NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-559 Pro / TS-559 Pro II / TS-559 Pro+ RAID Array Format Recovery: Steps to Recover Data After Format

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-559 Pro / TS-559 Pro II / TS-559 Pro+
• 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 a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-559 Pro / TS-559 Pro II / TS-559 Pro+ device's power management settings impact data availability and potential loss?

The power management settings of a NAS device like QNAP Turbo Station TS-559 Pro / TS-559 Pro II / TS-559 Pro+ can impact data availability and potential loss in several ways:

1. Sleep Mode: NAS devices often have a sleep mode feature that automatically powers down the hard drives after a period of inactivity. While this can save energy, it can also cause delays when accessing data as the drives need to spin up again. If the NAS is used for critical applications or requires constant access, enabling sleep mode may result in decreased data availability.
2. Power Interruptions: Power management settings can determine how the NAS device responds to power interruptions. If the device is set to shut down immediately during power outages, there is a risk of data loss if any unsaved changes were made. It is important to configure the NAS to gracefully shut down during power failures or use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to provide backup power.
3. RAID Rebuild: In a NAS with multiple hard drives configured in a RAID array, power management settings can impact the process of rebuilding the RAID in case of a drive failure. If the NAS is set to power down or enter sleep mode during idle periods, it may delay or interrupt the RAID rebuild process, increasing the risk of data loss.
4. Scheduled Backups and Updates: Power management settings can affect scheduled backup tasks or software updates. If the NAS is powered off or in sleep mode during these scheduled events, it can lead to missed backups or updates, potentially resulting in data loss or vulnerability to security threats.

To mitigate the impact of power management settings on data availability and potential loss, it is recommended to:

• Configure the NAS to enter sleep mode only during extended periods of inactivity or non-critical usage.
• Use a UPS to provide backup power and avoid sudden power interruptions.
• Set up the NAS to gracefully shut down during power failures to prevent data corruption.
• Adjust power management settings to ensure that RAID rebuilds can proceed without interruption.
• Schedule backup tasks and software updates during periods when the NAS is likely to be powered on and accessible.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-559 Pro / TS-559 Pro II / TS-559 Pro+ 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-559 Pro / TS-559 Pro II / TS-559 Pro+. 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-559 Pro / TS-559 Pro II / TS-559 Pro+ has 5 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.

   

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-559 Pro / TS-559 Pro II / TS-559 Pro+ 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