⚠ Do now
NAS data recovery
Brisbane.
Degraded, Crashed, read-only, or gone from the network.
NAS data recovery starts with what is inside the box: one or more drives, joined by RAID or SHR, carrying a volume and the shared folders you see. We copy every drive in full first, then rebuild those layers in software from the copies, so the drives you send are never written to. Synology, QNAP, WD My Cloud, NETGEAR ReadyNAS, Buffalo, ASUSTOR, TerraMaster, UGREEN, Drobo, TrueNAS and Unraid.
How a NAS recovery is quoted- Free assessment of every drive
- Fixed quote in writing before work
- Your original drives are never written to
- Free tracked label, anywhere in Australia
- 01Enclosure, board and power supply
- 02Drives in numbered bays
- 03RAID or SHR layer
- 04Volume and file system
- 05The shared folders you see
Look closer
Part 1 of 4
Several drives, one set of folders.
The NAS spreads your shared folders across its drives, with RAID or SHR under a volume and a file system.
Who oversees NAS work in the lab
Viktor Burcevski
Executive Data Engineer / Executive Forensic Consultant
Viktor oversees every NAS job in the lab. He checks how each drive copies, works out the layout from the copies, and signs off the file list you see before you pay.
What Viktor works on
Synology SHR and QNAP pools rebuilt from drive copies, encrypted shared folders opened with the owner's own keys, and ransomware cases where the drives are kept as evidence.
FreeAssessment of every drive in the NAS
0Writes to your original drives
15,000+Jobs since 2016
92%Recovery rate
36NAS status messages explained in our library
The 20-second answer
What should I do if my NAS fails?
Can it be recovered?
Often, yes. In most NAS failures the files are still on the drives; what has failed is the box, a drive or two, or the layers that join the drives together. The odds drop with every Repair, Remove, Initialise or reset pressed after the fault.
What do I do right now?
Stop pressing buttons. Do not run Repair, Remove, Initialise or a reset, and do not move the drives into another NAS or a PC. If files still open, copy only the ones you cannot lose, then shut down from the admin page; if a repair is running or a ransom note has appeared, call first.
What does it cost and how long?
Every drive is assessed free, and you get one fixed written quote with a time estimate before any recovery work starts. The price depends on how many drives there are, how they failed and how the NAS was set up, so there is no single figure. If you decide not to go ahead, you owe nothing.
01 Symptoms · start here
Start with what the NAS is telling you.
Pick what you can see on the screen, on the front lights or in your shared folders. Each path gives the first safe move, the button not to press and what the lab checks first, all checked against the maker's own documents. Whatever you pick is carried into the enquiry form.
Still running, but warning you: Degraded, beeping, read-only or one drive marked failed.
Copy first · no Repair yetThe NAS still opens files, but its safety margin is spent. Synology says a Degraded pool has lost no data yet, and QNAP says to back up a read-only group before changing any disk.
Copy the files you cannot lose while they still open cleanly, and halt the copy the moment you see a new error, a slowdown or a strange noise. Leave every drive where it is, including the one marked failed, until the copy is done.
Crashed, Not active, asking to initialise, or gone from the network.
Hands off · lab workMore drives have dropped out than the NAS can survive, it has lost track of its own layout, or the box itself has died. The files are normally still on the drives; Remove, Initialise and a new pool are what put them out of reach.
If a Synology volume has crashed but files still open in File Station, keep it on and copy them first, as Synology advises. Otherwise shut down from the admin page and mark every drive with the bay it came out of.
Not one of those two? Choose the closest symptom below.
I don't know which NAS I have
No need to open it or log in. Count the drive slots on the front and look for the maker's name on the panel.
Still not sure? Choose Not sure in the form.
Which maker built your NAS?Notes for every NAS maker →
Your NAS maker
Synology
DiskStation desktop and RackStation rack units on DSM
DiskStation and RackStation units on DSM, most often set up with SHR. A Degraded pool still reads; once Synology shows Crashed, it says the owner can no longer repair it. Leave Repair and Remove alone.
Next step
The maker is now in your enquiry. Choose the closest symptom below for the first safe move.
Synology notes in the library →Your NAS maker
QNAP
TS, TVS and TS-h units, desktop and rack
TS, TVS and TS-h units. QTS uses ext4 and QuTS hero uses ZFS, and one cannot be converted to the other in place. If a RAID group says Not active, QNAP's instruction is not to change or remove any disk.
Next step
The maker is now in your enquiry. Choose the closest symptom below for the first safe move.
QNAP notes in the library →Your NAS maker
WD My Cloud
My Cloud EX2 Ultra, EX4100, PR2100 and PR4100, and older single and two-bay units
A solid red drive light marks a drive or volume fault. WD's manual says Change RAID Mode, Format Disk and a Full Restore all erase your data.
Next step
The maker is now in your enquiry. Choose the closest symptom below for the first safe move.
WD My Cloud notes in the library →Your NAS maker
NETGEAR ReadyNAS
ReadyNAS desktop and rack units on ReadyNAS OS 6
Factory default in the boot menu erases every disk after a ten-minute countdown, and switching off during the countdown cancels it. An OS reinstall leaves the data volume alone.
Next step
The maker is now in your enquiry. Choose the closest symptom below for the first safe move.
NETGEAR ReadyNAS notes in the library →Your NAS maker
Buffalo
LinkStation and TeraStation units
LinkStation and most TeraStation units use Linux software RAID with XFS, ext or Btrfs; TeraStation WSS models run Windows Storage Server with NTFS. Either way the volume is rebuilt in the lab from copies of every drive.
