RAID 5 Data Recovery

York Data Recovery: The UK’s Premier RAID 5, 6 & 10 Recovery Specialists

For 25 years, York Data Recovery has been the UK’s leading expert in complex RAID data recovery, specialising in parity-based architectures (RAID 5, RAID 6) and nested configurations (RAID 10). Our engineers possess unparalleled expertise in XOR parity calculations, Reed-Solomon coding, and advanced stripe reconstruction across multiple drive failures. We support every RAID implementation from hardware controllers to software-defined storage, recovering data from catastrophic multi-drive failures and complex logical corruption using our state-of-the-art laboratory equipped with advanced parity analysis tools and comprehensive donor drive inventory.

25 Years of Complex RAID Architecture Expertise
Our quarter-century of experience encompasses the complete evolution of RAID technology, from early hardware controllers with proprietary XOR implementations to modern software-defined storage with dynamic parity distribution. This extensive knowledge base includes proprietary parity algorithms for enterprise RAID controllers and deep understanding of dual parity implementations in RAID 6 configurations. Our historical database contains thousands of controller-specific parity patterns and metadata structures essential for successful reconstruction of even the most complex RAID 5 and RAID 6 failures.

Comprehensive NAS & Enterprise Server Support

Top 15 NAS Brands & Popular UK Models:

1. Synology: DS923+, DS1522+, RS1221+

2. QNAP: TS-464, TVS-872X, TS-1655

3. Western Digital: WD PR4100, WD EX4100

4. Seagate: BlackWolf, IronWolf Pro

5. Netgear: ReadyNAS RN212, RN3138

6. Buffalo Technology: TeraStation 51210RH, 3410DN

7. Drobo: Drobo 5N2, Drobo 8D

8. Asustor: AS5304T, AS6706T

9. Thecus: N8850, W6810

10. Terramaster: F4-423, T9-450

11. Lenovo: PX12-450R, IX4-300D

12. LaCie: 12big, 2big

13. Promise Technology: Pegasus32 R8, R8i

14. ZyXEL: NAS542, NAS572

15. D-Link: DNS-345, DNS-327L

Top 15 RAID 5/10 Server Brands & Models:

1. Dell EMC: PowerEdge R750xs, R740xd2

2. HPE: ProLiant DL380 Gen11, DL360 Gen11

3. Lenovo: ThinkSystem SR650, SR630 V2

4. Supermicro: SuperServer 6049P-E1CR90H

5. Cisco: UCS C240 M7 Rack Server

6. Fujitsu: PRIMERGY RX2540 M7

7. IBM: Power System S1022

8. Hitachi: Compute Blade 2000

9. Oracle: Sun Server X4-4

10. Huawei: FusionServer 2288H V5

11. Inspur: NF5280M6, NF5180M6

12. Acer: Altos R380 F3

13. ASUS: RS720-E10-RS12U

14. Intel: Server System R2000WF

15. Tyan: Transport SX TS65-B8036

Technical Recovery: 25 Software RAID Errors

1. Multiple Drive Failures Exceeding RAID 5 Redundancy
   Technical Recovery Process: We create sector-by-sector images of all surviving drives and perform parametric analysis to determine original RAID parameters (stripe size: 16KB-1MB, disk order, parity rotation: left/right symmetric). Using UFS Explorer RAID Recovery, we construct virtual RAID assemblies and employ mathematical reconstruction of missing data blocks through XOR parity calculations. For dual-drive failures in RAID 5, we utilize maximum likelihood estimation and statistical analysis of file system structures to reconstruct probable data patterns.

2. RAID 6 Dual Parity Corruption with P+Q Syndrome Damage
   Technical Recovery Process: We analyze both parity blocks (P and Q) using Reed-Solomon algebraic decoding across Galois Field GF(2^8). By solving simultaneous equations for the two parity syndromes, we can recover from dual drive failures. We validate reconstruction through checksum verification of file system metadata and iterative correction of inconsistent blocks.

3. Failed Rebuild Process with Write Hole Corruption
   Technical Recovery Process: We halt all rebuild processes and work with the original drive set in their pre-rebuild state. Using hardware imagers (DeepSpar Disk Imager), we perform controlled reads of marginal sectors that caused the rebuild failure. We implement a virtual rebuild in our lab environment, applying read-retry algorithms and custom ECC correction to successfully complete the reconstruction while preserving original data.

4. Parity Inconsistency and Checksum Corruption
   Technical Recovery Process: We analyze parity blocks across the array to identify inconsistencies through cyclic redundancy check (CRC-32/CRC-64) validation. Using custom algorithms, we reconstruct corrupted parity by reverse-calculating from known data blocks and validating against file system metadata structures. For ZFS RAID-Z2, we repair corrupted parity through reconstruction of the 256-bit Fletcher-4 checksums.

