
- Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
- Key Information About the NAS Uniview VS-R5220-B2T
- 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 Uniview 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.
Can remote access to NAS Uniview VS-R5220-B2T devices pose additional data loss risks?
Remote access to NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices, including the Uniview VS-R5220-B2T, can potentially pose additional data loss risks if not properly secured or configured. Here are some factors to consider:
- Weak authentication: If remote access to the NAS device is protected by weak or easily guessable passwords, it increases the risk of unauthorized access. Attackers could potentially delete or modify data, leading to data loss.
- Vulnerabilities: NAS devices, like any other technology, may have security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers. If the device is not regularly updated with security patches, it may be susceptible to attacks that could result in data loss.
- Misconfiguration: Improperly configuring remote access settings on the NAS device can open up security loopholes. For example, leaving unnecessary ports open or not using encryption can make it easier for attackers to gain access and manipulate or delete data.
- Malware or ransomware attacks: If a remote user's device used to access the NAS is infected with malware or ransomware, there is a risk that the malicious software could spread to the NAS device and cause data loss. This emphasizes the importance of ensuring remote devices are adequately protected.
To mitigate these risks and ensure the security of remote access to NAS devices, it is recommended to follow best practices:
- Implement strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), to prevent unauthorized access.
- Regularly update the NAS device's firmware and software to patch any security vulnerabilities.
- Configure the NAS device's firewall to only allow necessary ports for remote access and use secure protocols like SSH or VPN.
- Ensure that the remote devices accessing the NAS are protected with up-to-date antivirus and anti-malware software.
- Regularly back up the data stored on the NAS to a separate location to minimize the impact of potential data loss.
By following these precautions, the additional data loss risks associated with remote access to NAS devices can be significantly reduced.
How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
Although the NAS VS-R5220-B2T 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 Uniview VS-R5220-B2T. 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 Uniview
VS-R5220-B2T has 12 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 0;
- RAID 1;
- RAID 5;
- RAID 6;
- RAID 50;
- RAID 60;
- 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 Uniview VS-R5220-B2T 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 |


To make a backup for the NAS Uniview VS-R5220-B2T, you can follow these steps:
It is recommended to periodically check and update the backup settings to ensure your data is consistently backed up and protected.