Next step
The maker is now in your enquiry. Choose the closest symptom below for the first safe move.
Buffalo notes in the library →Your NAS maker
ASUSTOR
Drivestor, Lockerstor and Nimbustor units on ADM
Drivestor, Lockerstor and Nimbustor units on ADM. To shut one down, press the power button until it beeps, then let go. DeadBolt hit ASUSTOR units in 2022 and was fixed in ADM 4.0.4.RQO2 and 3.5.9.RQO2.
Next step
The maker is now in your enquiry. Choose the closest symptom below for the first safe move.
ASUSTOR notes in the library →Your NAS maker
TerraMaster
F2, F4 and F5 desktop units on TOS
TRAID survives one failed disk and TRAID+ survives two. Creating a storage pool erases the disks it uses, so a new pool on the original drives is the step to avoid.
Next step
The maker is now in your enquiry. Choose the closest symptom below for the first safe move.
TerraMaster notes in the library →Your NAS maker
Drobo
5N2, 5C, 5D3, 8D and B-series units
Drobo used its own BeyondRAID layout, not a standard RAID level. Choose Not sure for the layout; it is worked out from the drive copies during the free assessment.
Next step
The maker is now in your enquiry. Choose the closest symptom below for the first safe move.
Drobo notes in the library →Your NAS maker
TrueNAS
TrueNAS Mini and self-built TrueNAS boxes
TrueNAS runs OpenZFS. A pool reports ONLINE, DEGRADED or FAULTED; hold off on zpool clear until every missing disk is back, and copy the disks before anyone forces an import.
Next step
The maker is now in your enquiry. Choose the closest symptom below for the first safe move.
TrueNAS notes in the library →Your NAS maker
Unraid
Self-built Unraid servers
Unraid keeps each file whole on one disk, with its own file system, and does not stripe. Never format a disk that shows as unmountable: Unraid's documentation says formatting erases it and updates parity, so it cannot be rebuilt.
Next step
The maker is now in your enquiry. Choose the closest symptom below for the first safe move.
Unraid notes in the library →Your selected recovery path · 01
Degraded, beeping, or a drive marked failed
One drive is out and the NAS still opens files.
Do this now
- Copy the files you cannot lose while they still open cleanly, and halt the copy at any new error, slowdown or strange noise.
- Photograph the alert and the front lights.
- Check the status of every other drive before changing anything.
Do not do this
- Press Repair without a backup you have restored from.
- Pull any drive before the copy is done.
- Fit a smaller replacement disk in a TrueNAS.
Every drive is copied in full before anything else happens, and the NAS layers are rebuilt from those copies, never on the drives you send.
Your selected recovery path · 02
Crashed, Not active or Inactive
The pool or volume is offline, or says it cannot be repaired.
Do this now
- If files still open in File Station, keep the Synology on and copy them first.
- Otherwise shut down from the admin page.
- Note which drive dropped out first.
Do not do this
- Choose Remove or create a new pool.
- Change or remove disks on a QNAP group that says Not active.
- Run Recover RAID Group on drives that failed rather than briefly disconnected.
Every drive is copied in full before anything else happens, and the NAS layers are rebuilt from those copies, never on the drives you send.
Your selected recovery path · 03
Volume gone read-only
Files open, but nothing will save.
Do this now
- Copy off what you need now; Synology warns the damage tends to get worse.
- On a QNAP, back up before changing any disk.
- Write down the exact message.
Do not do this
- Replace the faulty disk first.
- Remove or recreate the volume before the copy.
- Run a file system repair on the original drives.
Every drive is copied in full before anything else happens, and the NAS layers are rebuilt from those copies, never on the drives you send.
Your selected recovery path · 04
Repair or rebuild failed
A repair started, then stalled, failed or made it worse.
Do this now
- If it is still running, call before you stop it.
- Write down the error, the bay and how far it got.
- Copy only what still reads.
Do not do this
- Start it again onto another new drive.
- Remove the drive that reported the read error.
- Use Change RAID Mode, a factory default or a new pool.
Every drive is copied in full before anything else happens, and the NAS layers are rebuilt from those copies, never on the drives you send.
Your selected recovery path · 05
Won't start, or gone from the network
No lights, stuck starting, or the NAS cannot be found.
Do this now
- Check the power light, cable and router once.
- Label each drive with its bay before anything comes out.
- Keep the box and its power supply.
Do not do this
- Fit the drives into a replacement NAS and let it create or initialise anything.
- Plug them into a PC one by one.
- Try the maker's spare-drive reinstall before calling us.[12]
Every drive is copied in full before anything else happens, and the NAS layers are rebuilt from those copies, never on the drives you send.
Your selected recovery path · 06
Asking to initialise, format or install
A setup screen is offering to wipe the drives.
Do this now
- Photograph the screen, then cancel.
- Stop if an install says all data will be deleted.
- Leave the drives in bay order.
Do not do this
- Choose Remove on an Available Pool.
- Try Online Assemble with anything but the original drives.
- Let a ReadyNAS factory default countdown run; switching off cancels it.
Every drive is copied in full before anything else happens, and the NAS layers are rebuilt from those copies, never on the drives you send.
Your selected recovery path · 07
Reset or reinitialised by mistake
A reset, reinitialise or new pool has already run.
Do this now
- If an erase or format is still running, switch off at once: this is the one case where that beats a clean shutdown.
- Write down which option was chosen and when.
- Leave every drive in its bay.
Do not do this
- Re-create it again with guessed settings.
- Copy anything onto the new empty volume.
- Try another reset.
Every drive is copied in full before anything else happens, and the NAS layers are rebuilt from those copies, never on the drives you send.
