RAID, NAS and server recovery in Calgary.
A failed rebuild, unavailable NAS volume or second disk failure can interrupt access to all your shared files at once. We assess the drives individually, then work from copies to reconstruct the array while preserving the originals.
How it usually goes wrong.
One drive failed, then another during the rebuild
The most common RAID 5 loss. Rebuilding is hard work for drives that are the same age.
NAS will not mount the volume
Synology, QNAP, Buffalo and others. The data is often fine on the disks.
Controller failed or lost its settings
We can work out the layout from the drives themselves.
Volume deleted or re-initialised
Often recoverable if nothing new was written afterwards.
Server will not boot
Volumes and virtual machine disks inside the array can be rebuilt from images.
Drives pulled and reinserted out of order
Recoverable, as long as no rebuild was forced afterwards.
How we put it back together.
- 01
Image every drive
Each drive is labelled and copied in full. Any failing drive is repaired first so it can be read.
- 02
Work out the layout
Drive order, stripe size and parity are worked out from the data on the disks.
- 03
Rebuild from the copies
The array is reassembled virtually. Your original drives are never written to.
- 04
Recover and list
Files are pulled and checked, and you get a list of what came back.
From the bench.
Drives bought together tend to wear out together. When one fails, its neighbours are often close behind, and a rebuild reads every sector of every drive. That is exactly the moment a second weak drive gives out.
A rebuild onto the wrong disk, or with the drives out of order, writes parity over good data. That is the one mistake we cannot always undo, so the safest thing you can do is stop and call.
Before you touch the array again.
Helpful next steps
- Shut it down cleanly.
- Label every drive with its bay number.
- Note the RAID level and the NAS or controller model if you know them.
- Bring every drive, including the ones marked failed.
Best avoided for now
- Start or retry a rebuild.
- Swap drives between bays.
- Run file system repair on the volume.
What clients said.
…they were able to recover all the Data I thought was lost forever, from my NAS External Hard Drive.
Our terms, in plain numbers.
- Who does the work
- iCube Development (Calgary) Ltd., recovering data since 2005.
- Where
- One address, and it is our lab: #610 - 11012 Macleod Trail SE. Recovery is done here by our own staff and is not outsourced. No drop-off depots, no appointment needed.
- Evaluation
- Free standard evaluation within 72 hours, for one device per client. Priority (24 hours) and same-day evaluations, multi-drive arrays and devices another company has opened are quoted before we start.
- Your quote
- In writing, before any recovery work. Nothing extra is done or billed without your approval.
- If we cannot recover your files
- You pay nothing for the recovery, parts included. Any exception, such as a paid diagnostic for a device another company has opened, is agreed with you in writing first.
- Success rate
- We do not publish one. A percentage cannot describe your device; your evaluation tells you what is actually recoverable.
- Your recovered files
- Returned on new media or, with your permission, by secure download. Our working copy is deleted seven days after completion unless you ask in writing to keep it longer.
- Privacy
- Your device and files are handled only by our own staff, who are bound by confidentiality, unless the law requires otherwise.
- Your device
- Please collect it within 30 days. Photo ID is required at pickup.
Questions we get asked.
Which RAID levels do you work with?
RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60, on hardware controllers, software RAID and NAS units.
Do I need to bring the NAS box itself?
The drives are what matter. Bring the enclosure too if it is easy to carry; it can save time.
One drive failed but everything still works. What should I do?
Back it up before replacing anything. If you cannot, call us before starting the rebuild.
Is the evaluation free for a RAID or NAS?
No. The free standard evaluation covers one device. Multi-drive arrays need more work to assess, so we quote the evaluation before we start.
Will the price change after I approve the quote?
Not without your approval. If we find something the quote did not cover, we stop and explain it before going further.
My volume was encrypted. Can you still recover it?
Only with the password or key. Encryption does its job: without the key, nobody can read the data, including us. Have it ready when you call.
Tell us what happened.
Send the details or call (587) 387-2346. We will tell you what to do with the device in the meantime.
Drop-off: Southcentre Executive Tower, #610 - 11012 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary. Monday to Thursday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.