
- Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
- Key Information About the NAS D-Link DSM-600
- 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 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 does a NAS D-Link DSM-600 device store and manage data?
The D-Link DSM-600 is a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device that is designed to store and manage data in a network environment. Here is how it typically stores and manages data:
- Storage Capacity: The DSM-600 comes with multiple hard drive bays that allow you to install one or more hard drives. These hard drives provide the storage capacity for your data. The device supports various RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10, which offer different levels of data redundancy and performance.
- File System: The DSM-600 uses a file system to organize and manage data on the installed hard drives. It typically supports file systems like EXT4, which is a widely used file system in Linux-based NAS devices. The file system allows for efficient storage and retrieval of data.
- Network Connectivity: The DSM-600 connects to your network via Ethernet, allowing multiple users or devices on the network to access and manage the stored data. It supports different network protocols like SMB/CIFS, FTP, and NFS, enabling various devices and operating systems to access the NAS.
- User Access and Permissions: The DSM-600 provides user access control and permission management features. It allows you to create multiple user accounts and assign different access rights and permissions to each user. This ensures that only authorized users can access specific files or folders on the NAS.
- Data Backup and Synchronization: The DSM-600 often includes built-in backup and synchronization features, allowing you to schedule automatic backups of your data to external storage devices or cloud storage services. This helps to protect your data from accidental loss or damage.
- Web-based Interface: The DSM-600 is typically managed through a web-based interface that can be accessed from any device with a web browser. This interface provides a user-friendly dashboard to configure settings, manage storage, create user accounts, and perform other administrative tasks.
Overall, the DSM-600 provides a centralized storage solution with robust data management capabilities, making it easier to store, access, and protect your data in a network environment.
How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
Although the NAS DSM-600 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 D-Link DSM-600. 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 D-Link
DSM-600 has 1 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- None;
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 D-Link DSM-600 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 data from a NAS D-Link DSM-600 device that has been affected by a controller failure or disk array problem. However, the process may vary depending on the specific issue and the severity of the problem.
Here are a few steps you can take to attempt data recovery:
Remember, data recovery from a NAS device can be a complex process, and there is no guarantee of success. It is always recommended to have regular backups to avoid data loss in such situations.