5. Accidental Reinitialization with Structure Overwrite
   Technical Recovery Process: We perform raw data carving across all drives to locate residual RAID signatures and file system fragments. By analyzing cyclic patterns of data and parity blocks, we mathematically deduce original RAID parameters and reconstruct the virtual assembly, then extract data before the new structure overwrites critical areas using file signature carving and metadata recovery.

6. Drive Removal and Reordering Errors

7. File System Corruption on RAID Volume

8. Journaling File System Replay Failure

9. LVM Corruption on Software RAID

10. Snapshot Management Failure

11. Resource Exhaustion During Rebuild

12. Driver Compatibility Issues

13. Operating System Update Corruption

14. Boot Sector Corruption on RAID Volume

15. GPT/MBR Partition Table Damage

16. Volume Set Configuration Loss

17. Dynamic Disk Database Corruption

18. Storage Spaces Pool Degradation

19. ZFS Intent Log (ZIL) Corruption

20. RAID Migration Failure Between Levels

21. Sector Size Mismatch Issues

22. Memory Dump on RAID Volume

23. Virus/Ransomware Encryption

24. File System Quota Corruption

25. Resource Contention During Sync

Technical Recovery: 30 Mechanical/Electronic RAID Errors

1. Concurrent Multiple Drive Failures from Power Surge
   Technical Recovery Process: We perform component-level repair on all damaged drives, including TVS diode replacement, motor driver IC transplantation (L7250 3.3V, 8945V 5V regulators), and PCB ROM transfers. After stabilizing each drive using controlled power sequencing, we create synchronized images using DeepSpar Disk Imager with adaptive read-retry algorithms, then perform virtual RAID reconstruction accounting for temporal inconsistencies in the failure sequence.

2. Unrecoverable Read Error (URE) During Rebuild
   Technical Recovery Process: We employ hardware imagers with advanced read-retry capabilities, systematically adjusting read channel parameters (MR head bias current, read/write precompensation) for each drive. Using PC-3000 with vendor-specific modules, we disable the drive’s internal error correction and perform raw reads with subsequent software-based LDPC error correction using custom parity matrix parameters optimized for each drive family.

3. RAID Controller Failure with Cache Data Loss
   Technical Recovery Process: We source identical donor controllers and transplant the NVRAM chip containing RAID configuration and cache data. Using PC-3000, we extract configuration data from member drives’ reserved sectors (typically sectors 0x400-0x800) and manually reconstruct controller parameters. For cache data loss, we analyze drive write sequences to identify unwritten cache blocks and reconstruct missing data through parity verification and transaction log analysis.

4. Backplane Failure Causing Multi-Drive Corruption
   Technical Recovery Process: We diagnose backplane issues through signal integrity analysis of SAS/SATA lanes using oscilloscopes with 100MHz bandwidth. We then image all drives through direct connection, bypassing the faulty backplane. During virtual reconstruction, we account for corruption patterns by analyzing parity inconsistencies and performing selective sector repair using Reed-Solomon error correction across the array.

5. Head Stack Assembly Failure During Parity Operations
   Technical Recovery Process: In our Class 100 cleanroom, we perform precise head stack assembly transplantation on failed drives using donor assemblies matched by preamp characteristics (50-100Ω per head) and firmware compatibility. We then create stabilized images using aggressive read-retry strategies (up to 32 retry attempts per sector) while maintaining synchronization with surviving array members.

6. Spindle Motor Seizure in Critical Parity Drives

7. PCB Failure on Multiple Array Members

8. Media Degradation with Progressive Bad Sectors

9. S.M.A.R.T. Attribute Overflow Forcing Drive Offline

10. Thermal Calibration Crash (TCC) During Rebuild

11. Vibration-Induced Read Errors in Rack Systems

12. Write Cache Enable/Disable Conflicts

13. Controller Memory Module Failure

14. SAS Phy Layer Degradation

15. Expander Firmware Corruption

16. Power Supply Imbalance Issues

17. Cooling Failure Causing Thermal Throttling

18. Physical Impact Damage to Array

19. Water/Fire Damage to Storage System

20. Interconnect Cable Degradation

21. Ground Loop Induced Corruption

22. Electromagnetic Interference Issues

23. Component Aging and Parameter Drift

24. Bad Block Management Overload

25. Read/Write Channel Degradation

26. Servo Wedge Damage Preventing Head Positioning

27. Preamp Failure on Head Stack

28. Voice Coil Motor (VCM) Stiction

29. Media Cache Corruption on Enterprise Drives

30. Power Loss Protection Circuit Failure

Technical Recovery: 30 Virtual & File System RAID Errors

1. VHD/VHDX Stripe Corruption on Hyper-V RAID 5
   Technical Recovery Process: We repair virtual disk headers and block allocation tables across multiple VHD/X files, ensuring stripe and parity alignment. We analyze differencing disk chains and reconstruct the RAID 5 volume by parsing virtual storage stack metadata, validating stripe consistency, and recalculating XOR parity across virtual disk files using Microsoft’s proprietary parity algorithm.

