RAID 1 Data Recovery Services

We are a professional data recovery company based in Maidenhead, England, with over 25 years of experience in RAID 1 data recovery. Our team provides friendly, expert services to recover data from RAID 1 (mirrored) arrays of all sizes and in all environments. RAID 1 is a popular configuration that mirrors data across two or more disks, meaning each drive holds an identical copy of your data. This mirroring provides fault tolerance – the array can continue to operate as long as at least one drive is functioning – but it is not immune to failures. When a RAID 1 system fails, you need specialists who understand both the hardware and the underlying data structures. With our decades of expertise, we have successfully recovered data from home NAS devices, small business servers, and enterprise RAID 1 systems. We handle both hardware RAID controllers and software RAID setups, serving clients ranging from home users to large enterprises. If you’re facing a RAID 1 failure – whether it’s a two-disk mirror in a PC or a complex multi-disk mirrored array in a data center – our RAID 1 recovery specialists are here to help with professional, reliable service.

All Major RAID 1 Systems and Brands Supported

Over the years, we have developed the best expertise in the UK for recovering data from all brands and models of RAID 1 arrays, including NAS systems, software RAIDs inside PCs, and rack-mounted RAID servers for large businesses. We can recover data from any RAID 1-capable device, from a small 2-disk mirror setup to large servers with multiple mirrored pairs (even up to 64 disks in complex arrays). Our engineers are familiar with the top RAID hardware manufacturers and storage brands in the UK. This includes enterprise server and storage systems by Dell EMC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), IBM, Lenovo, NetApp, and Fujitsu, as well as popular NAS and prosumer brands like Synology, QNAP, Western Digital (WD), Seagate, Buffalo Technology, Drobo, Netgear, Thecus, Asustor, and LaCie (Seagate). We also recover data from direct-attached RAID enclosures and controller cards such as Adaptec (Microchip) RAID controllers, Areca RAID cards, Promise Technology RAID systems, Intel RAID (RST) setups, ASUS on-board RAIDs, and many more. No matter the brand or model of your RAID 1, you can trust that we have likely encountered it before and know how to retrieve the data.

(RAID 1, also known as disk mirroring, is used in many types of devices – from two-bay NAS units in a home office to large enterprise servers – to protect data by keeping duplicate copies. However, when both copies of the data become inaccessible due to failures or errors, specialised recovery is required. Below we outline the common issues that lead to RAID 1 data loss and how our team resolves them.)

Widely-Used NAS Brands in the UK (Representative Models)

These are representative, commonly deployed models we see in UK recoveries (consumer → enterprise). We recover all makes/models.

1. Synology – DiskStation DS923+, DS223j; RackStation RS1221+

2. QNAP – TS-464, TVS-h674; rackmount TS-1277XU-RP

3. Western Digital (WD) – My Cloud EX2 Ultra, PR4100

4. Asustor – Lockerstor AS6704T, Nimbustor AS5202T

5. TerraMaster – F2-423, F4-423, T9-423

6. Buffalo – TeraStation 3420DN, 7120r

7. Netgear – ReadyNAS RN424, 4312X

8. Drobo (legacy) – 5N2, B810n

9. LaCie – 2big NAS, 5big Network (legacy)

10. Lenovo/Iomega – ix4-300d, px4-300d

11. Thecus – N4810, N5810PRO

12. Zyxel – NAS542, NAS520

13. TrueNAS/iXsystems – Mini X, R10 (CORE/SCALE)

14. HPE MicroServer – Gen10 Plus (DIY NAS)

15. Ugreen – NASync DXP4800/6800

Widely-Used Rack Servers / Arrays Capable of RAID-0 (Representative Models)

1. Dell EMC – PowerEdge R740xd/R750xs, Unity/PV arrays

2. HPE – ProLiant DL380 Gen10/11, MSA arrays

3. Lenovo – ThinkSystem SR650/SR630

4. Supermicro – SuperStorage 6049/AS- series

5. ASUS – RS720-E10

6. Gigabyte – R272/R282 series

7. Fujitsu – Primergy RX2540

8. Cisco – UCS C240 M-series

9. Huawei – FusionServer Pro 2288H

10. Inspur – NF5280 series

11. Synology – RackStation RS4021xs+

12. QNAP – TS-1677XU, TS-1232XU-RP

13. Promise – VTrak E-Series

14. Areca – ARC-1883/1886 series (host + JBOD)

15. NetApp (as host arrays; striped aggregates encountered)

Our RAID-0 Recovery Workflow (Engineering Overview)

1. Evidence-safe intake – Label members, record bay/port order, capture controller metadata; no writes to originals.

2. Hardware imaging – Each disk imaged on PC-3000/DeepSpar/Atola with head-maps, adaptive timeouts, reverse passes, remap logs (bad-block map per member).

3. Parameter discovery – Determine stripe/chunk size, interleave, start offsets, 512e/4Kn, any HPA/DCO truncation; correct per-member LBA maps.

4. Virtual assembly – Build a read-only virtual RAID-0 from images; brute-force test candidate orders/offsets; validate against FS anchors (NTFS boot, GPT, superblocks).

5. Logical repair – Fix GPT/MBR, rebuild NTFS MFT, EXT/XFS journals, HFS+/APFS structures; repair media containers (MP4/MOV), databases as needed.

6. Verification & delivery – Hash manifests, sample-open critical files, export via secure download or client-supplied media.

Important: With RAID-0 there is no parity regeneration. If a member cannot be imaged, affected stripe regions are permanently lost. Our job is to maximise readable sectors per member, then perfect the assembly (order/offset/stripe) for the highest possible yield.

Top 40 Common RAID 1 Data Recovery Issues (and How We Resolve Them)

Even though RAID 1 mirroring provides redundancy, failures can still happen due to a variety of reasons. In fact, we often see RAID 1 arrays brought in for recovery after unexpected multi-drive failures, configuration errors, or human mistakes. Here is a list of the 40 most common RAID 1 failure scenarios we encounter – along with technical details on each issue and how our experts resolve them:

1. Multiple Drive Failures: This is the most catastrophic scenario for RAID 1. If both drives in a 2-disk mirror fail (or multiple drives in a multi-disk mirror set), the array becomes completely inaccessible. For example, one drive may fail and before it’s replaced, the remaining drive also crashes. How we resolve it: Our engineers treat each failed disk in our ISO-certified cleanroom, repairing mechanical issues or swapping failed components if necessary. We create sector-by-sector disk images of every failed drive using specialized hardware imagers. Once we’ve cloned as much data as possible from each drive, we reconstruct the mirror by merging the intact portions of data from the drives. By combining the readable sectors from each copy, we can often rebuild a complete, intact dataset even when neither drive was fully readable on its own.

