NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A RAID Array Formatting: Recovery Solutions After Format

Has your NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A 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?

NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A RAID Array Formatting: Recovery Solutions After Format
Data Recovery Tool

QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A 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-873 / TS-873A. We’ll walk through the most common causes of failure and demonstrate proven methods to restore files from a lost or degraded RAID array.

NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A RAID Array Formatting: Recovery Solutions After Format

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 specific file system repair or recovery tools recommended for NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A devices?

Yes, QNAP recommends using the following file system repair or recovery tools for their NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A devices:

  1. QNAP NAS Data Recovery: This is a professional data recovery tool provided by QNAP. It can help recover data from various scenarios such as accidental deletion, disk formatting, and system crashes.
  2. QNAP RAID Recovery: This tool is designed specifically for RAID recovery on QNAP NAS devices. It can help recover data from failed RAID volumes, rebuild RAID arrays, and restore data from broken RAID configurations.
  3. QNAP File System Check: This is a built-in tool provided by QNAP that allows you to check and repair the file system on your NAS device. It can help fix file system errors and ensure the integrity of your data.

It's important to note that before using any file system repair or recovery tool, it is recommended to consult QNAP's official documentation or contact their technical support for guidance on the specific steps to follow for your device.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A 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-873 / TS-873A. 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-873 / TS-873A has 8 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

  • RAID 50;
  • RAID 60;
  • RAID 5;
  • RAID 6;
  • RAID 10;
  • RAID 0;
  • RAID 1;
  • JBOD;

NAS supports:

  • ZFS;
  • EXT4;
  • EXT3;
  • exFAT;
  • 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-873 / TS-873A 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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We will be happy to answer your questions!

Comments (3)

  • 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-873 / TS-873A, feel free to leave a comment!
    Reply
  • Tommie Sutton
    Tommie Sutton 12.09.2023 14:48 #
    Are there any specific encryption keys or passwords required for data recovery from encrypted NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A devices?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 12.09.2023 15:53 #

      To recover data from an encrypted NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A device, you will typically need the following:

      1. Encryption Password: This is the password used to encrypt the data on the NAS device. Without this password, it is not possible to decrypt the data.
      2. Encryption Key: Some NAS devices may use an encryption key in addition to the password. This key is usually stored separately from the device and is required to decrypt the data.
      3. Recovery Key: QNAP NAS devices also provide a recovery key option. This key is generated during the initial setup of the device and is used to recover data in case the encryption password is lost. It is important to securely store this recovery key.

      Without the encryption password, encryption key, or recovery key, it is extremely difficult to recover data from an encrypted NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A device. It is recommended to keep these keys and passwords in a secure location to avoid data loss.

      Reply
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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 necessary steps to connect the QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A to a router?

    To connect the QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A to a router, follow these steps:

    1. Ensure that you have a compatible router and Ethernet cable available.
    2. Place the QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A near your router and power it on.
    3. Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to the LAN port on the back of the QNAP Turbo Station.
    4. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to an available LAN port on your router.
    5. Wait for the QNAP Turbo Station to establish a connection with the router. This may take a few moments.
    6. Once the connection is established, you can access the QNAP Turbo Station's web-based management interface by opening a web browser on a computer connected to the same network as the Turbo Station.
    7. In the web browser's address bar, enter the default IP address of the QNAP Turbo Station, which is typically "192.168.1.100" or "169.254.100.100". Press Enter.
    8. You should now see the QNAP Turbo Station's login page. Enter the default username and password to log in. The default username is "admin", and the default password is "admin" or "password". It is recommended to change the default password for security reasons.
    9. Once logged in, you can configure the QNAP Turbo Station according to your needs, including setting up storage, creating shared folders, and configuring network settings.

    Note: If you are unable to access the QNAP Turbo Station's web-based management interface, ensure that you have entered the correct IP address and that there are no firewall or network configuration issues preventing access. Additionally, make sure that your computer is connected to the same network as the Turbo Station.

  • Are there any specific network settings or configurations required to ensure a successful connection between the NAS and the router?

    Yes, there are several network settings and configurations that need to be ensured for a successful connection between the NAS (Network Attached Storage) and the router. Here are some of the key considerations:

    1. IP Address: Ensure that both the NAS and the router are assigned unique IP addresses within the same subnet. This can be done either manually (static IP) or automatically (DHCP).
    2. Subnet Mask: The subnet mask should be the same for both the NAS and the router. Typically, it is set to 255.255.255.0 for home networks.
    3. Gateway: Configure the default gateway on the NAS to the IP address of the router. This allows the NAS to communicate with devices outside of its subnet.
    4. DNS Server: Set the DNS server address on the NAS to the same as the router or use a preferred DNS server provided by your ISP.
    5. Port Forwarding: If you wish to access the NAS from outside your local network, you may need to set up port forwarding on the router to allow inbound connections to the NAS.
    6. Firewall: Ensure that the router's firewall is not blocking any necessary ports or protocols required by the NAS for proper communication.
    7. Network Protocol: Verify that both the NAS and the router are using compatible network protocols such as TCP/IP, SMB (Server Message Block), NFS (Network File System), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), etc.
    8. Network Speed: Check if the NAS and the router support the same network speed (e.g., 10/100/1000 Mbps) and ensure they are connected using the appropriate Ethernet cables.
    9. Firmware Updates: Keep both the NAS and the router firmware up to date to ensure compatibility and security.

    It's important to consult the documentation provided by the NAS and router manufacturers for specific instructions on configuring network settings for your particular devices.

  • Can the QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A be connected to the router wirelessly, or does it require a wired connection?

    The QNAP Turbo Station TS-873 / TS-873A requires a wired connection to the router. It does not have built-in Wi-Fi capability, so it needs to be connected to the router using an Ethernet cable for network connectivity.
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