Your selected recovery path · 08
Ransom note or renamed files
Odd file names, a note in every folder, or a demand on the login page.
Do this now
- Unplug the network cable. On an ASUSTOR, pull the network cable first, then keep the power button pressed for three seconds, as ASUSTOR advises.
- The exception is a QNAP showing the Qlocker note: QNAP told owners to leave it on and connected and run Malware Remover.
- Photograph the note and one renamed file, write down the new file ending, and call before anyone deletes, resets, restores or pays.
Do not do this
- Update firmware or run a clean-up on the hit NAS before checking the maker's advisory; after DeadBolt on QNAP, the update removed the page where a key would be entered.
- Reset, reinitialise or restore onto the same volume.
- Pay: the ACSC says never pay, and runs a 24/7 line on 1300 CYBER1.[54]
Every drive is copied in full before anything else happens, and the NAS layers are rebuilt from those copies, never on the drives you send.
Your selected recovery path · 09
Deleted files, folders or shares
The NAS is healthy, but something is missing.
Do this now
Do not do this
- Restore over the live folder.
- Run a repair.
- Keep the NAS in daily use.
Every drive is copied in full before anything else happens, and the NAS layers are rebuilt from those copies, never on the drives you send.
Your selected recovery path · 10
Cache drive failed
A cache warning, or the pool dropped after a cache drive failed.
Do this now
- Note whether the cache was read-only or read-write.
- Keep the cache drives with the hard drives.
- Photograph the Storage Manager message.
Do not do this
- Pull a read-write cache drive before its data is written back.
- Remove an M.2 drive with the power on.
- Reuse or throw away a cache drive that came out of the unit.
Every drive is copied in full before anything else happens, and the NAS layers are rebuilt from those copies, never on the drives you send.
Your selected recovery path · 11
Encrypted volume locked
Locked after a reset or a move, or the key is lost.
Do this now
- Find the recovery key for each encrypted volume and the Key Vault password.
- Say in the form that encryption was on.
- Keep the keys safe and offline until we ask for them.
Do not do this
- Put keys or passwords in the enquiry form.
- Reset or re-create the volume to unlock it.
Every drive is copied in full before anything else happens, and the NAS layers are rebuilt from those copies, never on the drives you send.
Your selected recovery path · 12
ZFS pool will not import
A TrueNAS or QuTS hero pool shows DEGRADED, FAULTED or UNAVAIL.
Do this now
- Note the pool state and save the zpool status output.
- Shut down from the web interface.
- Label every disk with its bay.
Do not do this
- Run zpool clear before the missing disks are back.
- Destroy and re-create the pool, which OpenZFS suggests only when a backup exists.
- Force an import before the disks are copied.
Every drive is copied in full before anything else happens, and the NAS layers are rebuilt from those copies, never on the drives you send.
Choose a symptom to see your next step.
Questions, answered first
What people ask when the NAS shows a warning
My Synology says the storage pool has crashed. Can the data be recovered?
Often, yes. A crashed pool usually means more drives dropped out than the RAID or SHR could survive, or the file system was damaged, and the files are still on the drives. Synology says the owner can no longer repair it: if files still open in File Station, keep it on and copy them first, and never choose Remove, which erases every drive in the pool.
My Synology says Degraded. Should I click Repair?
Only if everything on it is also in a backup you have restored from. Synology says a Degraded pool has lost no data, and its fix is to fit a new drive and run Repair, which erases the new drive and then reads every remaining drive in full. If another drive is weak, that long read can tip it over, so copy what you cannot lose first and call before you start. The reasoning is set out under why rebuilds fail on our RAID data recovery page.
My QNAP says the storage pool is inactive or the RAID group is Not active. What now?
Do not touch the disks. On a QNAP, Not active tells you the pool has lost more members than its layout can cope with, and QNAP asks owners not to swap or pull any of them at this point. The Recover RAID Group button is only meant for good disks that dropped out for a moment, so turn the NAS off from its admin page, note which bay each disk came from, and ring us.
Why has my NAS volume gone read-only?
Read-only is the NAS protecting what is left. Synology says it usually means a drive or file system failure and warns the damage tends to get worse, so copy what you need while files still open. On a QNAP showing Degraded and read-only, QNAP says to back up before replacing any disk, because a replacement can make the group inactive.
My NAS has disappeared from the network. Is the data gone?
Not necessarily. A NAS can drop off the network because its power supply, board or system partition has failed while the drives and the files on them are fine. Check the cable, router and power light once; if it still will not appear, label the drives by bay and do not try them in another NAS or a PC, which may offer to initialise them.
Before you press anything on the NAS
Safe to do. Not safe. Call us first.
Safe to do
- Copy the files you cannot lose while they open cleanly.
- Photograph the messages and the front lights.
- Write down the model, the number of drives and which failed first.
- For deleted files, check snapshots, recycle bins and backups.
- Find the recovery keys for encrypted volumes, but keep them out of the form.
Not safe
- Repair on a degraded pool without a backup you have restored from.
- Remove, Initialise, a new pool, a reset or a reinstall.
- Drives into another NAS or a PC.
- fsck, chkdsk or a repair wizard on the original drives.
- Pulling drives or changing their order.
Call us first
- A repair or rebuild is already running.
- A crashed Synology still opens files.
- A ransom note or renamed files.
- A read-write cache was in use.
From the Wildfire lab
Our latest NAS research, straight from the bench.
What we are seeing on NAS units right now, written up so you can check your own before it becomes a recovery job.
