Data Recovery After Formatting a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro / TS-669L RAID Array: Recovery Methods

Has your NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro / TS-669L 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?

Data Recovery After Formatting a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro / TS-669L RAID Array: Recovery Methods
Data Recovery Tool

QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro / TS-669L 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-669 Pro / TS-669L. We’ll walk through the most common causes of failure and demonstrate proven methods to restore files from a lost or degraded RAID array.

Data Recovery After Formatting a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro / TS-669L RAID Array: Recovery Methods

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.

Are there any data storage capacity limitations that can impact data loss risks for NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro / TS-669L devices?

Yes, there are data storage capacity limitations that can impact data loss risks for NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro / TS-669L devices. The primary limitation is the maximum capacity of the hard drives supported by the device. The TS-669 Pro / TS-669L supports up to six hard drives, and the maximum individual hard drive capacity supported depends on the model and firmware version.

For example, the TS-669 Pro supports up to 6TB drives, so the maximum total storage capacity would be 36TB (6TB x 6 drives). If larger capacity drives are used, the device may not recognize or utilize the full capacity of the drive, leading to potential data loss risks.

It is important to note that data loss risks can also be influenced by factors such as RAID configuration, backup strategies, and the overall health and reliability of the hard drives. Regular backups and monitoring of the device's storage health can help mitigate data loss risks.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-669 Pro / TS-669L 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-669 Pro / TS-669L. 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-669 Pro / TS-669L has 6 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-669 Pro / TS-669L 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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Comments (1)

  • 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-669 Pro / TS-669L, 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

  • What are the key differences between the QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro and TS-669L models in terms of settings and configurations?

    The key differences between the QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro and TS-669L models in terms of settings and configurations include:

    1. Processor: The TS-669 Pro is equipped with a more powerful Intel Atom 2.13GHz dual-core processor, while the TS-669L has a Marvell 1.2GHz single-core processor.
    2. Memory: The TS-669 Pro comes with 1GB DDR3 RAM (expandable up to 3GB), whereas the TS-669L has 512MB DDR3 RAM (expandable up to 1GB).
    3. Drive Bays: Both models have 6 drive bays, but the TS-669 Pro supports hot-swappable bays, allowing for easy replacement of drives without powering down the system. The TS-669L does not support hot-swapping.
    4. Connectivity: The TS-669 Pro has dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, which support link aggregation and failover, providing higher network bandwidth and redundancy. The TS-669L only has a single Gigabit Ethernet port.
    5. Expansion: The TS-669 Pro offers two additional eSATA ports for connecting external storage expansion units, allowing for increased storage capacity. The TS-669L does not have eSATA ports.
    6. Virtualization Support: The TS-669 Pro supports VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft Hyper-V virtualization platforms, making it suitable for virtualization environments. The TS-669L does not have built-in virtualization support.
    7. Operating System: The TS-669 Pro runs on QNAP's QTS operating system, which offers a wide range of applications and features. The TS-669L runs on an older version of the QTS operating system, with limited application support.
    8. Price: Due to the differences in hardware specifications and features, the TS-669 Pro generally has a higher price compared to the TS-669L.

    These are the main differences between the QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro and TS-669L models in terms of settings and configurations. It's important to consider these factors when choosing the right model for your specific needs and requirements.

  • How can I optimize the settings on my QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro / TS-669L to achieve better performance and security?

    To optimize the settings on your QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro / TS-669L for better performance and security, you can follow these steps:

    1. Update Firmware: Ensure that your Turbo Station is running the latest firmware version. QNAP regularly releases updates that include performance improvements and security patches.
    2. RAID Configuration: If you are using RAID on your Turbo Station, choose an appropriate RAID level based on your requirements. RAID 10 or RAID 6 provide better performance and data redundancy compared to RAID 5.
    3. Enable Network Port Bonding: If your Turbo Station has multiple network ports, enable port bonding (link aggregation) to increase network throughput and redundancy.
    4. Enable Jumbo Frames: If your network infrastructure supports it, enabling jumbo frames can improve data transfer speed. Set the MTU size to 9000 on both the Turbo Station and your network switch/router.
    5. Enable SSD Cache: If your Turbo Station supports SSD cache, install SSDs and configure them as cache drives. This can significantly improve random access performance.
    6. Enable Network Recycle Bin: Enable the Network Recycle Bin feature to prevent accidental deletion of files. This feature keeps deleted files in a recycle bin on the Turbo Station, allowing easy recovery if needed.
    7. Enable Security Features: QNAP offers various security features like IP blocking, firewall, and antivirus. Enable these features and keep them up to date to protect your Turbo Station from unauthorized access and malware.
    8. Configure Access Control: Use the built-in access control features to restrict access to specific users or IP addresses. This helps in preventing unauthorized access to your data.
    9. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enable 2FA for added security. This requires users to provide a second form of authentication, such as a verification code from a mobile app, along with their password.
    10. Regularly Backup Data: Implement a backup strategy to ensure your data is protected. Use QNAP's built-in backup tools or third-party backup software to create regular backups to external drives, cloud storage, or remote servers.
    11. Monitor System Health: Use QNAP's system monitoring tools to keep an eye on the health of your Turbo Station. Monitor disk health, temperature, and system resource usage to identify any potential issues.
    12. Disable Unused Services: Disable any unnecessary services or applications running on your Turbo Station to free up system resources and reduce the attack surface.

    Remember to consult the QNAP documentation or seek professional assistance if you are unsure about any specific settings or configurations.

  • Are there any specific network settings or protocols that need to be configured on the QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro / TS-669L for seamless integration with other devices and services?

    Yes, there are several network settings and protocols that can be configured on the QNAP Turbo Station TS-669 Pro / TS-669L to ensure seamless integration with other devices and services. Here are some of the key settings and protocols:

    1. Network Configuration: Ensure that the Turbo Station is connected to the network properly and has a valid IP address. You can configure the network settings through the QTS (QNAP Turbo NAS System) web interface.
    2. File Sharing Protocols: The Turbo Station supports various file sharing protocols such as SMB/CIFS (Windows File Sharing), AFP (Apple File Protocol), NFS (Network File System), and FTP (File Transfer Protocol). You can enable and configure these protocols based on your requirements and the devices/services you want to integrate with.
    3. User and Group Management: Set up user accounts and groups on the Turbo Station to control access to shared folders and services. This ensures that different devices and users have appropriate access permissions.
    4. Network Services: The Turbo Station offers various network services like DHCP server, DNS server, and VPN server. You can configure these services to ensure seamless connectivity and integration with other devices and services on the network.
    5. Cloud Services Integration: QNAP provides various cloud services like Qsync, myQNAPcloud, and CloudLink for seamless integration with other devices and remote access. You can configure these services to enable easy file synchronization, remote access, and sharing.
    6. Port Forwarding and Firewall: If you want to access the Turbo Station from outside the local network, you may need to set up port forwarding on your router and configure the Turbo Station's firewall settings to allow external access.

    It is recommended to consult the QNAP Turbo NAS user manual or the QNAP support website for detailed instructions on how to configure these settings and protocols specific to your model.
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