Switch the NAS off and leave the disks in their bays. Do not factory reset it, do not agree to repair or re-create the volume, and do not connect the disks to a Windows PC, which may offer to initialise them.
A NAS spreads your files across its disks using RAID, usually with a Linux file system that Windows and macOS cannot read. Each disk only makes sense alongside the others, in the right order. Pulling one out to test it in a PC tells you nothing and risks a lot. If you have already taken them out, number them by bay.
Is it the box or the disks
If the enclosure, controller or power supply has died, the disks are often healthy and the data can be reassembled from them. That is a logical recovery, as are deleted shares, an accidental reformat, a firmware error and a faulty configuration.
If one or more disks have failed mechanically, each needs physical work in our ISO Class 5 (Class 100) clean room before the volume can be rebuilt. Several failed disks in one unit is a harder job, but it is one we take on.
Causes of NAS failure we deal with
- Failed hard disks, including several at once
- RAID rebuild that failed partway
- Overwritten storage configuration
- Deleted VMware files or snapshots
- System corruption after a power cut
- Power surge through the power connector
- Defective NAS controller
- Metadata corruption
- Fire or water damage
Guide prices for NAS recovery
| NAS | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Initial consultation | Free |
| 2TB NAS (1TB + 1TB), one drive to repair | £450 + VAT |
| QNAP or Synology RAID 5 NAS | £650 + VAT |
Other units are quoted after the free consultation, and the quote is firm. No recovery, no charge. The rest is on the data recovery price list.
More help for your make of NAS
Our in-depth NAS data recovery guide goes further into how these systems fail. There are separate pages for Synology, QNAP and Drobo units. We also recover Buffalo, Seagate, G-Technology, D-Link, Thecus, NetApp, Dell, Cisco, Acer, Freecom and EasyRAID devices, along with SAN storage.
Bring the NAS to North End Road in West Kensington, or we will collect it from your office or home and return it free. Business or personal, what is on it stays confidential.
Questions people ask
Can I put the disks into a new NAS of the same model?
It sometimes works when only the enclosure has failed, but it is a gamble. If the new unit offers to initialise the disks, create a new volume or run a repair, decline and switch it off. Ask us first, because the consultation is free.
My NAS says the volume is degraded. Is that urgent?
Yes. Degraded means a disk has already dropped out and the remaining disks are carrying everything. Copy off anything vital if the NAS still lets you, then speak to us before replacing a disk or starting a rebuild.
How much does NAS data recovery cost?
As a guide, a 2TB two-disk NAS with one drive to repair is £450 + VAT, and a QNAP or Synology RAID 5 NAS is £650 + VAT. You get a firm quote first and there is no charge if the data cannot be recovered.
Do you only recover NAS units for businesses?
No. Plenty of NAS boxes sit under a desk at home holding the family photos. We recover home and business units alike, and the same confidentiality applies to both.