2. QTS Thin Volume RAID 5 Corruption
   Technical Recovery Process: We reverse-engineer QNAP’s thin provisioning and RAID 5 metadata to reconstruct stripe mapping tables and parity distribution. By analyzing volume configuration blocks and extent allocation maps, we reassemble the RAID 5 volume while accounting for QNAP’s custom parity implementation and thin provisioning overhead.

3. Btrfs RAID 5/6 Metadata Corruption
   Technical Recovery Process: We repair Btrfs chunk trees and device extent mappings to reconstruct RAID 5/6 volumes. Using btrfs-check with custom repair options, we rebuild the RAID tree structures and validate checksums across all member devices. For RAID 6, we implement Reed-Solomon decoding to handle dual parity inconsistencies.

4. ZFS RAID-Z/Z2 Pool Corruption
   Technical Recovery Process: We utilize zdb to analyze pool configuration and reconstruct missing vdev information. For RAID-Z2 pools, we repair uberblocks and space map metadata while implementing dual parity reconstruction using ZFS’s proprietary variable-width stripe algorithm and 256-bit checksum verification.

5. APFS Container RAID Corruption
   Technical Recovery Process: We repair APFS container superblocks and object maps to reconstruct software RAID volumes. We analyze space manager structures and rebuild stripe alignment metadata, implementing Apple’s proprietary checksum verification (Fletcher-64 for metadata, CRC-32 for data) to ensure data integrity.

6. ext4 Journal Corruption on RAID 5

7. VMFS Datastore RAID Corruption on SAN

8. ReFS Integrity Stream Damage on Parity Spaces

9. XFS Allocation Group RAID Corruption

10. NTFS $MFT Stripe Misalignment

11. exFAT FAT Chain RAID Corruption

12. HFS+ Catalog File RAID Damage

13. Storage Spaces Parity Virtual Disk Corruption

14. Linux MDADM RAID 5/6 Superblock Damage

15. ZFS Deduplication Table Corruption

16. Btrfs Send/Receive Stream Damage

17. Hyper-V VHD Set RAID Corruption

18. VMware Snapshot Chain RAID Issues

19. Thin Provisioning RAID Metadata Damage

20. Thick Provisioning Header RAID Corruption

21. Quick Migration RAID Failure

22. Storage vMotion RAID Interruption

23. Virtual Disk Consolidation RAID Failure

24. RDM (Raw Device Mapping) RAID Corruption

25. VSphere Replication RAID Consistency Issues

26. XFS Real-time Volume RAID Corruption

27. ZFS Log Device Corruption

28. Btrfs Balance Operation Failure

29. ReFS Mirror-Accelerated Parity Corruption

30. Storage Spaces Tiered Parity Volume Corruption

Advanced Laboratory Capabilities

Our RAID recovery laboratory features:

• DeepSpar RAID Reconstructor 4 with advanced parity analysis

• PC-3000 UDMA-6 with RAID 5/6 reconstruction modules

• Atto Fibre Channel SAN for enterprise storage systems

• Custom Reed-Solomon decoding tools developed in-house

• Advanced soldering stations for component-level repair

• Class 100 cleanroom for drive mechanical repair

• Signal analysis equipment for backplane diagnostics

• Proprietary virtual RAID reconstruction software

RAID Recovery Success Metrics

• 94% success rate for single drive failures in RAID 5

• 87% success rate for dual drive failures in RAID 6

• 82% success rate for triple+ drive failures in complex arrays

• 96% success rate for logical/software RAID issues

• 24-72 hour average recovery time depending on complexity

Why Choose York Data Recovery for RAID 5/6/10?

• 25 years of specialized parity RAID architecture expertise

• Largest inventory of enterprise donor components in the UK

• Component-level repair capabilities

• Proprietary parity analysis and reconstruction algorithms

• Free diagnostic assessment with transparent pricing

• No recovery – no fee guarantee for physically accessible drives

Emergency Service Option
Our 24-hour emergency service ensures rapid recovery for critical business systems, with priority access to our RAID specialists and dedicated laboratory resources.

Contact our York-based RAID recovery engineers today for immediate assistance with your failed parity array. Our free diagnostics provide complete assessment of your RAID 5/6/10 system with recovery probability analysis and no obligation.