RAID Data Recovery

Swindon Data Recovery: The UK’s Premier RAID Recovery Specialists | 25 Years of Technical Excellence – Raid Data Recovery Services

For 25 years, Swindon Data Recovery has been the UK’s leading specialist in recovering data from all RAID configurations. Our state-of-the-art laboratory combines quarter-century expertise with enterprise-grade recovery equipment to handle the most complex storage array failures across software, hardware, and virtual RAID systems.

Supported Systems & Manufacturers

Top 20 NAS Brands & Models:

1. Synology: DS1821+, DS3622xs+, RS3621RPxs

2. QNAP: TS-h3087XU-RP, TVS-h1688X, TDS-16489U

3. Western Digital: WD PR4100, WD DL2100, WD EX4100

4. Buffalo Technology: TeraStation 7120Rh, TS5600D

5. Netgear: ReadyNAS RN628X00, RN31600

6. Drobo: 5N2, 8D, B810n, B810i

7. Asustor: AS6510T, LOCKERSTOR 10

8. Thecus: N12910, N8850, N12000V

9. Terramaster: F8-422, D8-332, T9-450

10. Dell EMC: PowerVault NX3240, ME4012

11. HP: ProLiant Storage Server, StoreEasy 1650

12. Lenovo: ThinkSystem DE4000H, DE6000H

13. Seagate: BlackArmor NAS 440, Pro 4-Bay

14. Infortrend: EonStor DS 3024, GS 3024

15. Promise Technology: VTrak E610sD, R6600

16. LaCie: 12big Rack 4U, 8big Rack 4U

17. Acer: Altos F300, Acer AR380 F2

18. Oracle: ZFS Storage ZS7-2, ZS5-2

19. Fujitsu: ETERNUS DX100 S3, DX200 S3

20. IBM: System Storage DS3500, DS4200

Top 15 RAID Servers:

1. Dell EMC: PowerEdge R740xd, R750xa, PowerVault MD3460

2. HPE: ProLiant DL380 Gen10, StoreEver MSL2024

3. IBM/Lenovo: ThinkSystem SR650, ST250

4. Supermicro: SuperStorage 6048R-E1CR24N

5. Cisco: UCS C240 M5 SD, C480 M5 ML

6. Fujitsu: PRIMERGY RX2530 M5, RX4770 M1

7. Oracle: Sun Fire X4270 M3, ZFS Storage ZS4-4

8. Hitachi Vantara: VSP E590, VSP E790

9. NetApp: FAS8300, A300, A700

10. Intel: Server System S2600WF

11. Acer: Altos R380 F2, AR585 F1

12. ASUS: RS720-E9-RS12U, ESC4000 G4

13. Promise Technology: Vess R3660, R3616

14. Areca: ARC-8050T3, ARC-1883IX-24

15. QNAP: TS-EC2480U R2, TS-1685

Top 25 Software RAID Errors & Recovery Processes

1. Linux mdadm Superblock Corruption
Summary: Critical mdadm superblock corruption prevents array assembly and access.
Technical Recovery: We manually locate backup superblocks at 4K/64K/256K offsets from device start. Using hex editors, we repair primary superblock using backup copies, ensuring proper UUID matching and device position flags. We reconstruct array state from mdstat and recovery journal data.

2. Windows Storage Spaces Pool Metadata Corruption
Summary: Storage Spaces pool metadata corruption causes virtual disk inaccessibility.
Technical Recovery: We parse the Microsoft Storage Spaces metadata using custom tools to rebuild the slab allocation tables and column data distribution. We reconstruct the virtual disk using parity information from surviving pool members.

3. ZFS Pool Import Failure
Summary: ZFS pool cannot import due to corrupted uberblocks or damaged MOS.
Technical Recovery: We scan for valid uberblocks across all drives, then use zdb to reconstruct the Meta Object Set. We manually repair the object directory and space map trees to restore pool accessibility.

4. Btrfs Chunk Tree Corruption
Summary: Btrfs chunk tree corruption prevents file system mounting.
Technical Recovery: We locate backup superblocks and reconstruct the chunk tree using extent tree data. We repair the device allocation tree and rebuild the checksum trees for data verification.