Active threat12 Nov 2026C3RB3R Synology ransomware: what to do this week
What it isA ransomware wave encrypting out-of-date Synology units and renaming files to .L0CK3D.
Why it mattersIt shows how to check your DSM version, the settings that actually stop it, and what not to touch if it has already hit.
Read the research →
Is your NAS on the internet without you knowing?
What it isThe three ways a NAS ends up on the internet without anyone deciding it should.
Why it mattersA forwarded port, a router setting or a vendor relay can expose it. Check yours in about 15 minutes.
Read the research →
Which NAS models no longer get security updates?
What it isThe Synology and QNAP versions and models that no longer get security fixes.
Why it mattersAn unsupported NAS stays open to known attacks; the guide shows how to check yours and what to do next.
Read the research →Free tools from
this research
NAS Ransomware CheckSigns to look for, and the first-hour card.
RAID Evidence ReaderPaste read-only output. Runs in your browser, uploads nothing.
Array PassportRecord bay order and serials before anything fails.
02 Costs
How much does NAS data recovery cost?
There is no single price, because no two failed NAS units are the same job. The cost depends on how many drives are in the box, what state each one is in, and which layers have to be rebuilt. Every drive is assessed free, then you get one fixed written quote, and if you decide not to go ahead you owe nothing.
Eight cost factors
What moves the price of a NAS recovery
How many drives are in the box
One-bay to rack-mounted; every drive is copied in full.
How many have a physical fault
A drive that needs head or board work goes to the hard drive or SSD bench first.
Whether the box or the drives failed
A dead box with healthy drives is mostly reconstruction work.
How the maker joined the drives
SHR or classic RAID, TRAID, BeyondRAID, RAIDZ, or Unraid's unstriped array.
The file system on top
Btrfs, ext4, XFS or ZFS.
What was pressed after the fault
Repair onto a weak drive, Remove, a new pool or a reset.
Encryption
Encrypted volumes and folders need their keys.
A read-write cache
It can hold data the hard drives never received.
Before you pay anyone
Is NAS data recovery worth it?
It is worth it when the files exist nowhere else and the drives still hold them. Before paying anyone, check the free copies a NAS often keeps: snapshots, each shared folder's recycle bin and your backups. The assessment is free, so you know what can come back and what it costs before you decide.
Check the free copies first
Shared-folder snapshots need a Btrfs volume, and an immutable snapshot cannot be removed until its protection period ends. Hyper Backup's integrity check shows whether a backup will restore. Restore into a new folder, not over the old one.[3][4]
When it is worth paying
Business records, client work or years of photos that exist only on the NAS.
When it may not be
Everything is in a backup you have restored from, or the files can be replaced. The free assessment tells you before you spend anything.
03 Process
How a NAS is recovered in our lab, step by step
A NAS is several layers deep, so the order matters: nothing is rebuilt until every drive has been copied.
1
Booked in and labelled
Every drive photographed and logged by serial number and bay.
2
Each drive checked
Health first; a drive with a physical fault goes to the hard drive or SSD bench before imaging.
3
Every drive copied in full
Sector by sector onto lab storage, behind write blockers; the originals are not written to.
4
The layout worked out
Drive order, block size and the RAID, SHR, ZFS or Unraid layout, read from the copies.
5
Volume and folders rebuilt
The file system read in software from the rebuilt layout, opened with your keys if it was encrypted, with cache data brought in where it applies.
6
Proof, then delivery
You see the list of recovered files before you pay, then the data goes onto a new drive.
04 Laboratory
The people and the bench behind your NAS recovery
Our own engineers recover NAS units in one Brisbane laboratory. Nothing is sent overseas or passed to another company.
The engineers
Viktor (Dante) Burcevski
Executive Data Engineer / Owner
Leads every NAS job, from the first call to the file list you approve.
Martin Daniels
Electrical Engineer
Handles the hardware side of a NAS job: drives that will not spin up or read, board and power faults, and donor parts.
David Williams
Co-founder · mobile & encryption
Handles encrypted volumes and shared folders, opened with the owner's own keys or passwords.
We sign NDAs and invoice companies.
What our clients say on Google
4.8 from 96 reviewsRead them all →
“Great communication with fast service, managed to retrieve all family photos and videos off a broken hard drive.”
“Excellent Data Recovery and re set up. Viktor goes above and beyond to explain everything regardless of how long it takes. After disasters through the years gone by with other so-called experts, it was stessfree and a relief to discover Wildfire. Excellent pricing and communication. ☆☆☆☆☆ Highly recommend 👌”
“Wildfire Data Recovery were fantastic to deal with from start to finish. Extremely responsive to any customer requests and we able to perform data recovery and phone repair where Samsung official repairer advised they would not likely be able to preserve the data. Very satisfied with Viktor and his team. Highly recommend 👌”
Ask anyone you are considering
Choosing who gets your NAS drives: four questions to ask
Will every drive be copied before anything is rebuilt?
A lab that rebuilds on the drives you send, or runs the maker's Repair, takes the risk you were trying to avoid.
Will they tell you the honest odds first?
Some NAS faults recover well and some do not. You should hear which kind yours is after the assessment, not a promise of every file.
Who does the work, and where?
Ask whether the drives stay in that lab, in Australia, or are sent on.
Do you see the files before you pay?
A list of recovered files, checked against what you said matters most, should come before the invoice.
05 Start
Book a free NAS assessment
Tell us the maker, how many drives and what the screen says. Any path or maker you chose higher up is filled in below, ready for you to check.
See how a NAS is recovered, step by step →
Prefer to speak to us?
1300 806 55706 Delivery
Sending your NAS drives to the lab
Call before packing a multi-drive NAS so we can confirm what to send.
