RAID 1 data recovery?

[Stu]

I have a client that was using a RAID 1 (mirror) system when one of the drives failed. To cut a long story short, he has basically tinkered with it and ended up tuurning RAID off, formatted the remaining drive and installed Windows XP normally.

Now he is asking me if it is possible to recover data from the formatted RAID partition. I'm not too great with RAID, so said I'd look into it for him.

So here I am, is this possible? It is my understanding that what he should have done firstly was replace the failed HDD and rebuilt the mirror. But since he elected to format instead, can the old data possibly be recovered by software such as 'Recover My Files'? I seem to remember something about RAID-formatted drives not being the same as traditionally formatted drives, hence the data not being readable in a normal system?

Anyone with experience of this?

 

[Simmy]

How did the one drive fail? It sounds like you'll have a better chance recovering the data from that rather than the formatted drive with windows freshly installed on it.

I've had success with RAID Reconstructor on two RAID 0 arrays before. All of their data recovery software is good infact.

And yes, the numpty should have put a new drive in and restored the array. That's the whole idea of it Make sure they understand that if they setup RAID 1 again!

 

[Stu]

Hi Simmy, the drive mechanically failed, nasty clicking noises and all that. The guy then compounded the problem by OPENING up the hard drive. It is not even visible in the BIOS anymore, in fact it crashes it!

 

[Simmy]

Just...lol

Clicking is not necessarily a mechanical/headstack issue - it can also mean a faulty firmware module or a dodgy preamplifier chip. He probably had a good chance of getting it back if he sent it off to a specialist. Have you got the dead drive?

I would say there's not much chance of getting it recovered on the working drive, but you might be able to recover the odd file or two. It depends how much the data is worth to him.

 

[tartis]

If it is worth quite a bit to him, I would recommend someone like Drive Savers, Ontrack for lab work.

 

[Stu]

Just...lol

Clicking is not necessarily a mechanical/headstack issue - it can also mean a faulty firmware module or a dodgy preamplifier chip. He probably had a good chance of getting it back if he sent it off to a specialist. Have you got the dead drive?

I would say there's not much chance of getting it recovered on the working drive, but you might be able to recover the odd file or two. It depends how much the data is worth to him.

Yes I have both drives in my possession. I think the guy did get a few quotes from specialist firms but he was very cynical about them, seemed to think he was going to get ripped off big time.

Do you know of any good companies in the UK?

Also, do you do such repairs yourself?

 

[thecoldone06]

We had a storage server here in the office which crashed and we lost 15 years worth of images. In the insurance biz...thats a big no no. So we sent the server and its 4 drives to drive savers. $25,000 later we had back 99% of our images. It's a lot of money but if the data is priceless...you'll pay anything.

 

[seedubya]

Sorry Stu, I know you need help but this guy is so unbelieveably stupid he should have his own TV show. WTF was he at? The short answer to your question is No the long answer is maybe but not very f***ing likely after that idiot got at the drives. (Is there any chance, when this is sorted, that you can castrate this guy to prevent him from passing on his genes?) The best bet is RAID Reconstructor as mentioned by Simmy on the surviving drive. However since he formatted and re-installed you likely will only recover file fragments. As for the other drive it's likely worse off and its only hope is a professional recovery company. His cynicism towards the professionals is just further proof of his utter idiocy. If I were you I wouldn't waste my time with this plonker. It'd be better spent recruiting some homo sapiens customers.

 

[Stu]

Lol, yeah he did make it pretty much impossible for himself. He got a good telling off from me and his son. Problem is, he is a retired electronics "tinkerer", he just can't help himself. I've given him the good news now anyway, I did warn him it was unlikely there was anything I could do.