
- Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
- Key Information About the NAS QNAP TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP R2
- How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
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.
What is a NAS QNAP TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP R2 (Network Attached Storage) device?
The QNAP TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP R2 is a high-end Network Attached Storage (NAS) device designed for businesses and enterprises. It provides a centralized storage solution for storing, managing, and sharing data across a network.
Key features of the QNAP TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP R2 include:
- High Performance: It is equipped with a powerful Intel Xeon E3 quad-core processor, up to 64GB DDR4 RAM, and supports SAS drives. This ensures fast data processing and high-speed file transfers.
- Scalability: The device offers a high storage capacity with 16 drive bays, allowing for flexible expansion as the storage needs of the business grow. It also supports RAID configurations for data redundancy and protection.
- Connectivity and Data Transfer: It provides multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports for network connectivity and supports various network protocols. It also has USB 3.0 and SAS ports for connecting external devices and achieving high-speed data transfer.
- Advanced Data Protection: The TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP R2 offers advanced data protection features such as snapshot technology, which allows users to quickly recover files or revert to a previous state in case of accidental deletion or data corruption.
- Virtualization Support: It is compatible with virtualization platforms such as VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft Hyper-V, enabling businesses to deploy virtual machines and utilize the NAS as a storage repository for virtual environments.
- High Availability and Redundancy: The device supports dual power supplies and redundant fans, ensuring high availability and minimizing the risk of system downtime.
- Comprehensive Software Features: QNAP provides a range of software applications and features for data management, backup and recovery, remote access, surveillance, and more. These applications can be easily installed and managed through the QTS operating system.
Overall, the QNAP TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP R2 is a robust and feature-rich NAS device designed to meet the demanding storage requirements of businesses and enterprises.
How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
Although the NAS TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP R2 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:
-
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.
-
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.
-
Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.
-
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
Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with QNAP TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP R2. 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.
How to recover data from a QNAP
TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP R2 has 16 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 50;
- RAID 60;
- RAID 6;
- RAID 5;
- 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:
-
Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.
-
In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.
-
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.

-
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 TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP R2 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 |


Yes, it is possible to recover data from a NAS QNAP TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP R2 device that has been affected by file system corruption or partition error. However, the success of data recovery depends on the extent of the damage and the actions taken after the corruption or error occurred.
Here are a few steps you can take to attempt data recovery:
It is important to note that attempting any data recovery process carries some risks, and it is recommended to consult with experts or follow the instructions provided by QNAP support to minimize the chances of further data loss.