Free tracked post-in labelAustralia-wide intakeIntake confirmed first
Repair, rebuild or ransomware? Call before changing power.
Shutdown guidance by manufacturerAdmin interface first, when appropriate. Button behaviour varies by model and configuration.
Confirm with the laboratory before changing a failing NAS’s power state. For an approved normal shutdown, use the manufacturer’s admin interface where available. Confirm the system is fully off before removing drives.
When normal shutdown does not apply
QNAP Qlocker
Leave the NAS powered on and call before rebooting or changing software. QNAP’s incident guidance advises against shutdown while data is encrypted or being encrypted. This is not the same procedure as ASUSTOR DeadBolt. QNAP’s incident guidance.
Synology repair or readable crash
Do not interrupt an active repair. If a crashed volume still opens files, leave it on and contact the laboratory about copying accessible data. Repair guidance · Crashed-volume guidance.
Synology
Normal shutdown
Use DSM’s shutdown option where appropriate. For the documented button shutdown, hold about three seconds until a beep, then release and wait until fully off. Confirm your model’s procedure.[16]
Avoid forcing it off
A ten-second hold forces power off and is reserved for an unresponsive unit. Do not use it as a routine packing step on a failing array.
QNAP
Normal shutdown
Use QTS or QuTS hero’s shutdown option where appropriate. QNAP documents software shutdown holds of 1.5–2 seconds on x86 models and 4–5 seconds on ARM models; check the exact model manual.[31]
Avoid a forced shutdown
The documented force-off holds are 5–6 seconds on x86 and 9–10 seconds on ARM, only for an unresponsive unit. A forced shutdown is not the normal preparation step for recovery.
ASUSTOR
Normal shutdown
Prefer the ADM account menu’s Power Off command after shutdown is approved. A 1.5-second press and beep can mean Sleep, depending on configuration; verify the device is fully off. Example model manual.[44]
Ransomware needs specific advice
For a confirmed DeadBolt incident, ASUSTOR’s guidance is to disconnect Ethernet first, then hold the power button for three seconds. This is incident-specific and differs from Qlocker advice; call before acting on a failing system.[43]
TerraMaster
Normal shutdown
Use TOS’s shutdown command where appropriate, and wait for the power light to go out before approved drive removal.[45]
Do not remove drives early
Do not pull drives while the system is still operating or before shutdown has completed.
WD My Cloud, ReadyNAS, Buffalo, Drobo, TrueNAS and Unraid
Use the model’s shutdown route
Use the admin page or web interface where appropriate. Follow the exact model’s instructions and confirm shutdown has completed.
Avoid cutting mains power
Do not switch off at the wall or improvise a long button hold unless the laboratory has specifically advised it.
- Confirm intake and power advice. Call before changing the power state of a failing, rebuilding or ransomware-affected NAS. Wait until fully off before approved drive removal.
- Record bay order first. Label each drive with its original bay before removing it.
- Identify cache devices. Tell the lab about SSD or M.2 cache and include it if requested, identified separately.
- Protect each drive separately. Use an anti-static bag, cushioning and a rigid box padded on every side.
- Enclosure and power supply. Keep them unless the laboratory asks for them.
- Keep credentials separate. Provide keys and passwords only by an agreed secure method, outside the parcel and enquiry form.
0 of 6 done.
Brisbane courier collection is $85, up to $120 further out; availability and timing are confirmed when booking. Call 1300 806 557 for intake advice.
Running a healthy NAS at another site? Record its bay order, drive serial numbers and who to call on the free Array Passport.
Our laboratory: 51 Aquila Circuit, Banksia Beach QLD 4507. Open Mon to Fri, 9am to 5:30pm, and Sat, 10am to 4:30pm AEST, with emergency triage and critical NAS intake 24/7 on 1300 806 557. Drop-off by appointment. Drives come back free by tracked post, by courier within the hour for $85 (up to $120 further out from the city), or you collect them from the lab by appointment, and your data is handled under our privacy policy.
Track My Recovery
Follow your NAS job online, stage by stage.
Every job gets a private tracking link, so you can see where your drives are without chasing anyone.
07 Answers
Questions about NAS recovery
Open a question for the short answer. The free assessment gives you the real one for your NAS.
Can I put the NAS drives into my PC or another NAS to get the files off?
Please do not. In most NAS layouts each drive holds only pieces of each file, on a file system Windows cannot read, so a PC sees nothing useful and may offer to initialise the drive. Another NAS may offer to create a new pool, which erases the drives.
Do I need to send the whole NAS, or just the drives?
In most cases only the drives, each with a label showing its bay. Keep the box and its power supply safe until we have talked; we will tell you if it is needed.
Should I try recovery software first?
For deleted files on a NAS that is otherwise healthy, try the free copies first: snapshots, the shared folder's recycle bin and your backups, restored into a new folder. For a NAS that is degraded, crashed or will not start, software is the wrong first step: it needs every drive connected at once and the RAID or SHR layer put back together before it can see a file, and running it on the original drives risks writes. Copying each drive first is the lab's job.
How long does NAS data recovery take?
It depends on how many drives there are, how big they are and whether any has a physical fault, because every drive is copied in full before the rebuild starts. A box that died with healthy drives needs no physical drive work, which keeps it simpler. You get a time estimate in writing with the fixed quote, after the free assessment.
Is NAS data recovery expensive?
It is usually more work than a single drive, because every drive in the NAS is assessed and copied before anything is rebuilt. The eight things that move the price are set out under Costs. The assessment is free and the quote is fixed, so you know the cost before you commit.