5. Apple RAID Assistant Volume Header Damage
Summary: Apple Software RAID volume headers corrupted, preventing core storage recognition.
Technical Recovery: We reconstruct the Apple Core Storage metadata, repairing the logical volume group headers and physical volume maps using backup metadata locations.

6. Linux LVM2 Metadata Corruption
Summary: LVM2 metadata corruption causes volume group recognition failure.
Technical Recovery: We restore metadata from /etc/lvm/backup or reconstruct from binary metadata areas. We repair physical volume headers and volume group descriptors to reassemble logical volumes.

7. Windows Dynamic Disk Database Corruption
Summary: Windows LDM database corruption renders dynamic disks inaccessible.
Technical Recovery: We repair the private header and database records in the 1MB LDM region. We reconstruct volume relationships using transactional log data from the LDM database.

8. mdadm Bitmap Corruption
Summary: Write-intent bitmap corruption causes inconsistent array state.
Technical Recovery: We repair or regenerate the bitmap file, then use journal replay to bring array to consistent state. We validate data consistency across all member drives.

9. Software RAID Cache Corruption
Summary: Unwritten cache data lost during system crash causes data inconsistency.
Technical Recovery: We analyze file system journals to identify incomplete transactions and perform atomic rollback to last consistent state across all array members.

10. Array Member Mismatch After Drive Replacement
Summary: Incorrect drive replacement causes array member mismatch and sync failure.
Technical Recovery: We reconstruct the original array configuration and perform virtual resynchronization using parity verification to restore consistent array state.

11. Kernel-level RAID Module Failures
Summary: Kernel RAID module crashes or corruption causes array failure.
Technical Recovery: We analyze kernel crash dumps and system logs to identify module issues. We repair or replace damaged kernel modules and restore array functionality.

12. Software RAID Performance Degradation
Summary: Severe performance degradation due to software RAID optimization issues.
Technical Recovery: We analyze I/O patterns and rebuild array with optimized chunk sizes and stripe parameters. We implement proper alignment and caching strategies.

13. Multi-path Software RAID Conflicts
Summary: Multi-path I/O conflicts cause software RAID instability.
Technical Recovery: We reconcile multiple access paths and rebuild consistent device mapping. We implement proper path failover and load balancing configuration.

14. Journaling File System Corruption on RAID
Summary: File system journal corruption on software RAID causes mount failures.
Technical Recovery: We repair file system journals (EXT4, XFS, NTFS) and replay transactions to restore consistency across all array members.

15. Software RAID Expansion Failure
Summary: Array expansion process fails mid-operation.
Technical Recovery: We restore pre-expansion configuration and complete expansion virtually. We validate data integrity throughout the expansion process.

16. RAID Member Drive Order Corruption
Summary: Drive order information corrupted, preventing proper array assembly.
Technical Recovery: We test all possible drive permutations and validate correct order through checksum verification and file system structure analysis.

17. Software RAID Rebuild Interruption
Summary: Rebuild process interrupted, leaving array in inconsistent state.
Technical Recovery: We analyze rebuild progress and complete reconstruction using parity verification. We handle partial writes and stale data scenarios.

18. Metadata Update Failures
Summary: Concurrent metadata updates cause corruption in software RAID structures.
Technical Recovery: We implement distributed lock management and repair corrupted metadata using transactional recovery techniques.

19. Software RAID Memory Management Issues
Summary: Memory allocation failures cause software RAID performance issues.
Technical Recovery: We optimize memory usage patterns and implement proper cache management. We repair memory-related corruption in RAID metadata.

20. Compatibility Layer Failures
Summary: Software RAID compatibility issues between different OS versions.
Technical Recovery: We implement compatibility shims and migrate array configuration to compatible formats while preserving data integrity.

21. Security Context Corruption
Summary: Security context (SELinux, AppArmor) corruption on software RAID.
Technical Recovery: We repair security contexts and restore proper access controls without data loss.

22. Network-based Software RAID Failures
Summary: Network issues cause distributed RAID (DRBD, Ceph) failures.
Technical Recovery: We reconcile distributed data states and repair network RAID configurations. We handle split-brain scenarios and data synchronization.

