization, or file system management. Inconsistent data can lead to errors, conflicts, or incorrect results when accessing or modifying files.
5. Performance degradation: Certain software bugs can impact the performance of the NAS device, causing slow data transfers, high latency, or system crashes. This can affect data integrity indirectly by hindering the proper functioning of data operations and increasing the chances of data corruption or loss.

To mitigate these risks, it is important to regularly update the NAS firmware to the latest version provided by D-Link, as manufacturers often release bug fixes and security patches. Additionally, implementing proper backup strategies, such as regular backups to external storage or cloud services, can help minimize the impact of data integrity issues caused by software bugs or glitches.

How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS DNS-1100-04 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.

4. 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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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with D-Link DNS-1100-04. 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.

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How to recover data from a D-Link

DNS-1100-04 has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• JBOD;
• Standard;

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:

1. Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.

2. In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.

3. 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.

   

4. 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 D-Link DNS-1100-04 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