2. Single Drive Failure (Degraded RAID 1): In a RAID 1, a single drive failure doesn’t immediately cause data loss because the system will run in a degraded mode using the surviving disk. However, continuing to run on one disk leaves no redundancy – if that last disk has issues, data can be lost. Many clients bring us degraded RAID 1 arrays when they are unable to rebuild or fear the remaining disk is failing. Our approach: We clone the surviving drive to secure the data, then attempt to read from the failed drive in our lab. If the failed drive is recoverable, we’ll image it as well and compare data. In many cases, the remaining good disk contains all the data (since RAID 1 duplicates it), so we can directly recover files from that drive. We verify the integrity of the data against any partial data from the second disk. If the surviving disk has bad sectors or damage, we use the second drive’s data (if available) to fill in any gaps, ensuring a complete recovery.

3. RAID Rebuild Failure: After replacing a bad disk in a RAID 1, the array is supposed to rebuild (copy data to the new drive to re-mirror it). A rebuild can fail due to read errors on the source drive, a second drive faltering during the process, or controller issueso. A power loss during rebuild can also interrupt the process and corrupt the array. How we resolve it: We first secure clones of both the original disk and the replacement (if it has partial data from the failed rebuild). If the rebuild stopped partway, one drive may have up-to-date data and the other has a mix of old and new data. Our engineers use specialized RAID reconstruction software to determine the consistency of the data on each clone. We often find that one clone is nearly complete; we then carefully copy any missing portions from the other clone. In case of corrupted RAID metadata or file system due to an incomplete rebuild, we manually repair the file system structures or use data carving techniques to extract files. Our goal is to piece together a complete copy of the data as it was before the rebuild failure.

4. Drive Rebuild Read Errors: Even if a rebuild doesn’t outright fail, sometimes read errors (bad sectors) on the source drive during rebuild can result in corrupted files. The RAID controller might not copy some blocks if it encounters errors, leading to missing or corrupted data on the rebuilt drive. Resolution: In our lab, we handle this by imaging the source drive with advanced equipment that can retry and possibly read unstable sectors. We also image the partially rebuilt target drive. By comparing file hashes or timestamps, we identify which files got corrupted during rebuild. We then replace the corrupted sections on the target image with good data from the source image (or vice versa, whichever has the good copy). This way, we create a fully intact version of the data. Essentially, we perform a controlled, error-free rebuild in software, using our cloned images and filling in the gaps that the hardware rebuild left behind.

5. RAID Controller Failure: Hardware RAID controllers (found in servers or dedicated RAID enclosures) sometimes fail or malfunction. A RAID controller failure can make a perfectly healthy pair of disks appear offline or broken. In RAID 1, each disk still has all the data, but certain controllers use metadata or specific configurations that might not be easily read without that controller. Our solution: If the RAID controller itself is dead, we don’t rely on it. We directly connect the RAID 1 drives to our imaging hardware to create raw images. Because RAID 1 doesn’t stripe data, often each disk’s image can be mounted independently. We can often simply mount one clone and immediately access the file system. If the controller used a proprietary metadata (for example, some RAID controllers offset the partition or use a custom sector layout), our engineers will analyse the raw data to locate the partition and file system. We use knowledge of various controller formats to adjust for any metadata so that the data can be accessed. In some cases, updating the controller’s firmware or finding an identical model of controller to temporarily slot in can allow us to access the array – but we typically prefer software reconstruction to avoid any risk. Once we have access to the data, we copy it to a secure destination. We also investigate why the controller failed; for instance, if it had a failed cache battery that caused corruption, we take that into account and look for any incomplete writes that need repair.

6. RAID Controller Configuration Loss: This is related to controller failure – sometimes the controller is fine but loses its configuration (for example, after a firmware update or if the RAID card was reset). The controller may forget that the two drives were a mirror pair and thus mark the array as inactive or foreign. How we resolve: Our team will manually identify the drives that belong together by examining their metadata and contents. If possible, we attempt to import the configuration on a controller of the same type without initializing the drives (controllers like Dell PERC, HP Smart Array etc., often allow importing foreign configurations). If that’s too risky, we again default to working with disk images. By comparing the two disk images, we can confirm they were mirror copies (their data should be nearly identical). We then rebuild the array in software by mounting the image of one drive (since it contains the full data). Essentially, we bypass the missing configuration by treating the drives as independent and retrieving the data directly. We also save any RAID metadata we find on the disks (many controllers write identifying info on the drives) in case it’s needed to understand the array settings.

7. Logical Corruption (File System Errors): Not all RAID 1 failures are physical; sometimes the drives are fine but the file system is corrupted. This can happen due to improper shutdowns, software crashes, virus infections, or other issues that corrupt the data structure on the volume. In a mirrored array, any logical change (good or bad) is immediately made to both drives, so if the file system gets corrupted, the problem exists on all mirrored copies. Our approach: We treat this like a standard logical data recovery. First, we image both drives to have secure copies. Then, using one of the images, we run specialized data recovery software to scan and repair the file system (whether it’s NTFS, EXT4, HFS+, etc., depending on the system). We look for partition table damage, missing file directory entries, or other inconsistencies. If the corruption is minor (say a lost partition or minor file system errors), we can often repair it and recover the directory structure intact. If it’s severe (e.g., the file system is heavily damaged or formatted), we use file carving and reconstruction techniques to pull out the files. Because RAID 1 has duplicate data, usually both drives have the same corruption, but occasionally one drive might have slightly less damage if the corruption occurred during a write that not both drives completed exactly. We will compare the two images to see if one copy of the file system is healthier (for instance, one drive might have a slightly older, intact copy of a file table if the system crashed mid-write). By leveraging any differences, we might retrieve metadata from one and file content from the other. In the end, we extract the files to a new healthy drive and verify their integrity.

8. Accidental File Deletion or Formatting: User error can happen on a RAID 1 just like on any single disk. If someone accidentally deletes important files or even formats the RAID volume, the mirroring won’t save you – the action is mirrored to both drives instantly. For example, deleting a folder removes it from all mirrored copies simultaneously. Similarly, reformatting the volume will wipe the file system on both disks. Recovery method: We handle this scenario by performing a logical data recovery on the mirrored drives. After cloning the drives (to avoid working on the originals), we use recovery tools to scan for deleted files or a previous file system. Because no new data was written (in many cases the deletion or format is discovered immediately), the underlying data blocks of the files may still be present on the disks. Our tools search the clone images for known file signatures and any remnants of directory structures. We can often undelete files or reconstruct them if the metadata is gone. The fact that there are two identical copies doesn’t provide extra data (since both have the deletion), but it does double-check our results. If one drive had any slight difference (say the format didn’t complete on one disk due to a hiccup), we will examine that, but usually in RAID 1 both copies are equally affected. We then recover the found files to a safe location. (Note: RAID is not a backup – events like deletions, formatting, or malware affect all mirrored copies, which is why we always recommend maintaining separate backups.)

