[deviess]

Hey guys,

I've got a bit of a problem. This has happened twice now and I REALLY don't want to have to go and download all those files AGAIN.

Basically, I have two 2TB WD Green HDDs that I use in a RAID 0 for a 4TB RAID array and just before Christmas, one decided to remove itself from the array. The HDD still works perfectly, but it 'forgot' that it was in the RAID. Which means I lost all that data. I deleted the RAID array and formatted both HDDs. I tried using data recovery software but couldn't get the data back as what I used didn't work with RAID 0.

Anyways, that's kind of irrelevant as I've since rebuilt the array and started using it again as before. Now the problem is, that it's done it again! The same HDD decided to remove itself from the array.

Here's the information that you may need:

One is a WD20EARS (This is the good HDD)
The newer ones is a WD20EARX (the bad HDD that forgot it's RAID twice!)
I'm using Intel SATA onboard RAID.

The question: is there any way to tell an HDD that it's still in a RAID array when it has removed itself? If not, what else can I do?

 

[LMiller7]

All important files need at least one backup copy while those of particular importance need 2 or more backup copies. Due to the greater difficulty in data recovery and the greater chances of a failure this is particularly important with RAID 0 arrays. Having no backups is asking for trouble.

Hopefully someone can help with your problem.

 

[Networks]

Some raid controllers will allow you to toggle a drive from the "failed" condition to online it all depends on the level of support the imbedded motherboard software provides. That "may" get the drive back on-line. The green series are not for raid arrays and the WD site even states that. I have looked it up for another poster before. To recover the data you could use R-Studio (paid version) to re-build the raid set and copy the files off to another drive.

 

[deviess]

It's not the most major problem in the world as almost all of the data is available elsewhere. But it's a real pain getting back over 2TB of data from a lowly 5Mbps connection. And that's on a good day!

The reasons I don't have backups are as follows:
1. No matter how many times someone says that storage is cheap... It's not.
2. I have around 12TB of storage to backup, that's at least half a grand on HDDs alone, let alone the infrastructure to use it.
3. Very little of the data I have is truly valuable, the data that is, is stored in the cloud.

I've got three other RAID 0s across some other computers, and I've never had a hiccup with any of them. The drives work fine, the RAID works fine and it works fine when I plug it into a different computer (I don't get why so many people say that if you upgrade your motherboard, you'll lose your RAIDs, as I've gone from X58 > X79 with RAIDs and they're fine. I've then taken those same RAIDs and put them on Z77 too. All work just fine).


Anyways! I'm getting rather sidetracked. Are there any RAID experts around that could help me get this data back OR to tell this drive that it IS in a RAID still?

Thanks

EDIT: You posted whilst I was typing!

So, with the bog standard RAID controller on an X79 board (specifically MSI Big Bang Xpower II) is it possible to do this RAID 'toggle' thing?

 

[Networks]

I have recovered a LOT of raid sets but most of them are the "server" level raid sets not too many people hire me and pay me to recover MB Raid setups. I am not familiar with that motherboard you just have to get into the raid management during the post to see if it will let you. If it was an Intel or Asus you could call support and ask but I am not sure who supports MSI the manual for the motherboard should tell what options are available for the raid setup.

 

[deviess]

Well when setting up RAIDs, I get the option to Create a RAID, Delete a RAID, something else and exit. I shall just go and check what the last option is and see if I can find something in there!

EDIT: The last option is Reset disks to non-raid. Which is not what I want to do. I can't see anything there about 'toggling' RAID on an HDD on or off. Is there any way to do it from within the OS with IRST/IMIE or whatever they're called (the Intel RAID controller software things).

 

[Networks]

I found the manual for the board at this link: Appendix has info about raid recovery but it only lists it for Raid 1 5 10 and not Raid0. Probably best to connect those drives to a working computer and use R-studio to recover the data at this point

 

[deviess]

Hmmm. OK. I'll look into R-Studio. Thanks for that. Have you got any idea how to stop this HDD from 'forgetting' that it's in a RAID? It seems it might have something to do with the fact it's a different revision of the drive. Since the one WD20EARS has never caused an issue but the WD20EARX which is two years newer has done this twice in 4-5 months.