Can you recover deleted files or a deleted shared folder from a NAS?
Often, if the NAS has not been used much since. Check the free copies first: on a Synology, Btrfs snapshots and each shared folder's recycle bin may still hold them, and an immutable snapshot cannot be removed until its protection period ends. If those are empty, pause users and sync jobs so nothing new is written, and ask for an assessment.[3]
Our NAS had a cache drive. Does that change anything?
It can. On a Synology, a read-only cache holds copies only, so losing it loses nothing, but a read-write cache takes new data first and copies it to the hard drives later, so it can hold data they never received. Send the cache drives with the hard drives, and do not pull them from a failed unit.[13][14]
Can you recover an encrypted NAS volume or shared folder?
Yes, when the keys are available. A Synology encrypted volume needs the recovery key for each volume, and the Key Vault password if the vault was kept on the NAS. Find them before you send the drives, but do not put them in the enquiry form.[17]
Do you recover WD My Cloud, ReadyNAS, UGREEN, TrueNAS and other NAS makers?
Yes. Alongside Synology and QNAP we recover WD My Cloud, NETGEAR ReadyNAS, Buffalo, ASUSTOR, TerraMaster, UGREEN, Drobo, TrueNAS and Unraid units. Each maker joins its drives a little differently, and the notes for each are in the library below.
Can you recover a NAS from anywhere in Australia?
Yes. Anyone in Australia can post the drives to our Brisbane lab on a free tracked label, and Brisbane customers can book a courier collection within the hour for $85 (up to $120 further out from the city). You do not need to visit: the job runs by phone, email and online tracking.
What happens if the data cannot be recovered?
You owe nothing for the assessment, and you are told plainly what was found. The drives come back to you free, by tracked post or collected from the lab by appointment. Read our No Data, No Fee policy.
08 Learn
How a NAS stores your files, and why that shapes the recovery
Why the drives from a NAS mean little on their own, which failures tend to come back well, and how to tell whether your NAS still gets security fixes.
Inside the box
What is a NAS, and why won't its drives open in a PC?
A NAS is a small computer whose only job is storage: it joins one or more drives into a pool, puts a volume and file system on top, and shares folders over your network. Because each layer depends on the one below, a single drive taken out of the box usually shows a PC nothing it can read. That is why recovery copies every drive and rebuilds the layers in order.
The drives
One to many, in numbered bays. A one-drive pool has no fault tolerance.[1]
The layer that joins them
Synology SHR or classic RAID on Linux RAID; QNAP QTS on ext4 and QuTS hero on ZFS; TerraMaster TRAID and TRAID+; Drobo BeyondRAID; TrueNAS on OpenZFS; Unraid keeps each file whole on one disk, with parity.[21][47]
The volume and your folders
Btrfs or ext4 on Synology, XFS by default on Unraid, and your shared folders sit on top.[2]
Synology itself says neither RAID nor SHR is a backup; why is set out on our RAID data recovery page.
Honest outlooks
Which NAS failures recover well, and which do not
These outlooks come from the lab's bench experience on multi-drive jobs. They are not percentages; a figure is published only once job records back it.
| What happened | Outlook | What decides it | What ruins the odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| The box died, the drives are fine | Working out the layout from the drive copies | Letting a new NAS initialise the drives | |
| Degraded, and nobody has pressed Repair | Copying every drive, then rebuilding from the copies | A Repair onto ageing drives | |
| Crashed: one drive more than the layout can lose | How well the weakest failed drive can be read | Throwing out the drive that failed first | |
| Repair stopped part-way | Whether the drive that failed first still exists and reads | Starting Repair again and again | |
| Reset, reinitialised or a new pool created | How much was overwritten before it stopped | Copying new files onto the empty volume | |
| Every drive has a physical fault | Donor parts and the state of each drive’s surfaces | Opening drives or swapping parts at home |
Outlooks are qualitative and come from bench experience. The free assessment gives you the real answer for your NAS.
09 Library
Search every NAS message, maker and model we have checked
Type what the screen says, or pick the maker. Each record gives what it means, the first safe move, what not to press and the maker's own document.
Showing all 58 records
Status messageSynology: Healthy, Warning or Critical
What it means. Storage Manager's overall status. Healthy means every pool and volume is normal, Warning means the data is still safe but needs attention soon, and Critical means problems that may cause data loss.
First safe move. Open Storage Manager, note which pool and which drive the warning names, and photograph it.
Do not. Treat Warning as safe to leave, or press Repair before you have a copy.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageSynology: Storage pool Degraded
What it means. One or more drives are defective, but the pool can still be read and Synology says no data has been lost. Its fix is to fit a new drive and run Repair, which erases the new drive. Repair exists only for RAID 1, 5, 6, 10, F1 and SHR with two or more drives.
First safe move. Copy what you cannot lose while it still reads cleanly.
Do not. Run Repair without a backup you have restored from.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageSynology: Storage pool Crashed
What it means. More drives have failed than the RAID or SHR can survive, or the file system was damaged. Synology says the owner can no longer repair it.
First safe move. If files open in File Station, keep it on and copy them. Otherwise shut down cleanly.
Do not. Choose Remove.
Synology, Repair a storage pool (DSM 7 help) ↗Synology, What do I do when a volume crashes? ↗Synology, What are the reasons for a volume crash? ↗
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageSynology: Volume read-only
What it means. Usually a drive or file system failure. Synology warns that this kind of damage tends to get worse.
First safe move. Copy off what you need while files still open.