9. Accidental RAID Reinitialization: Sometimes the mistake is at the RAID controller level. A user might accidentally reinitialize or reset the RAID array configuration – for instance, by clicking “Create Array” or replacing a RAID card and configuring a new RAID on the drives. This can overwrite the RAID metadata and even start to initialize the drives as a new array, which could wipe some of the data. In a RAID 1, initialization might quickly format both drives or mark them as a new blank mirror set. Our solution: If this happens, we immediately prevent any further initialization steps (which could zero out data). We then clone the drives and look for the original data pattern on the clones. Often, only the very beginning of the drives (where RAID metadata or partition info resides) is overwritten by the new initialization. The bulk of the data might still be present further into the drive. We can scan the clones for the old partition structures or use raw recovery to find files. If the initialization did format the drives, this is similar to a quick format scenario – we search for the old file system superblocks or MFT (Master File Table) records deeper on the disk. Using those, we can rebuild the directory tree and retrieve files. Essentially, we reverse the reinitialization by ignoring the new RAID config and digging for remnants of the old one. Success rates here are high as long as the initialization was stopped early and no massive new data writes occurred.

10. Disk Removal or Reseating in Wrong Order: Removing drives from a RAID 1 and putting them back in a different order or on different ports generally shouldn’t matter for a true mirror (since each is identical). However, some systems do track drive order or have one drive flagged as “primary”. If drives are reinserted into different bays or mixed up, certain RAID controllers or NAS OS might become “confused” and think the array is two separate degraded mirrors or throw errors. We’ve seen cases where a user pulled both drives out and wasn’t sure which drive went to which slot, and upon reinsertion, the NAS didn’t recognize the volume. How we handle it: We take the guesswork out by not depending on the original device’s interpretation. We image both drives and then manually examine their data. Since RAID 1 drives are copies, we expect them to be virtually identical. If they are, we simply mount one of the images to access the data. If by chance one drive was actually slightly behind (for example, one drive had failed earlier and was out of sync), then the two images might differ. In that case, we look at timestamps and recent data to identify which drive has the newest data. We then use that as the primary source and, if needed, copy any missing pieces from the other. In effect, we reassemble the mirror in the correct “order” internally. Once done, the data can be accessed normally. We also often fix the original issue by updating or providing instructions on the correct way to reintroduce drives to the system without confusing it.

11. Wrong Drive Replaced (Mixing up Good and Bad): In a chaotic situation, it’s possible to accidentally remove the wrong drive when one disk fails. For instance, drive 1 fails but the wrong drive (drive 2) gets pulled out by mistake. The result: the only good drive is removed, leaving the failed drive in the system, which leads to a total failure. Then the user might put a new drive in place of the already failed drive – essentially now the array has one new blank drive and one failed drive, and no copy of the data is fully intact. Our recovery method: We handle this similar to a multiple-drive failure. We would have the original failed drive (which likely has some data but is damaged) and the “good” drive that was pulled (which is actually the up-to-date one). Often the good drive, once we get it, still has all the data – the trick is the system might have marked it as “out-of-date” or foreign. We image the good drive (which was mistakenly removed) and the failed drive if possible. In the best case, the good drive’s image will have an intact file system and current data, and we can simply recover from that. If the user attempted a rebuild after the mistake (like inserted a new disk and the controller tried to rebuild from the wrong source), we have to be cautious: the controller might have started copying the failed disk’s (incomplete) data onto the good disk or vice versa. We will look at the content of the good drive image to ensure it still has valid data. If it got partially overwritten with blanks from the new disk or stale data, we then rely on the failed drive’s image to fill any gaps. Essentially, we will merge data from the two drives similarly to a two-drive failure scenario. The key difference in this scenario is identifying which drive had the valid up-to-date data – which our experience allows us to do by checking drive serials, timestamps and the nature of files on each image. Once identified, we reconstruct the array from that drive.

12. Firmware or Software Bugs (Controller/NAS Firmware Issues): Sometimes the fault lies not in the drives or user error, but in a buggy RAID controller firmware or NAS operating system. We have encountered instances where a NAS device (e.g., a firmware update on a Synology or QNAP) caused the RAID 1 volume to become inaccessible, or a RAID controller had a known firmware bug that corrupted the array. Our approach: In these cases, the hardware and disks might be perfectly fine, but the array won’t mount due to the software glitch. We treat it by again bypassing the device’s firmware. For example, if a NAS won’t recognize the RAID, we take the disks out and image them, then reconstruct the RAID 1 manually. With two-disk NAS in RAID 1, typically they use a standard file system (many use Linux ext4 on LVM or similar). We have tools to assemble any underlying logical volumes and then mount the file system from the clones. This usually lets us access the data, essentially sidestepping the NAS’s faulty firmware. For RAID controllers, if a firmware bug corrupted the metadata or caused inconsistent data, we may need to fix the RAID metadata on the clones or use a compatible controller (after updating its firmware to a fixed version) to interpret the array. In one scenario, a firmware bug might mark both drives as bad simultaneously even if data is fine; we would clear the metadata flags and force mount the mirror from our images. In summary, we use our own tools and software to access the mirror, working at a low level to avoid any manufacturer software issues. Once the data is accessible, we copy it out and can advise on firmware updates or alternative solutions to get the hardware working again.

13. Operating System Upgrade or Driver Issues: We have seen RAID 1 arrays become unreadable after an OS upgrade or driver update on the host system. For example, a Windows server using a software RAID 1 (dynamic disk or Storage Spaces mirror) might fail to mount the volume after a Windows update due to driver changes, or a Linux software RAID might not assemble if mdadm versions changed. Resolution: Our team will investigate the underlying cause. If it’s a Windows software RAID (dynamic disk), we can use tools to import the dynamic disk database from the clones and recover the volume. In some cases, the OS upgrade might have inadvertently broken the RAID metadata. We manually locate the mirror’s metadata on the disks (e.g., Windows keeps a copy of the dynamic disk info at the end of the disk) and reconstruct the configuration in a safe environment. For Linux mdadm RAIDs, we can assemble the array from the cloned disks using mdadm in our lab, specifying the exact superblock details if needed. If it’s a driver issue with a hardware RAID card, we might roll back the driver or move the disks to a system with a known-good driver to read them. Ultimately, we ensure the data is retrieved by either fixing the configuration or by reading one of the drives as a standalone. After recovery, we often assist the client in updating to a stable driver or configuration that will allow the RAID to function normally again without data loss.

