Your RAID or NAS has failed — stop before you rebuild
Failed RAID recovery in Perth is one of the most time-sensitive jobs we do, because the most natural reaction — letting it rebuild, or swapping in a new disk — is often exactly what overwrites the data for good. If an array has dropped a disk or won't mount, the safest first move is to stop touching it.
The golden rule: when in doubt, switch it off
Every extra minute a failing device runs can cost you data. Stop using it, don't try recovery software, and call us — talking it through costs nothing.
What's actually happening
RAID spreads your data across several disks. When one fails, the array can keep running in a fragile state — but a second fault, or a rebuild onto a marginal disk, can scramble the data layout permanently.
NAS units (Synology, QNAP and others) add their own file systems and config on top, so 'just resetting it' or reinitialising can wipe the very layout we need to reconstruct your files.
What to do — and what to avoid
The few minutes after data loss matter more than anything. Here's how to protect your chances.
- Power the NAS or array down to stop it degrading further.
- Label each disk with its bay/slot number before removing anything.
- Note the make, model and RAID level (0, 1, 5, 6, 10) if you know it.
- Bring the whole unit and all disks in — we reconstruct the array in our lab.
- Don't start a rebuild — a rebuild onto a weak disk can overwrite recoverable data.
- Don't reinitialise, reset or 'repair' the NAS.
- Don't reorder the disks or test them in another machine one by one.
- Don't keep using the array in its degraded state.
What your recovery odds look like
Arrays that are powered down before a failed rebuild have strong recovery odds. We image every disk individually, reconstruct the RAID virtually, and never write back to your original disks.
The difference between an easy and an impossible job is usually one decision: rebuild or stop. If you're facing failed RAID recovery in Perth, power it down, keep the disks in order, and let us reconstruct it safely rather than risking the array.
Other things that go wrong
Whatever's happened to your device, there's usually a calm way back. Find your situation.
Let's get your data back — calmly and carefully.
Bring it to our Perth lab or post it in. We assess it, give you the honest odds, and nothing proceeds without your go-ahead.