Do not. Remove or recreate the volume before the copy is finished.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageSynology: excessive and uncorrectable metadata errors
What it means. The Btrfs volume's own records are damaged. Synology says new hardware or commands will not fix it; its only fix is to copy the data off, then remove and recreate the volume.
First safe move. Copy what still opens onto another device.
Do not. Run repair commands on the original drives, or recreate the volume before everything you need is copied.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageSynology: System Partition Failed
What it means. DSM keeps its system partition mirrored on every drive. If it cannot be read on all of them, DSM may not load. Synology's fix, reinstalling DSM, comes after a backup.
First safe move. Note the message; if files still open, copy them.
Do not. Reinstall DSM, or accept any format prompt, before the data is safe.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageSynology: Available Pool on moved drives
What it means. DSM has found a pool on drives it did not create, often after the drives were moved to new hardware. Online Assemble needs the original drives, which it recognises by serial number.
First safe move. Leave it, write down which bay each drive came from, and call.
Do not. Choose Remove, which erases every drive in that pool.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageSynology: setup says all data will be deleted
What it means. The DSM installer is offering to format the drives, typically after they were moved to another unit.
First safe move. Stop, photograph the screen and cancel. Record the bay order.
Do not. Continue the install, or create a new pool.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageSynology: read-write SSD cache Degraded
What it means. On a RAID 1, 5, 6 or 10 read-write cache, DSM stops caching new writes and syncs the cached data back to the hard drives by itself.
First safe move. Let the sync finish and note the message.
Do not. Pull a cache SSD while data may still be on it; M.2 drives come out only with the NAS fully powered off.
Synology, What should I do when a read-write SSD cache degrades? ↗Synology, Will SSD cache increase risks of data security? ↗
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageQNAP: RAID group Degraded or Degraded (Rebuilding)
What it means. Degraded means one or more disks have failed and there are not enough spares. Degraded (Rebuilding) means a spare is in use and the group is rebuilding.
First safe move. Back up what you need before changing anything.
Do not. Swap disks before the copy is done.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageQNAP: RAID group Not active
What it means. More disks have failed than the group can tolerate.
First safe move. Shut down from the admin page, note the bay of every disk, and call.
Do not. Change or remove any disk; that is QNAP's own instruction.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageQNAP: storage pool Warning (Read-Only)
What it means. One of the RAID groups in the pool has gone Not Active. According to QNAP, part of the data on its volumes and LUNs may still be recoverable.
First safe move. Copy what still opens.
Do not. Replace disks to clear the warning.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageQNAP: Degraded and read-only
What it means. QNAP says to back up to another device first, without changing the disk, because a replacement usually does not fix it and can make the group inactive.
First safe move. Back up what you need to another device.
Do not. Swap the faulty disk first.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageQNAP: RAID group Error, volume Inactive
What it means. Several disks were removed or disconnected, and the pool or static volume on that group shows Inactive. Recover RAID Group starts a rebuild and only helps when healthy disks were disconnected for a while.
First safe move. Put each disk back in the bay it came from, then call.
Do not. Run Recover RAID Group on disks that actually failed.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageQNAP: Reinitialize, or restore defaults and format
What it means. Restore factory default settings and format all volumes formats every volume. Reinitialize the NAS deletes all data and reinstalls QTS.
First safe move. If either is still running, switch off at once and call.
Do not. Choose either on a NAS that holds the only copy.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageQNAP: Qlocker 7z archives and ransom note
What it means. Qlocker, in 2021, moved files into password-protected 7z archives, removed snapshots and left a ransom note. QNAP told owners not to shut down, reboot or update, to run Malware Remover while connected, and to contact QNAP support.
First safe move. Leave it on and connected, photograph the note, and call.
Do not. Update QTS or reset the NAS.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageQNAP: DeadBolt note on the login page
What it means. In 2022 DeadBolt encrypted files, renamed them with a .deadbolt ending and replaced the login page with a ransom note. QNAP's firmware fix quarantines that note page, so the place to enter a key disappears.
First safe move. Photograph the note page and one renamed file, then call.
Do not. Update firmware before reading QNAP's advisory.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageWD My Cloud: solid red drive light
What it means. A drive or volume fault.
First safe move. Open the dashboard alerts, note the code and photograph the lights.
Do not. Use Change RAID Mode, Format Disk, Quick Restore or Full Restore, which erase data.
Western Digital, Answer 24755: My Cloud alerts and drive lights ↗Western Digital, My Cloud EX4100 user manual ↗
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageWD My Cloud: alert 0201 Drive Failed
What it means. The NAS has marked a drive as failed.
First safe move. Note which drive, and copy what still opens.
Do not. Swap the drive and start a rebuild before the copy.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageWD My Cloud: alert 0004 Volume Failure
What it means. The volume can no longer be read as a whole.
First safe move. Shut down from the dashboard and call.
Do not. Format Disk or Change RAID Mode.
Western Digital, Answer 24755: My Cloud alerts and drive lights ↗Western Digital, My Cloud EX4100 user manual ↗
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageWD My Cloud: alert 0212 Volume Rebuild Failed
What it means. A rebuild onto a replacement drive did not finish.
First safe move. Stop, write down the bay and the alert, and call.
Do not. Restart the rebuild onto another new drive.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageWD My Cloud: alert 0036 File System Check Failed
What it means. The NAS could not complete a check of its file system.
First safe move. Copy what still opens.
Do not. Run repeated checks or repairs on the original drives.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageReadyNAS: ERR Used Disks
What it means. The unit has spotted old partitions on the disks and will not wipe them, which usually means the disks came from another ReadyNAS.