14. Missing or Corrupt RAID Partition Table: In some cases, the RAID itself is fine but the partition table or volume boot record on the drives got corrupted or erased. For instance, a user might have accidentally overwritten the beginning of the volume (where the partition info is) or a virus might have damaged it. If the RAID 1’s partition is missing, the array may show up as unallocated space. How we handle: We examine the clone of one drive to find the backup copies of the partition table or boot sector (for NTFS there’s a backup boot sector at the end of the partition, for GPT partition tables there’s a secondary copy at the end of the disk). With RAID 1, since both drives are copies, they likely both have the same damage; however, on the off chance one drive’s partition table was slightly different (not likely unless something diverged), we would check both. Assuming both are gone, we use partition recovery tools to scan for the starting point of the file system (for example, find the NTFS MFT start, or the beginning of an EXT superblock). Once we identify where the partition should start and its size, we can rebuild the partition table and restore the boot record. This makes the file system mountable again, and then we proceed to recover files. If the partition info can’t be cleanly rebuilt, we still can directly carve out the data by scanning the whole disk image for files. But typically, finding the partition allows a much quicker, organized recovery. We then return the data to the client and assist in re-partitioning properly if they are continuing to use the drives (with caution if reusing).

15. Power Surge or Power Supply Failure: A sudden power surge or power supply failure in a NAS or server can simultaneously knock both drives offline or cause writing processes to fail. We’ve encountered cases where a power event damaged the electronics of both drives or corrupted data that was in the middle of being written to both disks. Power issues can also damage the RAID controller or its cache, leading to further corruption. Our approach: If the surge damaged the drives’ electronics (for example, a fried PCB), our hardware team will work to repair the drives first – often by replacing the damaged PCB and transferring any unique firmware data from the old board to the new one. Once the drives are operational, we image them. If data corruption occurred (e.g., the power loss happened while writing a file, so that file is inconsistent on both drives), we identify those files by doing an integrity check (sometimes one drive might have a partial write and the other the same, since both lost power at once). In a mirror, usually both copies of a file would be identically corrupted by such an event. We then attempt file repair if possible (for example, if it’s a database that got corrupt, we use database repair tools; if it’s a document, maybe recover from temporary files or earlier versions). If the RAID controller’s cache lost data, that means some writes never made it to disk at all, leading to missing pieces of files. In such cases, we see if any temporary files or earlier snapshots of data exist on the disk; if not, those portions might be truly gone, but we recover everything that is intact. We also advise installing UPS units or surge protectors and checking the health of power supplies, as these events can be quite damaging.

16. Multiple Bad Sectors on Both Drives: If the drives in a RAID 1 are older or from the same batch, they might develop bad sectors or media degradation around the same time. It’s possible for both drives to have unreadable sectors, even if neither has completely failed yet. If those bad sectors happen to hit the same files on both drives, those files become corrupted or inaccessible (since both copies of the block are bad). Resolution: Using our imaging tools, we attempt to read the bad sectors on each drive. Sometimes a sector unreadable on Drive A can still be read on Drive B (if the bad sectors are in different places on each disk). In a perfect scenario, the bad sectors won’t overlap – each file missing data on one drive can be filled in from the other. We create a composite image by marking sectors that failed to read on one clone and then filling them from the other clone if possible. This way, we recover a complete image without gaps. If a particular sector is bad on both drives (overlapping bad sectors), then that portion of data is truly lost (no copy survived). In that case, the affected file might be partially corrupted. We salvage whatever we can of it and inform the client which files had irrecoverable portions. Often, however, the majority of files can be fully saved because it’s relatively rare for both drives to have bad sectors in all the exact same places. Our engineers also use signal processing tricks on our imagers to sometimes read “weak” sectors after multiple attempts, maximizing the chances of recovery.

17. Drive Firmware Failure: Occasionally, a hard drive will become inaccessible not due to physical damage but due to a firmware fault in the drive itself. Certain drive models have known firmware bugs (for example, some drives would become stuck in a busy state, etc.). If one drive’s firmware crashes, the RAID might mark it failed. In rare cases, a bug or power event could hit both drives (especially if they are identical models with the same firmware). For instance, we’ve seen mirrored drives that both hit a firmware bug at ~3 years power-on time causing them to lock up. Our solution: We apply drive firmware-level fixes similar to single-drive recovery cases. This may involve using vendor-specific commands or tools to revive the drive (such as resetting firmware, clearing internal logs, or updating firmware to a fixed version). We do this in a controlled environment so as not to risk data. Once we get the drives responding again, we clone them. After that, the data is usually intact (since the failure was in the drive’s operating software, not the data itself). If needed, we’ll also update the client’s drives to stable firmware versions after recovery or clone the data to new drives with up-to-date firmware to avoid repeat issues.

18. Software RAID Metadata Corruption: If the RAID 1 is managed by software (like Windows Disk Management, Linux mdadm, or even Apple’s Disk Utility), there is metadata on the disks that defines the RAID. For instance, Linux mdadm writes a superblock on each drive with the RAID configuration. If this metadata gets corrupted or mismatched, the OS might not assemble the RAID correctly. We’ve seen cases where a user tried to upgrade or move drives to a new machine and the software RAID wouldn’t recognize both drives as a pair due to metadata issues. How we fix: We look at the software RAID metadata on both clones. If one is corrupt or missing, we try to use the other (since it’s mirrored, both should have similar metadata – but if one got overwritten or something, the other might still have it). With mdadm, for example, we can force assemble using one good superblock. With Windows dynamic disks, if the LDM database on one disk is damaged, the other disk’s copy might still be okay; we then recreate the dynamic volume using that. In cases where metadata on both is gone (say someone converted the disks to basic inadvertently), we manually recreate the RAID by treating one drive as standalone (since the data is all there) and then verifying that the other has the same content. Essentially, we may even convert the RAID 1 to a single-drive volume in our recovery systems to read the data, since unlike striped RAIDs, a mirror doesn’t need combining of different parts – it just needs to ensure we’re reading a consistent copy. Once data is recovered, we can help rebuild the software RAID if needed by reinitializing a new mirror and copying data back.

19. NAS Configuration Reset or Factory Reset: Many NAS devices (Synology, QNAP, etc.) store the RAID configuration in software. If a user accidentally does a factory reset of the NAS or reinstalls the NAS OS, the RAID 1 volume might not mount afterwards without reconfiguration. The data is usually still on the disks, but the NAS doesn’t “know” about the volume anymore. Our approach: We take the disks and reconstruct the RAID 1 volume externally. For example, Synology uses Linux mdadm for RAID; after a reset, the user might find no volumes. We use mdadm on the clones of the disks to assemble the array manually by specifying the expected parameters (which we can detect from the disk data). If there’s LVM or encryption on top (some NAS use an extra layer), we open those with the appropriate tools (sometimes needing a password from the user if encryption was enabled). Once we assemble the volume, we can mount the file system and recover the data. In effect, we manually do what the NAS would normally do – but since the NAS was reset, it can’t do it automatically. We also ensure the NAS’s reset process didn’t wipe the disks; if it started to format them, that slides into the reinitialization scenario we discussed earlier, and we handle accordingly by scanning for the original volume. After recovery, we often help the client set the NAS up again properly and copy the data back onto it if requested.

