How to Recover Data After Formatting a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L RAID Array: Recovery Steps

Has your NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L suddenly lost its network drive and you’re unsure what to do next? Did the RAID array collapse, making your files inaccessible? Is the device throwing errors during startup? Perhaps you accidentally rebuilt the RAID array or several hard drives failed at the same time?

How to Recover Data After Formatting a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L RAID Array: Recovery Steps

QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L NAS Data Recovery in 2025

In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll show you how to rebuild your RAID and recover data from an Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L. We’ll walk through the most common causes of failure and demonstrate proven methods to restore files from a lost or degraded RAID array.

How to Recover Data After Formatting a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L RAID Array: Recovery Steps

RAID Recovery™ 2.8
Recover data from damaged RAID arrays inaccessible from a computer.
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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.

Can natural disasters such as floods or fires result in data loss for NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L devices?

Yes, natural disasters such as floods or fires can potentially result in data loss for NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices like the QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L. These disasters can cause physical damage to the devices, leading to the loss of stored data. Additionally, power outages or electrical surges caused by natural disasters can also result in data corruption or loss if the devices are not properly protected with backup power supplies or surge protectors. It is important to have appropriate disaster recovery plans in place, including off-site backups, to mitigate the risk of data loss in such situations.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L 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.

    Go to view
    How to Order Remote Data Recovery

    How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

Hetman Raid Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L. 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.

Go to view
How to recover data from a QNAP

How to recover data from a QNAP

Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

  • RAID 5;
  • RAID 6;
  • RAID 10;
  • RAID 0;
  • RAID 1;
  • JBOD;

NAS supports:

  • ZFS;
  • 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.

    Hetman RAID Recovery: Image Creation Wizard
  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.

    Hetman RAID Recovery: Choose a disk or save the image via FTP

Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?

The QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L network-attached storage keeps QTS (QuTS hero) 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

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  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 9.08.2022 12:31 #
    If you want to ask a question about data recovery, from NAS Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L, feel free to leave a comment!
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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • How does the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L enhance the surveillance system capabilities?

    The NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L enhances surveillance system capabilities in several ways:

    1. Centralized Storage: The TS-469 Pro / TS-469L provides a large storage capacity to store surveillance footage from multiple cameras in one centralized location. This eliminates the need for individual storage devices for each camera, making it easier to manage and access the recorded footage.
    2. Video Management System (VMS): The NAS comes with a built-in VMS that allows users to manage and monitor their surveillance cameras from a single interface. Users can easily configure camera settings, schedule recording, and playback recorded footage.
    3. Remote Access: The NAS provides remote access to the surveillance system, allowing users to monitor their cameras and view live or recorded footage from anywhere using a web browser or mobile app. This enables users to keep an eye on their premises even when they are not physically present.
    4. Intelligent Video Analytics: The NAS supports intelligent video analytics, such as motion detection, object recognition, and people counting. These features help in identifying and alerting users to any suspicious activities or events captured by the surveillance cameras.
    5. Expandable Storage: The TS-469 Pro / TS-469L supports expandable storage options, such as adding additional hard drives or connecting external storage devices. This allows users to increase the storage capacity as their surveillance needs grow.
    6. Backup and Redundancy: The NAS offers various backup and redundancy options to ensure the safety of surveillance footage. Users can set up automatic backups to external devices or cloud storage, and RAID configurations can be implemented for data redundancy and protection against drive failures.

    Overall, the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L enhances surveillance system capabilities by providing centralized storage, a comprehensive video management system, remote access, intelligent video analytics, expandable storage, and backup solutions.

  • What are the key features and specifications of the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L that make it suitable for a surveillance system?

    The NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L has several key features and specifications that make it suitable for a surveillance system:

    1. High storage capacity: The TS-469 Pro / TS-469L comes with four drive bays, allowing for a large storage capacity. It supports up to 16TB of storage (with 4TB drives), providing ample space to store surveillance footage.
    2. RAID support: The NAS supports various RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and JBOD. RAID provides data redundancy and ensures that surveillance footage is protected against drive failures.
    3. Surveillance Station: The NAS includes QNAP's Surveillance Station software, which offers comprehensive surveillance management. It supports real-time monitoring, recording, playback, and event management for IP cameras.
    4. Camera support: The TS-469 Pro / TS-469L supports a wide range of IP cameras from various manufacturers, making it compatible with most surveillance setups. It can handle multiple camera streams simultaneously.
    5. Intelligent video analytics: The Surveillance Station software includes intelligent video analytics features such as motion detection, object tracking, and camera tampering detection. These features enhance the effectiveness of the surveillance system.
    6. Remote access and monitoring: The NAS allows for remote access and monitoring of the surveillance system through a web browser or dedicated mobile apps. This enables users to view live feeds and playback recorded footage from anywhere.
    7. Expandability: The TS-469 Pro / TS-469L supports additional storage expansion units, allowing for further scalability if more storage is required for surveillance footage.
    8. High-performance hardware: The NAS is powered by a powerful Intel processor and has ample memory, ensuring smooth operation and handling of multiple camera streams.
    9. Data backup and recovery: The NAS provides various backup options, including remote replication, cloud backup, and external device backup. This ensures that surveillance footage is securely backed up and can be easily restored if needed.

    Overall, the QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L offers a comprehensive surveillance solution with its high storage capacity, RAID support, surveillance management software, camera compatibility, intelligent video analytics, remote access capabilities, and data backup options.

  • How does the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L ensure data security and reliability in a surveillance setup?

    The NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L ensures data security and reliability in a surveillance setup through several features and technologies:

    1. RAID Support: The NAS supports various RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 5 + hot spare, and 6 + hot spare. RAID provides data redundancy and protection against drive failures.
    2. Hot-swappable Design: The NAS allows for hot-swapping of hard drives, meaning that failed drives can be replaced without powering down the system or interrupting surveillance operations.
    3. Snapshot and Backup: The NAS supports snapshot technology, enabling users to take point-in-time snapshots of their surveillance data. It also provides backup solutions to external devices or cloud storage, ensuring data redundancy and protection against data loss.
    4. Advanced Data Encryption: The NAS supports AES 256-bit encryption, ensuring that data stored on the drives is encrypted and secure from unauthorized access.
    5. Network Security: The NAS supports various network security protocols, including SSL/TLS encryption, IP blocking, and access control, to protect against unauthorized access and data interception.
    6. Surveillance Station: The NAS comes with Surveillance Station, a comprehensive surveillance management system. It provides features like real-time monitoring, video recording, and playback, allowing users to manage and monitor their surveillance cameras securely.
    7. Antivirus Protection: The NAS includes an antivirus solution that can scan files for malware and viruses, ensuring that the system remains secure and free from threats.
    8. Multiple User Access Control: The NAS allows administrators to set up user accounts and access permissions, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access and manage the surveillance data.
    9. Redundant Power Supply (TS-469 Pro): The TS-469 Pro model comes with a redundant power supply, providing an additional level of reliability and ensuring uninterrupted operation even in the event of a power supply failure.

    Overall, the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-469 Pro / TS-469L incorporates various technologies and features to ensure data security, reliability, and continuous surveillance operations in a surveillance setup.