How to Avoid Data Loss on NAS WD My Cloud DL4100 and Retrieve Recently Deleted Files

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS WD My Cloud DL4100
• 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 WD 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 WD My Cloud DL4100 devices?

User training or education can help minimize data loss incidents on NAS WD My Cloud DL4100 devices in the following ways:

1. Understanding device functionality: Training can help users understand how the NAS device works, including its features, settings, and limitations. This knowledge allows users to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions to protect their data.
2. Proper setup and configuration: Education can guide users on how to correctly set up and configure the NAS device. This includes creating secure passwords, enabling encryption, setting up regular backups, and configuring RAID for data redundancy.
3. Data backup and recovery: Users can be trained on the importance of regular data backups and how to perform them using the NAS device. They can also learn about different backup strategies, such as using external drives, cloud storage, or remote backups, to ensure data safety.
4. Security practices: Users can be educated on best practices for securing their NAS device and data. This may include enabling firewall and antivirus protection, updating firmware regularly, restricting access to authorized users, and implementing strong network security measures.
5. Data access and sharing: Training can help users understand the risks associated with granting access to their NAS device and data. They can learn how to set up user accounts, permissions, and access controls to ensure that only authorized individuals can access and modify data.
6. Awareness of common risks: Users can be educated about common risks that can lead to data loss, such as accidental deletion, hardware failures, power outages, and malware attacks. By being aware of these risks, users can take preventive measures and respond appropriately in case of an incident.
7. Troubleshooting and maintenance: Training can equip users with troubleshooting skills and knowledge to handle common issues that may lead to data loss. Users can learn how to monitor system health, identify warning signs, and perform routine maintenance tasks to prevent data loss incidents.

By providing users with comprehensive training and education on NAS WD My Cloud DL4100 devices, they can become more proficient in managing and safeguarding their data, ultimately minimizing the risk of data loss incidents.

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

Although the NAS My Cloud DL4100 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 WD My Cloud DL4100. 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 WD

My Cloud DL4100 has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 10;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• Ext2;
• Ext3;
• Ext4;

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 WD My Cloud DL4100 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