20. Out-of-Sync Mirror After Long Degradation: If a RAID 1 was running degraded (one drive failed) and the user didn’t replace the bad drive for a long time, the remaining drive keeps all changes. If the user then, after a long period, re-inserts the old drive or a backup of it (perhaps by mistake or trying to get it working), the array could end up with two drives that have significantly different data states. Some systems might treat this as a “split-brain” situation and not automatically rebuild. There might be conflicts about which data is newer. Resolution: We consider the drive that was actively in use as the authoritative copy (it has the latest changes). We take clones of both drives and compare their data sets. We might find that the old drive has some files that the newer drive doesn’t (for example, if new files were created after it failed, the old drive lacks them; conversely, the old drive might have some files that were deleted later and not present on the new drive anymore). In such cases, we can actually recover a union of data: primarily using the latest drive’s content, but also pulling any unique files from the older drive that might have been lost in the newer copy due to deletion or corruption. Essentially, we perform a data synchronization from the two images, resolving conflicts by timestamp (newer version wins) and preserving anything unique. We then provide the merged recovered data to the client. This way, nothing that was on either drive is inadvertently lost. (This goes beyond standard RAID rebuild, effectively combining two diverged mirrors into one dataset.)

21. RAID 1 Mirror with More Than Two Drives (Multi-way Mirror Failure): Some systems allow 3-way or 4-way mirroring for extra redundancy (e.g., Windows can do a 3-way mirror, some storage servers allow this). If you have a multi-drive mirror and multiple drives fail, the situation is similar – you need at least one drive intact. For example, in a 3-way mirror, up to two drives can fail and you still have data, but if all three fail or three have issues, it’s a problem. Our approach: With multi-way mirrors, we increase the chances because maybe not all drives failed completely. We clone all drives. Often, one or more will be mostly readable. We then pick the best clone as the primary and use the others to patch any unreadable areas. This is analogous to how we handle two drives, just with more copies to leverage. If one drive has a bad sector, perhaps one of the other two good drives has it intact. We consolidate data from all copies to maximize completeness. In essence, our recovery software can handle N-way mirrors by validating each block across all copies and choosing the best instance of that block. This results in a highly complete recovered image. After that, we proceed with file system or whatever logical recovery needed on that consolidated image. Multi-mirror setups are rare to come in, but when they do, our experience with complex RAID means we can definitely handle it.

22. Physical Damage (Dropped or Damaged Drives): Accidents happen – a server or NAS could be dropped, flooded, or subject to fire. Physical damage can affect all drives in an array at once. For instance, a small business had a RAID 1 NAS that got water damage in a flood, affecting both drives; or a portable RAID enclosure knocked off a desk. Recovery method: This turns into a classic cleanroom recovery for each drive. We inspect each disk for damage: if there’s water or fire damage, we perform appropriate cleaning and component replacement (like swapping out the PCB if shorted, or moving the platters to a donor drive assembly if the original drives have seized motors, etc.). Each drive is handled independently to salvage as much data as possible. If one drive’s platters are too scored or corroded and yields little data, we rely on the other drive. Ideally, at least one of the mirrored drives will be salvageable to nearly 100%. If both are partially damaged, we again try to image all and merge data. Physical damage scenarios are often challenging, but the mirror provides two chances at each piece of data, which is helpful. Our lab’s extensive inventory of donor parts and advanced imaging tools are crucial here. After the physical recovery, we follow up with logical reconstruction just as with other cases, ensuring the final recovered files are usable.

23. Multiple Drive Failures in a RAID 10 (Mirror Stripe) Setup: (While we focus on RAID 1, some clients refer to RAID 10 issues as RAID 1 problems. RAID 10 is a combination of RAID 1 and RAID 0.) In a RAID 10, you have pairs of mirrors that are striped. A “multiple drive failure” in RAID 10 can occur if two drives in the same mirror pair fail, which is effectively a RAID 1 mirror failure within the RAID 10. The recovery for that mirror pair is essentially a RAID 1 recovery problem – no redundancy remains in that pair. Our approach: We treat the failed mirror pair like a two-disk RAID 1 failure (as above, imaging both and merging data). Meanwhile, we also secure data from the other stripe sets. If those other pairs are healthy, we have partial data from the array (though incomplete because one stripe is missing). We then combine the recovered data from the failed pair with the intact data from the other pairs to rebuild the full RAID 10. This can be complex as we have to correctly interleave the data stripes in order. Our RAID reconstruction tools handle this by using the RAID 10 parameters (stripe size, etc.) and assembling from multiple sources – the healthy mirror(s) and the recovered mirror. In summary, we break the problem down: recover the mirror (RAID 1) that failed, then rebuild the RAID 0 stripe. The end result is the files from the RAID 10 recovered. We mention this scenario because many businesses use RAID 10 and initially think of it as a RAID 1 issue when a mirror fails.

24. RAID 1 Drive “Clone” Gone Wrong: Sometimes users attempt DIY recovery by making a clone of a failing drive to a new drive – which is smart in theory. However, if done incorrectly (say cloning the blank drive onto the good drive instead of the other way around), it can overwrite good data with bad. We have seen cases where a user or even a well-meaning IT generalist accidentally cloned the wrong direction, effectively copying an empty drive over the only good copy of data. This is disastrous as it wipes out the data on the good drive. Our approach: We treat it like a format scenario. The moment we suspect this has happened (client might describe the series of events, or we see telltale signs like the good drive’s content suddenly matching the blank drive), we stop any further writes. We then use deep scanning on the overwritten drive to see what remnants of data might still exist. Depending on how the clone was done, sometimes it doesn’t overwrite the entire disk (for instance, if sizes differ or if the process was interrupted). If any portion of the original data wasn’t overwritten, we recover what’s left. If the entire drive was cloned sector by sector, then unfortunately the original data is largely gone – except possibly for unique disk signatures or if the clone source wasn’t actually empty (in one case the “blank” drive had an older copy of data that ended up on the target – which then we could recover partially). Each situation is unique, but our role is to salvage whatever is possible and use advanced carving tools to pull files from any sectors that might still hold traces of the pre-clone data. This is one reason we always advise clients: if you’re not absolutely sure what you’re doing, it’s best to let professionals handle the cloning to avoid this kind of irreversible mistake.

