- Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?
- How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
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 LaCie also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.
Can improper shutdown or unclean system reboots lead to data loss on NAS LaCie 4 Quadra USB 3.0 (LAC9000319U / LAC9000351U / LAC9000330EK / LAC9000505U / LAC9000509EK) devices?
Improper shutdown or unclean system reboots can potentially lead to data loss on any storage device, including NAS devices like the LaCie 4 Quadra USB 3.0. When a system is not shut down properly, there is a risk of data corruption or file system errors. These issues can result in the loss of data or make it inaccessible.
To minimize the risk of data loss, it is important to follow proper shutdown procedures and ensure that the NAS device is not abruptly powered off. Most NAS devices have built-in mechanisms to protect against data loss, such as journaling file systems or RAID configurations, but they are not foolproof.
It is always recommended to properly shut down the NAS device using the appropriate software or interface provided by the manufacturer. This allows the system to complete any pending read/write operations and ensure data integrity. Additionally, regular backups of important data should be maintained to mitigate the impact of any potential data loss.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS 4 Quadra USB 3.0 (LAC9000319U / LAC9000351U / LAC9000330EK / LAC9000505U / LAC9000509EK) 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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.
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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with LaCie 4 Quadra USB 3.0 (LAC9000319U / LAC9000351U / LAC9000330EK / LAC9000505U / LAC9000509EK). 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.
How to recover data from a LaCie
4 Quadra USB 3.0 (LAC9000319U / LAC9000351U / LAC9000330EK / LAC9000505U / LAC9000509EK) 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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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.
Where are user’s files stored?
The LaCie 4 Quadra USB 3.0 (LAC9000319U / LAC9000351U / LAC9000330EK / LAC9000505U / LAC9000509EK) network-attached storage keeps LaCie NAS OS 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 |
Yes, data recovery from a NAS LaCie 4 Quadra USB 3.0 device can be possible even if the disks have been reformatted. However, the success of data recovery depends on various factors such as the extent of formatting, the type of formatting performed, and whether any new data has been written to the disks after formatting.
If the disks have been quick-formatted or only the file system has been deleted, it may be easier to recover the data. In such cases, specialized data recovery software or professional data recovery services can be used to scan the disks and recover the lost files.
However, if the disks have been fully formatted or overwritten with new data, the chances of successful recovery may be lower. In such cases, it is recommended to seek professional data recovery services that have specialized tools and expertise to recover data from formatted disks.
It is important to note that attempting data recovery on your own or using unreliable software can potentially cause further damage to the disks and make data recovery more difficult or even impossible.