NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-i410X RAID Array Format Recovery: Steps to Recover Data

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-i410X
• 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.

Are there any preventive measures to minimize the risk of data loss on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-i410X devices?

Yes, there are several preventive measures you can take to minimize the risk of data loss on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-i410X devices. Here are some suggestions:

1. Regularly backup your data: Implement a backup strategy that includes regular backups of your important data. You can use QNAP's built-in backup features to schedule automatic backups to external drives, cloud storage, or other NAS devices.
2. RAID configuration: Set up your QNAP Turbo Station with a RAID configuration that suits your needs. RAID provides redundancy and can protect your data in case of hard drive failure. QNAP offers various RAID options like RAID 1, RAID 5, or RAID 6.
3. UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply): Connect your QNAP Turbo Station to a UPS to protect it from sudden power outages or fluctuations. This helps prevent data corruption or loss due to unexpected shutdowns.
4. Firmware updates: Keep your QNAP Turbo Station's firmware up to date. QNAP regularly releases firmware updates that include bug fixes, security patches, and performance improvements. Updating the firmware can help prevent potential vulnerabilities.
5. Security measures: Implement security measures such as strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), and configuring firewall settings to protect your NAS from unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
6. Regular maintenance: Perform regular maintenance tasks like checking hard drive health, monitoring system logs for any errors or warnings, and cleaning up unnecessary files or applications. This helps ensure the smooth operation of your NAS and reduces the risk of data loss.
7. Offsite backup: Consider creating an offsite backup of your critical data. This can be done by replicating your data to another QNAP NAS located in a different physical location or using cloud backup services.

Remember, data loss can still occur despite taking preventive measures. Therefore, it is crucial to have a comprehensive backup strategy in place to protect your important data.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-i410X 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-i410X. 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-i410X 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.

   

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-i410X 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