25. Human Error During RAID Repair: Aside from deletion or wrong drive removal, there are other human errors like running CHKDSK or defragmenter on a failing RAID 1, or attempting a rebuild with drives that were not actually meant to be used. For example, a user might force the system to mount a degraded RAID and then run a disk check tool, which can go haywire if the disk has errors, thereby further corrupting the file system. How we assist: If CHKDSK or similar was run and it “fixed” the file system by effectively deleting a bunch of records (common when file system was in bad shape), we can still recover by looking at the $CHK files or found fragments that these tools generate. We also often have to do a raw scan for files that CHKDSK orphaned. Essentially, we reverse some of the automated “fixes” that did more harm than good. If a defragmentation was attempted on a degraded drive and crashed, we may find partially moved files – we then piece those together from the mirror copy or from file slack. Each scenario is unique, but our deep knowledge of file system internals helps us unravel what those utilities did. We may use forensic tools to track changes that the disk repair utility made, then undo them on the clone. The end result is we recover as much of the original file structure as possible. Our team always advises that when a RAID is in a questionable state, avoid running generic repair tools – instead, get a professional evaluation.

26. RAID 1 in Virtualized Environments: Some businesses run RAID 1 within virtual machines or use virtual disks that are mirrored. Alternatively, they might have a RAID 1 on the host that stores virtual machine files. A failure here can be tricky because it might manifest as a corrupted VM or hypervisor error. Our process: If the RAID 1 under a VM fails, we approach at the physical level first – recover the RAID 1 as we would normally from the disks. Once we have the data, we then address the virtual machine level: for example, if the virtual disk file (VMDK, VHD, etc.) was on that RAID and got corrupted or partially missing due to the failure, we attempt to repair or rebuild that file from the recovered data. In some cases, we can still open the VM file after the RAID is fixed; in others, we have to recover the contents of the VM by treating it as another disk (for instance, pulling out files from a virtual disk). So there’s a layered recovery: first the RAID, then the VM. We have expertise in working with VMware, Hyper-V, etc., and their disk formats, so we can navigate that. Essentially, no matter how complex the stack (physical disk -> RAID -> filesystem -> VM file -> virtual filesystem), we will peel back the layers to get to the actual files that the client needs.

27. Mirrored SSD Failures: RAID 1 isn’t only with hard drives; many use SSDs for mirroring now. SSDs can fail differently – often one goes offline due to firmware issues or sudden death (since they don’t typically give as much warning as mechanical drives). If one SSD fails and the other continues, it’s fine until a second issue. But we’ve seen mirrored SSDs where a firmware bug causes both SSDs to brick simultaneously (especially if they have the same model/firmware and hit a wear limit or time bomb bug together). Resolution: Recovering data from failed SSDs can involve repairing the flash memory access. We have tools for SSD data recovery that might involve accessing the NAND flash chips directly if the controller won’t function. For example, if the SSD firmware issue is known (like a firmware update is needed to fix a bug), we might clone the chips and apply a custom solution to extract data. If both SSDs are affected, we try with both – maybe one failed slightly earlier and the other later, or one has a different failure mode. If we can get at least one to divulge data, that’s usually enough since they are mirrors. In the worst case where both SSD controllers are dead and need chip-off recovery, we’ll do it for both and then compare results to ensure accuracy. The good news is that SSDs, when they fail like this, often still have all the data internally – it’s a matter of overcoming encryption or controller issues. We’ve successfully recovered mirrored SSDs even after simultaneous failures by leveraging our flash recovery lab.

28. Hot Spare Activation Gone Wrong (Not Applicable to RAID 1): (Many RAID levels use hot spares, but RAID 1 typically doesn’t automatically include a hot spare unless in a larger RAID setup. However, some systems might have a hot spare that can mirror if one fails.) If a hot spare drive was present and something went wrong during its integration (like it started mirroring but had errors), it could lead to an inconsistent state. Our approach: This is similar to rebuild failure. We would have the original drive that failed (maybe partially readable), and the hot spare which took over and has a partial mirror. We’d image both and merge. Notably, we’d be careful to see at what point the hot spare took over and ensure that any data written after that point is accounted for. This might be an edge scenario, but we handle it with the same techniques – cloning and combining data sets carefully.

29. Multiple Simultaneous Drive Failures (due to Common Cause): Sometimes, both drives in a mirror fail at nearly the same time because of a common cause such as a manufacturing defect or same age. For example, two identical model drives purchased together might both develop the same fault after the same period of usage (we’ve seen mirrors where both drives hit a mechanical failure within days of each other). Another example is an external factor like overheating – if a NAS’s cooling fails, both drives could overheat and get damaged. Resolution: This is essentially the same as #1 (multiple drive failures) but with the note that the nature of failure might be similar on both. If both drives suffer head crashes, for instance, we might have to do head stack replacements on both. If both have platter damage in the same area (possible if they ran in the same hot environment), there could be truly unrecoverable areas aligning. We throw the kitchen sink at these: treat each drive in the cleanroom independently, use donor parts, stabilize them, get what data we can off each. Then combine as needed. The common-cause nature is mostly about understanding why it happened (so we can advise the client – e.g., “both drives overheated, make sure to improve cooling in the future”). The recovery approach remains using all our physical and logical tools available.

30. Stuck in RAID Resync Loop / Repeated Degradation: We’ve had cases where a RAID 1 was rebuilding or resyncing and never completed, repeatedly dropping a drive. This can be due to a marginal drive (keeps throwing errors partway) or power issues causing resets. The result is the array never fully mirrors, and after multiple tries, the data might become inconsistent or the drives have different data from different partial sync attempts. Our approach: We stop the loop by imaging both drives separately. We then analyze the differences between the two drives’ data. Typically, one will have all data up to a certain point in time, and the other might have some newer writes that happened during a period when the first was offline. We effectively have to do what the resync was attempting: bring both to consistency. We might treat one as primary and then update it with blocks from the other that are clearly newer. This can be done by comparing file timestamps or using logs/journal if the file system has one (like NTFS transaction log or EXT4 journal – which might show some operations were not replicated). It’s a meticulous process, but it results in an image that represents a consistent state of the data. After that, we recover files from that image. By doing this offline, we avoid the continual loop and can identify why the sync failed (e.g., bad sector at a certain LBA). We can even see in logs where the rebuild always stopped. With that knowledge, we sometimes find that one drive is actually fine except that one spot; we then fill that spot from the other drive and voilà – the mirror is essentially complete.

31. Geo-Mirroring / Remote Mirror Desync: A less common scenario: some setups mirror data across two locations (not exactly RAID 1 at hardware level, but software mirroring over network). If something goes wrong (network failure, etc.), the mirrors can diverge. While not a standard RAID 1 issue, a client might describe it as “my two mirrored drives in different locations are out of sync and one copy got corrupted.” How we help: We gather both copies (if accessible) and compare like any mirror. It’s similar to out-of-sync mirror case (#20). We identify the most complete copy and then integrate data from the other if it has any additional info. The end goal is one coherent dataset. We then help restore that master dataset back to both locations if needed.