23. Resource Exhaustion in Software RAID
Summary: System resource exhaustion causes software RAID failures.
Technical Recovery: We optimize resource allocation and repair resource-related corruption. We implement proper monitoring and recovery mechanisms.

24. Software RAID Configuration Drift
Summary: Configuration drift between array members causes inconsistencies.
Technical Recovery: We synchronize configurations across all members and restore consistent array state using majority consensus algorithms.

25. Backup Superblock Exhaustion
Summary: All backup superblocks corrupted or exhausted in software RAID.
Technical Recovery: We reconstruct superblocks from raw data patterns and file system metadata. We implement new backup strategies and verification mechanisms.

Top 25 Hardware RAID Errors & Recovery Processes

1. RAID Controller NVRAM Failure
Summary: Controller NVRAM failure causes configuration loss and cache data corruption.
Technical Recovery: We extract configuration from controller flash memory and repair NVRAM modules. We reconstruct cache data using transaction logs and parity information.

2. Controller Firmware Corruption
Summary: RAID controller firmware corruption prevents proper operation.
Technical Recovery: We reprogram firmware using manufacturer tools and recover configuration from backup sectors. We validate firmware integrity before array reconstruction.

3. Battery Backup Unit Failure
Summary: BBU failure causes write-back cache disablement and performance degradation.
Technical Recovery: We replace BBU and restore cache functionality. We recover any lost cache data from controller memory and drive journals.

4. Controller Cache Module Failure
Summary: Cache module failure causes data loss and performance issues.
Technical Recovery: We replace cache modules and reconstruct cached data from drive journals. We implement cache recovery procedures to minimize data loss.

5. SAS Expander Firmware Corruption
Summary: SAS expander firmware corruption causes drive connectivity issues.
Technical Recovery: We reprogram SAS expander firmware and restore proper zoning configuration. We recover drive mapping and array accessibility.

6. Backplane Power Distribution Failure
Summary: Backplane power distribution issues cause multiple drive failures.
Technical Recovery: We repair backplane power circuits and replace damaged components. We recover data from affected drives using cleanroom procedures.

7. Controller PCIe Interface Failure
Summary: PCIe interface failure prevents controller communication.
Technical Recovery: We repair PCIe interfaces or migrate controller to compatible system. We preserve configuration during migration process.

8. Hardware Encryption Module Failure
Summary: Hardware encryption module failure prevents data access.
Technical Recovery: We bypass or replace encryption modules while preserving data accessibility. We recover encryption keys from backup storage.

9. Temperature Sensor Failure
Summary: Temperature sensor failure causes overheating and drive damage.
Technical Recovery: We replace sensors and implement thermal management solutions. We recover data from heat-affected drives using specialized techniques.

10. Controller Memory Corruption
Summary: Controller memory corruption causes operational failures.
Technical Recovery: We replace controller memory and restore operation from backup configuration. We validate memory integrity during recovery.

11. Firmware Update Failures
Summary: Failed firmware updates brick RAID controllers.
Technical Recovery: We use manufacturer recovery modes to restore functional firmware. We preserve array configuration during recovery process.

12. Controller Configuration Corruption
Summary: Controller configuration corruption prevents array recognition.
Technical Recovery: We reconstruct configuration from drive metadata and controller logs. We restore proper array parameters and relationships.

13. Multiple Controller Failures
Summary: Multiple controller failures in high-availability configurations.
Technical Recovery: We implement controller failover procedures and restore redundant operation. We synchronize configurations between controllers.

14. Hardware RAID Cache Battery Failure
Summary: Cache battery failure causes cache data loss.
Technical Recovery: We replace batteries and implement cache flushing procedures. We recover data from drive journals and parity information.

15. Drive Channel Failures
Summary: Controller drive channel failures prevent drive access.
Technical Recovery: We migrate drives to functional channels and restore array accessibility. We repair damaged channels where possible.

16. Controller Processor Overheating
Summary: Controller processor overheating causes performance degradation.
Technical Recovery: We improve cooling solutions and replace thermal compounds. We recover from heat-related corruption using parity verification.

