Recovering Data After RAID Controller Failure on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-209 / TS-209 II / TS-209 Pro / TS-209 Pro II: Causes and Recovery

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-209 / TS-209 II / TS-209 Pro / TS-209 Pro II
• 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 QNAP 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 data be recovered from a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-209 / TS-209 II / TS-209 Pro / TS-209 Pro II device after a malfunction or data loss event?

To recover data from a malfunctioning or data loss event on a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-209 / TS-209 II / TS-209 Pro / TS-209 Pro II device, you can follow these steps:

1. Check the hardware: Ensure that the NAS device is powered on and connected properly. Make sure all cables are securely connected and there are no physical damages.
2. Troubleshoot the NAS device: If the NAS is not functioning properly, try restarting it. If that doesn't work, reset the NAS to factory settings using the reset button on the device. Refer to the user manual for specific instructions.
3. Access the NAS management interface: Connect to the NAS device using a web browser and enter the IP address assigned to the NAS. Login with the admin credentials.
4. Check the storage status: In the NAS management interface, navigate to the Storage & Snapshots section and check the status of the storage volumes. Ensure that the volumes are recognized and not marked as degraded or crashed.
5. Perform a data recovery scan: If the NAS volumes are intact but data is missing, you can use the NAS management interface to perform a data recovery scan. This will scan the drives for any lost or deleted files and attempt to recover them.
6. Use data recovery software: If the NAS volumes are damaged or corrupted, you may need to use specialized data recovery software. Connect the NAS drives to a computer and use data recovery software like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or R-Studio to scan the drives and recover the lost data. These software tools can often recover data even from damaged or formatted drives.
7. Seek professional help: If the above steps do not work or if you are not comfortable performing the recovery yourself, it is advisable to seek professional data recovery services. They have specialized tools and expertise to recover data from NAS devices, even in complex scenarios.

Note: It is always recommended to have a backup of your important data to avoid data loss situations. Regularly backup your NAS device to an external storage device or cloud storage to ensure the safety of your data.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-209 / TS-209 II / TS-209 Pro / TS-209 Pro II 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 QNAP Turbo Station TS-209 / TS-209 II / TS-209 Pro / TS-209 Pro II. 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 QNAP

Turbo Station TS-209 / TS-209 II / TS-209 Pro / TS-209 Pro II has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• EXT4;
• EXT3;
• FAT32 (External Disk Only);
• NTFS (External Disk Only);
• HFS+ (External Disk Read Only);

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 QNAP Turbo Station TS-209 / TS-209 II / TS-209 Pro / TS-209 Pro II network-attached storage keeps QTS 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