32. Mirror Set part of a Larger Storage Pool (Complex setups): Sometimes a RAID 1 might be one component of a bigger storage scheme. For example, Windows Storage Spaces might mirror two drives and then stripe with another mirror (like a RAID 10-ish), or a NAS might use RAID 1 as part of a btrfs pool. When a RAID 1 fails in such an environment, it might present as a larger storage pool failure. Resolution: We isolate the problem to the RAID 1 member that failed. For instance, if one mirror in a Storage Spaces two-way mirror fails, the whole space might go offline if things got marked wrong. We recover the mirror separately (again by imaging and ensuring one good copy). Then we reintegrate it into the pool structure by either tricking the software into accepting the recovered disk or by manually extracting the files from the overall pool. This requires deep knowledge of the specific storage technology, whether it’s Storage Spaces, ZFS mirror vdevs, btrfs multi-disk volumes, etc. Our expertise spans these systems, so we adjust our recovery to whatever layers are in use. Essentially, we’ll do what’s needed at the mirror layer to get it operational, then tackle the next layer up.

33. Time-Delayed Failures (Second drive fails during rebuild): This scenario is almost expected in RAID 1: drive A fails, array runs on drive B. When a new drive is put in to replace A and rebuild starts, drive B fails during rebuild (due to the extra stress or just bad timing). Now you have the new blank (or partially rebuilt) drive and the originally failed drive B. This is effectively a two-drive failure with one drive having only part of the data. Our approach: We have drive B which is now failed mid-process – we image as much as possible from it (it likely has most of the data except maybe some unreadable parts that caused its failure). We also take the new drive that was being rebuilt – it may have gotten some portion of data copied onto it before failure. We image that new drive as well. Then, by comparing the two, we attempt to see if the new drive contains any sectors that are in better shape than drive B’s. It’s uncommon that the new drive has more (since it started empty and was being filled), but if drive B died at 50% rebuild, then the new drive has 50% of data that matches B up to that point, and beyond that it’s empty. So probably it doesn’t add anything new. Typically, the best source is still the original drive B. If drive B’s failure was due to some bad sectors, maybe it still has a majority of data except a few spots – those spots would not have made it to the new drive either (because rebuild would have stopped at that bad sector). So this becomes similar to a bad sector scenario – we use both clones but likely most data comes from the old drive. In summary, we get what we can from both, and merge. If by chance some files were successfully copied to the new disk before the crash and then drive B became totally inaccessible for those, then the new disk might have some files intact that B can no longer give – so we definitely compare both images for any files present on one and not the other. By doing so, we ensure we don’t miss anything.

34. Mirroring on Removable Drives (e.g., USB RAID enclosures): There are external 2-bay drives that do RAID 1 mirroring of USB disks, or some people mirror to USB external drives via software. These sometimes break because of disconnects – for example, if one USB drive disconnects, the mirror breaks, and when reconnected it might think it’s a new drive and start copying in the wrong direction. Our method: We figure out which drive is truly up-to-date by looking at file systems. We then proceed like a normal out-of-sync or wrong-rebuild scenario. We’ve had to recover from those by imaging both USB drives and verifying which one had the latest writes. Then we complete the mirror by copying missing data accordingly. If the enclosure’s tiny controller messed up, we ignore it and use direct disk access through our cloning hardware. We often find one of the disks is actually fine and has everything, so we treat it as the source for recovery.

35. Network RAID Mirrors (SAN/NAS replication issues): High-end setups might mirror over network (like a SAN-level mirror). If they break, it’s akin to two separate storage boxes each with a copy – which might drift apart. (This is similar to #31). Recovery involves merging the copies. One interesting aspect: sometimes the mirror is synchronous (writes happen to both at once), but if the link breaks, one side might queue changes. We gather both sides and reconcile differences, ensuring all unique data from both copies is saved. Tools like rsync logs or snapshot comparisons can help if available, but if not, it’s manual diff and copy as earlier described.

36. Bad Sector Reallocation Gone Wrong: Hard drives reallocate bad sectors to spare areas. In some cases, a drive might get stuck or slow while reallocating many sectors, causing the RAID controller to drop it for being unresponsive. We’ve seen mirrors where both drives had many bad sectors and got into a state of constant retries. The drives might still work if you give them time, but the RAID marked them failed. Resolution: We use our imaging hardware with very configurable timeouts and read retries to deal with such drives. We can often coax data out of them by being more patient than the RAID controller was. Once imaged, the data might actually be mostly all there. We then rebuild the data set from the clones. So, the main challenge was the drives needed gentle handling that the live system didn’t allow. With our approach, we maximize data read success and then restore the data for the client on a fresh drive.

37. Parity Mismatch Errors (though RAID 1 has no parity): Occasionally, users misinterpret error messages. A RAID 1 might be part of a multi-volume set and error logs mention parity or other RAID levels. While RAID 1 itself doesn’t use parity, a user might see “parity consistency check failed” if the controller firmware uses generic terms. Typically, this can occur if there’s data mismatch between mirrors (some controllers call that a parity error even on mirrors). Our approach: If we suspect data mismatch, we run a consistency check ourselves on the clones – comparing them block by block. If differences are found, we log those areas. Then we either choose the newer block or the block that results in a valid file (we can tell by file system consistency). We essentially do the parity/mirror correction manually. After that, the recovered data will be internally consistent. We can also provide insights to the client – for instance, “We found that out of X million blocks, Y blocks differed between the two drives, indicating some writes were missed on one of the drives.” This can help them diagnose a failing disk or backplane issue.

38. Viruses or Ransomware on RAID 1: While not a failure of the RAID itself, malware attacks affect mirrored drives equally. We’ve had companies come in with a RAID 1 NAS where ransomware encrypted all the data – both copies. Or a virus corrupted the file contents. How we handle: For ransomware, if it’s a known strain and decryptable, we can attempt to decrypt (if the key is obtained or a decryptor exists). Often, though, ransomware means data is encrypted and only recoverable by paying ransom (not a technical recovery issue). We usually focus on recovering the unencrypted version of files via other means: perhaps the client had some shadow copies or the tail end of the drives contain fragments of files not overwritten by encryption (some ransomware copy/encrypt rather than in-place, leaving fragments). We scour the disk images for older versions of files in unallocated space. For viruses that just corrupt files, we similarly try to find previous good versions in slack or shadow volume data. This is more like forensic data carving than standard RAID recovery, but it’s part of what we do when needed. We also advise on better backup strategies to mitigate this in future.

