Data Recovery After Formatting a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU RAID Array: Essential Guide

Has your NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU 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-977XU RAID Array: Essential Guide
Data Recovery Tool

QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU 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-977XU. 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-977XU RAID Array: Essential Guide

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 elevation of privileges or compromised user accounts lead to data loss or unauthorized access on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU devices?

Yes, elevation of privileges or compromised user accounts can potentially lead to data loss or unauthorized access on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU devices. If an attacker gains elevated privileges or compromises a user account with administrative access, they can manipulate or delete data, modify system configurations, install malicious software, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on the device.

It is important to ensure that strong security measures are in place, such as regularly updating firmware and software, using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and restricting access to only trusted users. Additionally, implementing proper network segmentation and access controls can help mitigate the risk of unauthorized access or data loss.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-977XU 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-977XU. 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-977XU has 9 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-977XU 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-977XU, 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 virtualization features offered by the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU?

    The NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU offers several virtualization features, including:

    1. Virtualization Station: This feature allows you to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) on the NAS. You can create and manage VMs with different operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, and Android, directly from the NAS interface. It also supports importing/exporting VMs and snapshots for easy backup and restoration.
    2. Container Station: With Container Station, you can use lightweight container technology to run various applications, such as Docker containers, on the NAS. It provides an easy-to-use interface for managing and deploying containers, allowing you to quickly set up and run applications without the need for complex configurations.
    3. Linux Station: This feature enables you to run Linux-based applications on the NAS. It provides a complete Linux environment with a graphical user interface (GUI), allowing you to install and use Linux applications directly on the NAS without the need for a separate computer.
    4. Virtual Switch: The NAS supports virtual switches, which allow you to create isolated network environments for different VMs or containers. You can configure VLANs, DHCP servers, and other network settings to provide connectivity and security for your virtualized environment.
    5. Snapshots and Cloning: The NAS supports snapshots and cloning for virtual machines. You can take snapshots of VMs at specific points in time, allowing you to easily revert back to a previous state if needed. Cloning allows you to create exact copies of VMs for testing, development, or other purposes.

    These virtualization features provide flexibility and efficiency in utilizing the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU for running virtual machines, containers, and Linux applications, making it suitable for various business and personal use cases.

  • How does the virtualization feature of NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU enhance its performance and functionality?

    The virtualization feature of NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU enhances its performance and functionality in several ways:

    1. Virtualization Station: The NAS is equipped with Virtualization Station, which allows users to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) on the NAS. This feature enables businesses to consolidate their IT infrastructure by running multiple applications and operating systems on a single physical NAS device. This helps to save hardware costs, energy consumption, and space.
    2. High-performance hardware: The TS-977XU is powered by an AMD Ryzen processor and supports up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM. This high-performance hardware ensures smooth and efficient operation of virtual machines, allowing users to run resource-intensive applications without any performance bottlenecks.
    3. GPU passthrough: The TS-977XU supports GPU passthrough, allowing users to assign a dedicated graphics card to a specific virtual machine. This is particularly useful for applications that require GPU acceleration, such as video editing, 3D rendering, and AI training. By leveraging the power of dedicated GPUs, users can significantly enhance the performance of their virtual machines.
    4. Snapshots and cloning: The NAS supports snapshots and cloning of virtual machines, which provide data protection and flexibility. Snapshots allow users to capture the current state of a virtual machine, enabling them to revert to a previous state if necessary. Cloning allows users to create multiple identical copies of a virtual machine, which is useful for testing, development, or deploying multiple instances of the same application.
    5. Virtual switch and network connectivity: The TS-977XU includes a virtual switch that allows users to create isolated virtual networks for their virtual machines. This provides enhanced security and flexibility in managing network connectivity for different applications and VMs.
    6. Integration with other QNAP applications: The virtualization feature integrates seamlessly with other QNAP applications, such as QTS, File Station, and App Center. This allows users to easily manage and access their virtual machines, share files between the host and guest OS, and install additional applications from the QNAP App Center to enhance the functionality of their virtual machines.

    Overall, the virtualization feature of the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU enhances its performance and functionality by providing a powerful and flexible platform for running multiple virtual machines, supporting GPU acceleration, ensuring data protection, and integrating with other QNAP applications.

  • Can you provide examples of how businesses can benefit from the virtualization capabilities of NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU?

    Certainly! Here are a few examples of how businesses can benefit from the virtualization capabilities of NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU:

    1. Server Consolidation: The TS-977XU allows businesses to consolidate multiple physical servers into a single virtualized environment. This reduces hardware costs, simplifies management, and improves resource utilization.
    2. Cost Savings: By virtualizing multiple operating systems and applications on a single NAS, businesses can save on hardware, power, and cooling costs. The TS-977XU supports virtual machines (VMs) running various operating systems like Windows, Linux, and UNIX.
    3. Disaster Recovery: The TS-977XU offers snapshot and backup features, allowing businesses to create multiple recovery points for their virtual machines. In the event of a system failure or data loss, businesses can quickly restore their VMs to a previous state, minimizing downtime and data loss.
    4. Flexibility and Scalability: With the TS-977XU, businesses can easily create, deploy, and manage virtual machines to meet their changing needs. They can allocate resources dynamically, add or remove VMs as required, and scale their virtual infrastructure without significant hardware investments.
    5. Testing and Development: The virtualization capabilities of the TS-977XU enable businesses to create isolated environments for testing and development purposes. They can quickly provision VMs, test new applications or software updates, and roll back changes if needed, without affecting the production environment.
    6. Centralized Management: The QNAP Virtualization Station provides a user-friendly interface for managing virtual machines on the TS-977XU. Businesses can monitor performance, allocate resources, and easily migrate VMs between different NAS devices, simplifying administration and reducing management overhead.

    Overall, the virtualization capabilities of the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-977XU offer businesses increased efficiency, cost savings, improved disaster recovery, and greater flexibility in managing their IT infrastructure.
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