
- Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
- Key Information About the NAS Seagate Black Armor STCU20000200
- 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 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.
What are the risks of data loss due to firmware or software malfunctions in NAS Seagate Black Armor STCU20000200 devices?
The risks of data loss due to firmware or software malfunctions in NAS Seagate Black Armor STCU20000200 devices include:
- Corrupted or inaccessible data: A firmware or software malfunction can lead to data corruption or make the data inaccessible. This can result in the loss of important files, documents, or media.
- System instability: Malfunctions in firmware or software can cause the NAS device to become unstable, leading to frequent crashes or system failures. This can disrupt data access and potentially result in data loss.
- Data fragmentation: Firmware or software malfunctions may cause data fragmentation, where files are scattered across the storage drives. This can impact the performance of the NAS device and increase the risk of data loss if the fragmented files become corrupted or lost.
- Malware or security vulnerabilities: Firmware or software malfunctions can create security vulnerabilities or loopholes that can be exploited by malware or hackers. This can result in unauthorized access to data, data breaches, or even data deletion.
- Inability to recover data: If the firmware or software malfunctions prevent the NAS device from booting up or accessing the data, it can make data recovery difficult or impossible. This can lead to permanent data loss.
To mitigate these risks, it is important to regularly update the firmware and software of NAS devices, maintain backups of important data, and implement appropriate security measures such as firewalls and antivirus software.
How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
Although the NAS Black Armor STCU20000200 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:
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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.
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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.
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Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.
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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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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 STCU20000200. 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 Seagate
Black Armor STCU20000200 has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 0;
- RAID 1;
- RAID 5;
- RAID 6;
- 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:
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Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.
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In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.
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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.

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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 STCU20000200 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
| 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 |


The Seagate BlackArmor STCU20000200 is a network-attached storage (NAS) device that supports various file systems. It typically comes pre-formatted with the NTFS file system, which is commonly used in Windows operating systems. However, the device also supports other file systems such as FAT32 and HFS+.
When it comes to data recovery, the file system used can have an impact. NTFS, for example, has built-in features that can aid in data recovery, such as the Master File Table (MFT) that keeps track of file metadata. On the other hand, FAT32 lacks some of these advanced features and may make data recovery more challenging.
In any case, data recovery from a NAS device like the Seagate BlackArmor STCU20000200 can be complex and may require professional assistance. If you have experienced data loss, it is recommended to contact a reputable data recovery service provider who specializes in NAS devices to maximize the chances of successful recovery.