 

[Networks]

Use WD drives approved for raid setups like the enterprise series or the black series. The green drives are not for raids.

 

[deviess]

Hard drives aren't cheap. I can't afford to spend £200-£600 on HDDs. (I'm a student, by the way).

 

[Fjandr]

These drives are likely to keep dropping. Their error recovery timing is too long for a RAID array.

 

[deviess]

OK. I can probably use them individually for a while until I can afford a better HDD or two.

What would you suggest is my best course of action for getting the data off of these HDDs?
1 - Remove the RAID array and not reformat, then recover files?
2 - Remove RAID array then reformat as NTFS before recovering files?
3 - Leave drives in RAID array and recover files (one drive thinks it's in RAID, the other does not, causing some odd figures to appear)
4 - Something else?

 

[Fjandr]

The only likely way to recover your data is to get that dropped disk recognized. Otherwise, recovery of anything is unlikely. That's the problem with RAID 0.

 

[Networks]

I have already posted the best course to recover your data off the 2 drives !

DO NOT FORMAT the drives DO NOT REMOVE THE ARRAY FROM THE DRIVES IN THE RAID MANAGER. DO NOT LEAVE THE DRIVES CONNECTED TO THE MB WITH THE RAID CONTROLLER

1. Remove the drives from the computer and make note which is drive 0 and drive 1 . You can't get the data from each drive separately half of each file is on each drive.

2. You need to connect both drives to a working computers sata ports NOT RAID PORTS

3. Then run studio in an attempt to re-build the raid0 raid set to copy the data to another 3rd drive.

raid recovery takes time and patience.

 

[deviess]

So take the drives out of the Intel ports that are set up as RAID and plug them into two of the four non-RAID ports on this board? Then run studio and - hopefully - copy the data to another HDD. I think I actually have under 2TB of data on them at the moment so hopefully I can get all of that data to my friends 2TB drive. If there is not enough space, will it allow you to put some files here and some files there?

Also, thanks for the help so far! You've been very helpful!

EDIT: What do you mean by take note which drive is drive 0 and which is drive 1? And how do I find that out?

 

[Networks]

Yes remove the drives from the raid ports on the motherboard.

Yes you need another drive that can hold the data

Drive 0 and 1 question
in a raid0 setup one drive is drive0 the 2nd drive is drive1 normally its based on which raid port its plugged into ( what are the numbers on the motherboard that you are using for the raid ports ? )

Yes you can copy the data to any drives that the computer can access

You can run R-Studio in demo model before you pay to purchase it so you can be shure you can re-build the raid0 array. Their site has a lot of helpful documents and they also provide tech support

 

[deviess]

I could not figure out this application, even with the guides on their page. I have no idea what any of it is talking about. Well, all the stuff to do with RAIDs. I understand the basic way of how a RAID works, but only in the sense that RAID 5 needs minimum 3 drives, has 1 drive redundancy, RAID6 needs 4 drives and has 2 drive redundancy etc etc.

That's the extent of my RAID knowledge, when it starts talking about parity drives and things like that, I have no idea what I'm doing.

Anyways, I tried looking for other, more simple software. I came across something called 'Zero Assumption Recover' and I thought it had done it for me. But it's now telling me that it can't figure out the partitions. There was only ever one on the RAID so I don't know what it's struggling with. Anyways, I think I'm going to give up with this program and try using R-Studio again. I can't figure out how I can get it to work though.

Would you be able to explain how to recover my (untouched since broken) RAID 0 baring in mind that I am someone who knows computers quite well in general but useless with RAID terminology etc?

Thanks

 

[Networks]

Have you read this Raid Recovery Presentation article on their website ? Have you contacted R-Studio Support ? They would be the "best" resource to walk you through this. I am out of town at the moment and don't have access to a system to walk you through it.

 

[deviess]

Yeah, I've read through that article but I didn't understand it. I shall try calling them if I get the chance later.