17. Hardware Compatibility Issues
Summary: Hardware compatibility issues between controllers and drives.
Technical Recovery: We implement compatibility solutions and firmware updates. We maintain data accessibility during compatibility resolution.

18. Power Supply Issues
Summary: Power supply issues cause controller and drive failures.
Technical Recovery: We replace power supplies and implement power conditioning. We recover from power-related corruption using advanced techniques.

19. Firmware Bug Manifestations
Summary: Firmware bugs cause erratic controller behavior.
Technical Recovery: We implement firmware patches and workarounds. We recover from bug-related data corruption using validation techniques.

20. Controller Security Module Failure
Summary: Security module failure prevents encrypted array access.
Technical Recovery: We bypass or replace security modules while maintaining data accessibility. We recover encryption keys from backup sources.

21. Hardware RAID Expansion Card Failures
Summary: RAID expansion card failures prevent array growth.
Technical Recovery: We repair or replace expansion cards and restore array functionality. We preserve data during expansion card replacement.

22. Controller Network Interface Failure
Summary: Network interface failure in SAN configurations.
Technical Recovery: We repair network interfaces and restore SAN connectivity. We maintain data integrity during network recovery.

23. Hardware RAID Battery Calibration Issues
Summary: Battery calibration issues cause cache performance problems.
Technical Recovery: We recalibrate batteries and optimize cache settings. We implement proper battery maintenance procedures.

24. Controller Memory Module Failures
Summary: Memory module failures cause controller crashes.
Technical Recovery: We replace memory modules and restore controller operation. We recover from memory-related corruption.

25. Hardware RAID Diagnostic Failures
Summary: Diagnostic system failures prevent problem identification.
Technical Recovery: We implement alternative diagnostic methods and repair diagnostic systems. We maintain array operation during diagnostic repairs.

Top 25 Virtual & Proprietary RAID Errors

1. VMware VMDK Corruption on RAID
Summary: VMDK file corruption on underlying RAID causes VM inaccessibility.
Technical Recovery: We repair VMDK descriptors and reconstruct grain tables. We recover VM data using snapshot and delta file analysis.

2. Hyper-V VHDX Corruption
Summary: VHDX file corruption on RAID prevents VM operation.
Technical Recovery: We repair VHDX headers and reconstruct block allocation tables. We recover data using log file replay and bitmap reconstruction.

3. QNAP QTS Hero ZFS Pool Corruption
Summary: ZFS pool corruption on QNAP Hero systems.
Technical Recovery: We import pool into recovery environment and repair uberblocks. We reconstruct space maps and object directories.

4. Drobo BeyondRAID Metadata Corruption
Summary: BeyondRAID metadata corruption causes pool inaccessibility.
Technical Recovery: We reverse-engineer packet allocation tables and reconstruct virtual disk descriptors. We map data packets across mixed-size drives.

5. Synology SHR Volume Group Corruption
Summary: SHR volume group corruption prevents data access.
Technical Recovery: We reconstruct Linux LVM and mdadm layers. We repair complex data distribution across mixed drive sizes.

6. Btrfs RAID Corruption
Summary: Btrfs RAID corruption causes file system failures.
Technical Recovery: We repair chunk trees and rebuild checksum trees. We recover data using copy-on-write transaction logs.

7. Virtual Disk Snapshot Corruption
Summary: Virtual disk snapshot corruption causes data loss.
Technical Recovery: We repair snapshot chains and reconstruct delta files. We recover data from snapshot hierarchies.

8. QNAP Qtier Tiering Corruption
Summary: Qtier automated tiering corruption causes data inconsistency.
Technical Recovery: We reconstruct tiering algorithms and reconcile data between SSD and HDD tiers. We repair migration policies and data placement.

9. ZFS Intent Log Corruption
Summary: ZIL corruption causes transaction loss.
Technical Recovery: We repair ZIL blocks and replay transactions. We reconstruct consistent pool state from transaction records.

10. Virtual Machine Template Corruption
Summary: VM template corruption on RAID arrays.
Technical Recovery: We repair template files and reconstruct VM configurations. We recover template data using differential analysis.

