Ultimate Guide to Recovering Deleted Data from NAS Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center
• 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 Lenovo 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.

Are there any recommended practices for regular testing and validation of data backups to prevent potential loss on NAS Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center devices?

Yes, there are recommended practices for regular testing and validation of data backups to prevent potential loss on NAS Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center devices. Here are some best practices to follow:

1. Regularly schedule backup tests: Set up a regular schedule to test the backups on your Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center devices. This could be done weekly, monthly, or as per your organization's requirements.
2. Test data restoration: Perform regular tests to ensure that the backup data can be successfully restored. This involves selecting random files or folders from the backup and restoring them to a different location to verify their integrity.
3. Validate backup integrity: Use built-in validation tools or third-party software to check the integrity and consistency of the backup data. This can help identify any corrupted or incomplete backups.
4. Perform test restores: In addition to testing individual file restores, periodically perform full system restores to ensure that the backup can restore the entire system in case of a disaster.
5. Monitor backup logs and notifications: Enable backup log notifications and regularly review them to ensure that backups are running successfully without any errors or warnings.
6. Keep multiple backup copies: Maintain multiple copies of your backup data on different storage devices or locations to mitigate the risk of data loss due to hardware failures or disasters.
7. Regularly update firmware and software: Keep your NAS device's firmware and backup software up to date to ensure compatibility, security, and bug fixes.
8. Perform regular maintenance: Regularly clean and maintain your NAS device, including checking for hardware issues, verifying disk health, and replacing faulty components if necessary.
9. Document and review backup procedures: Document your backup procedures and review them periodically to ensure they are up to date and align with your organization's requirements.
10. Offsite backups: Consider implementing an offsite backup strategy to protect against physical damage or loss of the NAS device. This could involve replicating data to a remote location or using cloud-based backup services.

By following these recommended practices, you can minimize the risk of potential data loss and ensure the reliability of your backups on Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center devices.

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

Although the NAS Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center 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 Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center. 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 Lenovo

Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center 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:

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 Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center network-attached storage keeps LifeLine 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