How to Repair a Failed RAID?

RAID storage might be different from single-drive storage in terms of storage space and redundancy, but just as you can have failed single-drive storage, you can also have failed RAID storage. RAID drives fail for the same reasons single-drive storage devices fail, and when this happens, you will need to repair or replace the failed RAID drive and also proceed to rebuild the array.

Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID), is a widely adopted modern storage technology that offers data redundancy and unique advantages depending on the array you set up. Also, you can set up hardware or software RAID: hardware RAID uses an external controller device, while software RAID depends on the host PC’s hardware resources.

But, whether you set up hardware or software RAID, the chances of your RAID setup failing are almost the same for all RAID types. RAID fail when one or more drives in the array stop responding or the RAID controller goes bad (in hardware RAID). Making RAID recovery plans is advisable as that would be your bait in critical RAID failure situations.

Steps to Repair/Rebuild a RAID Array

Repairing or rebuilding a RAID array using DiskInternals RAID Recovery involves several crucial steps. DiskInternals RAID Recovery is designed to help recover data from a failed or damaged RAID array, and it can also assist in rebuilding the array if the configuration is lost or corrupted. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

1. Download and Install DiskInternals RAID Recovery

• Start by downloading DiskInternals RAID Recovery tool.
• Install the software on a computer that can connect to the RAID drives. It’s best to perform this on a system other than the one where the RAID operates, to avoid further data loss.

2. Connect the RAID Drives

• Ensure all RAID drives are connected to the computer. If the RAID was originally configured in a hardware RAID setup, you might need a compatible RAID controller.
• For software RAID setups, simply connecting the drives to the motherboard or through external enclosures should suffice.

3. Launch DiskInternals RAID Recovery

• Open the software. The user interface should guide you through the initial setup process.
• The software may automatically detect the RAID type and configuration. If not, you’ll need to manually input the RAID parameters.

4. Scan the RAID Drives

• Use the software to scan the RAID array. There are typically options for a quick scan and a full scan. Choose the full scan if the quick scan fails to find your files or if the RAID structure is severely damaged.
• This process can take a considerable amount of time, especially for larger arrays or slower drives.

5. Review Found Data and Reconstruct RAID

• Once the scan is complete, browse through the found data. DiskInternals RAID Recovery provides a way to preview files before recovery.
• If you need to reconstruct the RAID, follow the software prompts to rebuild the RAID configuration. This is crucial if the RAID metadata is lost or corrupted.

6. Recover and Save Data

• Select the files or entire partitions that you want to recover.
• Choose a safe location to save the recovered data. It’s important to save the data to another drive that’s not part of the RAID array to prevent data overwriting.

7. Verify the Recovery

• After the recovery process, verify the integrity of the recovered data by checking if the files open and operate as expected.
• If the RAID array itself needs to be back in use, test the reconstructed RAID configuration thoroughly before putting it back into production.

8. Backup Your Data

• Once recovery and verification are complete, consider implementing a robust backup strategy to avoid future data loss situations. Regular backups can significantly mitigate the impact of RAID failures.