How to Access Files on a RAID Disk When NAS Uniview VX1636-C is Not Accessible: Comprehensive Guide

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Uniview VX1636-C
• 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 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 natural disasters such as floods or fires result in data loss for NAS Uniview VX1636-C devices?

Yes, natural disasters such as floods or fires can result in data loss for NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices like Uniview VX1636-C. NAS devices are physical storage systems that store and manage data, and they are susceptible to damage from environmental factors.

Floods can cause water damage to the NAS device, leading to hardware failure and data loss. Water can corrode the internal components and render the device inoperable.

Fires can also destroy NAS devices, as they are typically made of plastic and metal components that can melt or get damaged by heat. The intense heat generated during a fire can cause irreparable damage to the device, resulting in data loss.

To mitigate the risk of data loss due to natural disasters, it is important to take preventive measures such as:

1. Offsite backup: Maintain a backup of your data in a different physical location or on cloud storage. This ensures that even if the NAS device is damaged, the data can be recovered from the backup.
2. Fireproof and waterproof storage: Consider storing the NAS device in a fireproof and waterproof safe or cabinet. This can provide some level of protection against fire and water damage.
3. Redundancy and RAID: Configure the NAS device with redundancy options like RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks). RAID setups distribute data across multiple drives, providing fault tolerance and allowing data recovery even if one or more drives fail.
4. Insurance: Consider insuring your NAS device and the data stored on it. This can help cover the costs of replacement or data recovery in case of damage due to natural disasters.

Overall, it is crucial to have a comprehensive disaster recovery plan in place to protect your data from potential loss caused by natural disasters.

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

Although the NAS VX1636-C 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 Uniview VX1636-C. 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 Uniview

VX1636-C has 36 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:

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 Uniview VX1636-C 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