Quick Guide to Recovering NAS Seagate Black Armor STCT4000200 Data

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Seagate Black Armor STCT4000200
• 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 Seagate 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.

How can user training or education help in minimizing data loss incidents on NAS Seagate Black Armor STCT4000200 devices?

User training or education can help in minimizing data loss incidents on NAS Seagate Black Armor STCT4000200 devices in the following ways:

1. Understanding the Device: User training can help users understand the functionality and limitations of the NAS device. They will learn how to properly configure and use the device, including setting up user accounts, permissions, and access controls. This knowledge will reduce the chances of accidental data loss due to misconfiguration or improper use.
2. Backup and Recovery: Users can be trained on the importance of regular backups and how to set up automated backup schedules on the NAS device. They will learn about different backup methods, such as incremental or full backups, and understand how to restore data in case of data loss incidents.
3. Security Best Practices: Education on security best practices can help users protect their data from unauthorized access or cyber threats. They will learn about the importance of strong passwords, enabling encryption, and keeping the device's firmware up to date. This knowledge will minimize the risk of data loss due to security breaches.
4. Data Management: Users can be educated on proper data management practices, such as organizing files and folders, avoiding duplication, and regularly archiving or deleting unnecessary data. This will not only improve data accessibility but also reduce the chances of accidental data loss.
5. Troubleshooting: User training can cover basic troubleshooting techniques for common issues that may lead to data loss incidents. Users will learn how to identify and resolve hardware or software problems, preventing potential data loss situations.
6. Awareness of Physical Risks: Users can be made aware of physical risks that may lead to data loss, such as power surges, water damage, or theft. They can be trained on preventive measures like using surge protectors, keeping the device in a secure location, and implementing off-site backup solutions.

Overall, user training or education plays a crucial role in minimizing data loss incidents on NAS Seagate Black Armor STCT4000200 devices by empowering users with the knowledge and skills needed to properly configure, use, and protect their data on the device.

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

Although the NAS Black Armor STCT4000200 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

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Seagate Black Armor STCT4000200. 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 Seagate

Black Armor STCT4000200 has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• exFAT, VFAT, FAT 12 / 16 / 32;
• NTFS / ReFS;
• APFS / HFS+;
• Ext2 / 3 / 4 / ReiserFS / XFS / UFS / ZFS / Btrfs;
• VMFS / HikvisionFS;

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 Seagate Black Armor STCT4000200 network-attached storage keeps Seagate NAS OS 4 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