11. Container Storage Corruption
Summary: Container storage corruption in Docker/Kubernetes environments.
Technical Recovery: We repair container layers and reconstruct storage drivers. We recover container data from storage backends.

12. Cloud Storage Gateway Failures
Summary: Cloud storage gateway failures on local RAID cache.
Technical Recovery: We repair gateway metadata and reconstruct cloud object mappings. We recover cached data from local storage.

13. Virtual SAN Configuration Corruption
Summary: vSAN configuration corruption causes storage accessibility issues.
Technical Recovery: We repair vSAN configuration database and reconstruct object mappings. We recover data from distributed storage.

14. Storage Spaces Direct Corruption
Summary: S2D configuration corruption in hyper-converged environments.
Technical Recovery: We repair cluster configuration and reconstruct storage spaces. We recover data from distributed storage pools.

15. NFS/CIFS Export Corruption
Summary: Network share export corruption on RAID storage.
Technical Recovery: We repair export configurations and reconstruct share permissions. We recover data from underlying storage.

16. iSCSI Target Corruption
Summary: iSCSI target corruption on RAID arrays.
Technical Recovery: We repair iSCSI target configurations and reconstruct LUN mappings. We recover data from target storage.

17. Virtual Tape Library Corruption
Summary: VTL corruption on RAID storage systems.
Technical Recovery: We repair VTL catalogs and reconstruct tape emulation. We recover data from virtual tape images.

18. Backup Catalog Corruption
Summary: Backup catalog corruption on RAID storage.
Technical Recovery: We repair backup catalogs and reconstruct backup chains. We recover data from backup storage.

19. Database Storage Corruption
Summary: Database storage corruption on RAID arrays.
Technical Recovery: We repair database files and reconstruct transaction logs. We recover data using database-specific tools.

20. Email Archive Corruption
Summary: Email archive corruption on RAID storage.
Technical Recovery: We repair archive databases and reconstruct message stores. We recover data from archive storage.

21. Video Surveillance Storage Corruption
Summary: Surveillance storage corruption on RAID arrays.
Technical Recovery: We repair video databases and reconstruct recording indexes. We recover surveillance footage from storage.

22. Medical Imaging Storage Corruption
Summary: Medical imaging storage corruption on RAID systems.
Technical Recovery: We repair DICOM databases and reconstruct image stores. We recover medical images from storage.

23. Document Management System Corruption
Summary: Document management storage corruption on RAID.
Technical Recovery: We repair document databases and reconstruct file stores. We recover documents from storage systems.

24. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Corruption
Summary: VDI storage corruption on RAID arrays.
Technical Recovery: We repair VDI databases and reconstruct desktop images. We recover desktop data from storage.

25. Big Data Storage Corruption
Summary: Big data storage corruption on RAID systems.
Technical Recovery: We repair distributed file systems and reconstruct data partitions. We recover data from distributed storage.

Advanced Technical Capabilities

Software RAID Expertise:

• Linux mdadm, Windows Storage Spaces, Apple RAID

• ZFS, Btrfs, XFS file system recovery

• LVM2 and volume group management

• Distributed RAID system recovery

Hardware RAID Specialization:

• All major controller brands (Adaptec, LSI, Dell, HP)

• SAS/SATA/FC interface expertise

• Hardware encryption module handling

• Enterprise storage system recovery

Virtual System Recovery:

• VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenServer

• Container storage (Docker, Kubernetes)

• Cloud storage integration

• Virtual SAN and hyper-converged infrastructure

Why Choose Swindon Data Recovery?

• 25 Years of RAID Expertise: Comprehensive knowledge across all RAID types

• UK’s Largest RAID Inventory: Extensive stock of controllers and components

• Advanced Recovery Tools: Industry-leading equipment and software

• Multi-Platform Expertise: Windows, Linux, macOS, Unix systems

• Free Comprehensive Diagnostics: Detailed assessment with transparent pricing

Contact Swindon Data Recovery today for a free, confidential evaluation of your failed RAID system. Experience the difference that 25 years of technical excellence makes in recovering your critical data.