39. RAID 1 running on Failing PSU or Controller (Intermittent Errors): Sometimes the RAID 1 might appear fine but occasionally have weird issues (files sometimes accessible, sometimes not). We’ve traced such cases to a flaky power supply or a borderline controller that writes bad data occasionally. Over time this can cause silent corruption. Our plan: We take both drives and compare to find any discrepancies. If we find mismatches (like one drive has one version of a sector, the other has a different), that’s a sign of such silent corruption. We then look at file system metadata to see which copy is correct (e.g., one might have a valid checksum in a file or a coherent directory structure, the other might have a broken one). We then choose the correct data from the correct drive. Essentially it’s similar to consistency check (#37). After recovering, the user replaced their power supply or controller and the issue was resolved. The key point is we can detect and correct inconsistencies that might not even be known to the user but could cause future problems.

40. “Missing Drive” due to Connection Issue: Finally, a simpler but common issue: one day the RAID 1 shows as degraded or fails, but the drive is actually okay – it was a cabling or connection issue (SATA cable loose, backplane fault, etc.). If left unchecked, data might have been still being written to only one drive. When the connection is fixed, suddenly the two drives are out of sync. How we resolve: This is a variant of out-of-sync mirror. We verify which drive has the latest data (the one that was still connected). We then mirror its data onto the other drive clone to bring them in sync (or just use that one drive’s data for recovery). In many cases, we can actually re-create the scenario and get the original mirror rebuilt properly once we have the data secure. But primarily we ensure the latest data is saved. We often also help identify the root cause – e.g., a bad cable – so the client can avoid the issue recurring.

These 40 scenarios cover the most frequent RAID 1 failure issues we encounter. In every case, our approach centers on protecting the data first (by cloning drives), then carefully rebuilding or extracting the data using specialized tools and our deep understanding of RAID systems. We utilise advanced hardware imagers, logic analyzers for RAID metadata, file system repair utilities, cleanroom facilities for physical disk repair, and custom scripts when needed – all to ensure that no matter how complex or dire the situation, if the data is recoverable, we will get it back.

Why Choose Our RAID 1 Data Recovery Service?

With 25 years of RAID data recovery expertise, we have seen virtually every way a RAID 1 can fail. Our breadth of experience means we can quickly diagnose the issue and formulate a recovery plan, whether it’s a straightforward single-drive failure or a complicated multi-failure with corruption. Here are a few reasons clients across the UK trust us as their RAID 1 data recovery specialists:

• Unmatched RAID Expertise: We specialise in RAID recoveries – from older SCSI mirror sets to the latest NAS devices. Our engineers understand RAID 1 at a deep technical level and keep up to date with all manufacturers’ systems. This expertise allows us to tackle even obscure or proprietary implementations of mirroring with confidence. We have a proven track record of recovering data that others might deem unrecoverable.

• Professional Cleanroom Facility: If your RAID 1 drives have suffered physical damage (clicking, not spinning, etc.), our ISO-certified cleanroom is equipped to handle delicate internal repairs. We use advanced microscopy tools and donor parts to replace failed components (like read/write heads or motor assemblies) on hard drives so that we can read the platters safely. This is critical for scenarios like multiple drive mechanical failures or environmental damage.

• Advanced Recovery Tools and Techniques: We invest in the latest data recovery technology. This includes hardware imagers that can read unstable disks bit by bit, RAID reconstruction software that can handle complex tasks (like aligning out-of-sync data or assembling virtual RAIDs), and custom tools we’ve developed in-house over decades. We operate on a read-only principle on client drives – meaning we never risk writing to your original disks. All work is done on images to preserve the original data. Our toolkit also covers software for all major file systems (NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, EXT2/3/4, XFS, HFS+, APFS, etc.), so we can handle whatever filesystem your RAID 1 was using.

• All Environments – Home to Enterprise: Whether your problem involves a home NAS RAID 1 box that stored family photos or a critical enterprise server that held databases, we treat it with equal care and urgency. Home users appreciate our friendly, jargon-free communication, while enterprise clients value our professionalism, confidentiality and fast turnaround options. We understand that data loss can be stressful, so we aim to be supportive and clear about the process and chances from the start.

• Free Diagnosis and No-Obligation Quote: We offer a free diagnostics service for your RAID 1. Our specialists will analyse the drives and determine what has gone wrong – whether it’s hardware failure, logical corruption, or both. You’ll receive a no-obligation report and a fixed quote for the recovery. We believe in transparent pricing and will explain exactly what we need to do to get your data back. In addition, we operate on a “no data, no fee” policy – if for some reason we cannot recover the data you need, you don’t pay for the recovery attempt. This guarantee reflects our confidence in our abilities and ensures you can trust that we’re focused on successful outcomes.

• Fast Turnaround and 24/7 Emergency Service: We know that when a RAID fails, downtime can be critical. Our standard services already prioritize efficiency (many RAID 1 recoveries are completed within 2-5 days depending on complexity), but we also offer emergency expedited service. In urgent cases, our team can work around the clock to recover your data as fast as technically possible. We’ve helped businesses restore operations in record time by recovering key data from a failed mirror overnight. Let us know your situation and we will accommodate to meet your needs.

• Secure Handling of Your Data: Data security and confidentiality are paramount. We handle all client data under strict protocols. Your drives and recovered data are stored in secure, access-controlled areas. We are compliant with data protection regulations and can sign NDAs if required for sensitive corporate data. When the recovery is done, we return your data on a new device (or secure download) and can on request securely wipe and dispose of the old drives or return them to you. We treat your data with the same care we would our own.

• Proven Success and Customer Testimonials: Over 25 years, we have successfully recovered data for thousands of clients – many of whom thought their data was gone for good. Our website features testimonials and case studies, including numerous RAID 1 recoveries, that demonstrate our capability. We are happy to provide references or discuss previous similar cases (without breaching confidentiality) to give you confidence in our service. Being based in Hull and serving the entire UK, we’ve built a reputation as a go-to company for RAID data recovery.

In short, losing data from a RAID 1 failure can be stressful, but you’re in safe hands with us. We combine deep technical know-how with a friendly, customer-first approach. We will keep you informed at each step – from initial diagnosis to recovery completion – so you’re never in the dark about your data.

Contact Our RAID 1 Data Recovery Specialists

If you’re experiencing a RAID 1 failure or data loss scenario, contact our RAID 1 recovery team today for a free diagnostic evaluation. We’ll assess your situation and give you a clear plan to recover your data, at no cost if we can’t retrieve what you need. As Hull’s leading data recovery experts, we are ready to help you get your important data back quickly and securely. Don’t panic and don’t tamper with the array further – let our professionals handle it with the care and expertise it deserves.

Get in touch with us via phone or email (available 24/7 for emergencies), or visit our Hull data recovery lab if you’re nearby. Trust the UK’s RAID 1 data recovery specialists with your critical data – with 25 years of experience, there’s virtually no RAID 1 problem we haven’t solved. We’ll reunite you with your data and help you put this stressful episode behind you.