
- Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
- Key Information About the NAS Thecus N8880U
- 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 Thecus 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 Thecus N8880U devices?
User training or education can help in minimizing data loss incidents on NAS Thecus N8880U devices in the following ways:
- Understanding data backup: Users should be educated on the importance of regular data backups and how to perform them on the NAS device. This includes setting up scheduled backups, selecting appropriate backup destinations, and verifying the integrity of the backup data.
- Security best practices: Users should be trained on security best practices such as creating strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly updating the NAS firmware and software to protect against vulnerabilities.
- Access control and permissions: Users should be educated on how to set up access control and permissions to restrict unauthorized access to sensitive data. This includes creating user accounts with appropriate access levels and ensuring that only trusted individuals have administrative privileges.
- Network security: Users should be trained on network security measures such as enabling firewalls, configuring secure remote access protocols (e.g., VPN), and monitoring network traffic for any suspicious activities.
- Data encryption: Users should be educated on the importance of data encryption to protect sensitive information stored on the NAS device. This includes enabling encryption for shared folders and implementing secure transmission protocols (e.g., HTTPS) for remote access.
- Regular maintenance and monitoring: Users should be trained on performing regular maintenance tasks such as checking for firmware updates, monitoring system logs for any anomalies, and ensuring that the NAS device has sufficient storage capacity to avoid data loss due to disk failures.
- Disaster recovery planning: Users should be educated on disaster recovery planning, including creating backup strategies, documenting recovery procedures, and testing the recovery process to ensure data can be restored in case of a data loss incident.
Overall, user training and education can empower users to take proactive measures to protect their data and minimize the risk of data loss incidents on NAS devices like Thecus N8880U.
How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
Although the NAS N8880U 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 Thecus N8880U. 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 Thecus
N8880U has 8 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 0;
- RAID 1;
- RAID 5;
- RAID 6;
- RAID 50;
- RAID 60;
- RAID 10;
- JBOD;
NAS supports:
- EXT3;
- EXT4;
- XFS;
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 Thecus N8880U network-attached storage keeps OS Linux 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, data recovery from a NAS device like Thecus N8880U can still be possible even if the device is experiencing network congestion or bandwidth issues. In such cases, the data recovery process might be slower or more challenging due to the limitations in network speed, but it can still be done.
One approach to recover the data is to connect the NAS device directly to a computer using an Ethernet cable, bypassing the network congestion. This allows for a more direct and faster data transfer between the NAS and the computer, improving the chances of successful data recovery.
Another option is to use specialized data recovery software or services that can handle network-related issues. These tools are designed to optimize data recovery processes in situations where network performance is compromised.
It's important to note that if the NAS device is experiencing hardware failures or other issues unrelated to network congestion, data recovery may require professional assistance from data recovery experts or specialized services.