How to Retrieve Accidentally Deleted Data from NAS Seagate Black Armor STCU4000200

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Seagate Black Armor STCU4000200
• 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 RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations impact data loss in NAS Seagate Black Armor STCU4000200 devices?

RAID configurations in NAS Seagate Black Armor STCU4000200 devices can greatly impact data loss. Here are a few ways RAID can affect data loss in these devices:

1. Redundancy: RAID configurations, such as RAID 1 or RAID 5, provide redundancy by distributing data across multiple disks. In case one disk fails, the data can still be accessed from the remaining disks. This redundancy helps in minimizing the risk of data loss due to disk failures.
2. Data recovery: If a disk fails in a RAID configuration, the NAS device can rebuild the lost data by using the redundant information stored on other disks. This process is known as data recovery, and it helps in recovering data without any loss.
3. Improved fault tolerance: RAID configurations enhance fault tolerance by allowing the NAS device to continue functioning even if one or multiple disks fail. This ensures that data remains accessible even during disk failures, reducing the chances of data loss.
4. Performance impact: Depending on the RAID configuration, there can be a performance impact on the NAS device. For example, RAID 5 distributes data and parity information across multiple disks, which can result in slower write speeds. This performance impact can indirectly impact data loss if the device is unable to handle high workloads efficiently.
5. RAID controller failure: In some cases, the RAID controller itself can fail, leading to data loss. If the RAID controller malfunctions or becomes inaccessible, it can prevent the NAS device from accessing the data stored on the disks, resulting in potential data loss.

It is important to note that while RAID configurations can provide protection against certain types of data loss, they are not foolproof. Other factors such as human error, malware attacks, or natural disasters can still cause data loss in NAS devices. Therefore, it is recommended to have regular backups and implement additional data protection measures to minimize the risk of data loss.

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

Although the NAS Black Armor STCU4000200 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 Seagate Black Armor STCU4000200. 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 Seagate

Black Armor STCU4000200 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:

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 STCU4000200 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