First safe move. Power off, keep the disks in order, and call.
Do not. Wipe the disks to get past the message.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageReadyNAS: Corrupt root
What it means. A corrupt operating system, or disks from another ReadyNAS model. An OS reinstall from the boot menu leaves the data volume alone.
First safe move. Note the message and the model.
Do not. Choose Factory default.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageReadyNAS: Factory default countdown
What it means. Factory default in the boot menu erases every disk once a ten-minute countdown ends.
First safe move. Switch off during the countdown; that cancels it.
Do not. Let the countdown run.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageTerraMaster: Array Degraded
What it means. A member disk has failed. TRAID survives one failed disk and TRAID+ two. Before a disk is swapped, TerraMaster says to turn the unit off and let the power light go dark.
First safe move. Copy what you need before any swap.
Do not. Create a new storage pool on the original disks; that erases them.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageASUSTOR: DeadBolt note on the ADM login page
What it means. DeadBolt hit ASUSTOR units from February 2022, encrypting files with a .deadbolt ending and taking over the ADM login page. ASUSTOR fixed it in ADM 4.0.4.RQO2 and 3.5.9.RQO2.
First safe move. ASUSTOR's advice is to pull the network cable first, then keep the power button pressed for three seconds.
Do not. Reset the unit or delete renamed files.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageZFS: ONLINE
What it means. The device or pool is working normally.
First safe move. If you are here because files are missing, check snapshots before anything else.
Do not. Assume ONLINE means every disk is healthy; check each device line.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageZFS: DEGRADED
What it means. The pool is impaired but still has enough copies to keep working.
First safe move. Save the zpool status output and copy what you need.
Do not. Fit a replacement smaller than the disk it replaces.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageZFS: FAULTED
What it means. Too few copies are left for the device or pool to be used.
First safe move. Shut down from the web interface, label the disks, and call.
Do not. Destroy and re-create the pool without a backup.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageZFS: OFFLINE
What it means. An administrator took the device offline.
First safe move. Find out who did and why before bringing it back.
Do not. Replace other disks while one is offline.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageZFS: REMOVED
What it means. The device was pulled while the system was running.
First safe move. Put it back in the same bay.
Do not. Run zpool clear before the missing disk is back.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageZFS-8000-8A: corrupted data
What it means. Data is damaged and ZFS has no good copy to repair it from. OpenZFS's suggested fix is to destroy the pool and restore from backup.
First safe move. If there is no backup, stop and call; the disks can still be copied.
Do not. Destroy the pool without a backup you have restored from.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageZFS-8000-HC: pool stopped, devices missing
What it means. The pool has stopped reading and writing because devices it needs are missing.
First safe move. Reconnect the missing devices first, in their original bays.
Do not. Run zpool clear before they are back.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Status messageUnraid: disk shows as Unmountable
What it means. The disk's file system cannot be mounted. Unraid's documentation says formatting it erases it and updates parity, so it can no longer be rebuilt, and that a rebuild does not fix file system corruption.
First safe move. Have the disk copied before any repair.
Do not. Format the disk.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
MakerSynology
DiskStation desktop and RackStation rack units on DSM.
DiskStation and RackStation units on DSM, most often set up with SHR. A Degraded pool still reads; once Synology shows Crashed, it says the owner can no longer repair it. Leave Repair and Remove alone.
Layout and file system. SHR or classic RAID on Linux RAID, with a Btrfs or ext4 volume.
The one thing not to press. Remove on a pool, which erases every drive in it.
MakerQNAP
TS, TVS and TS-h units, desktop and rack.
TS, TVS and TS-h units. QTS uses ext4 and QuTS hero uses ZFS, and one cannot be converted to the other in place. If a RAID group says Not active, QNAP's instruction is not to change or remove any disk.
Layout and file system. QTS on ext4, QuTS hero on ZFS, with RAID groups inside storage pools.
The one thing not to press. Swapping or pulling disks on a group that says Not active.
MakerWD My Cloud
My Cloud EX2 Ultra, EX4100, PR2100 and PR4100, and older single and two-bay units.
A solid red drive light marks a drive or volume fault. WD's manual says Change RAID Mode, Format Disk and a Full Restore all erase your data.
Layout and file system. Drives joined in the RAID mode set in the My Cloud dashboard.
The one thing not to press. Change RAID Mode, Format Disk, Quick Restore or Full Restore.
MakerNETGEAR ReadyNAS
ReadyNAS desktop and rack units on ReadyNAS OS 6.
Factory default in the boot menu erases every disk after a ten-minute countdown, and switching off during the countdown cancels it. An OS reinstall leaves the data volume alone.
Layout and file system. X-RAID or Flex-RAID.
The one thing not to press. Factory default in the boot menu.
MakerBuffalo
LinkStation and TeraStation units.
LinkStation and most TeraStation units use Linux software RAID with XFS, ext or Btrfs; TeraStation WSS models run Windows Storage Server with NTFS. Either way the volume is rebuilt in the lab from copies of every drive.
Layout and file system. Linux software RAID with XFS, ext or Btrfs; NTFS on the Windows Storage Server models.
The one thing not to press. Initialising, formatting or a factory reset.
From our approved site wording; no maker document is cited for this note yet.
MakerASUSTOR
Drivestor, Lockerstor and Nimbustor units on ADM.
Drivestor, Lockerstor and Nimbustor units on ADM. To shut one down, press the power button until it beeps, then let go. DeadBolt hit ASUSTOR units in 2022 and was fixed in ADM 4.0.4.RQO2 and 3.5.9.RQO2.
Layout and file system. RAID set up in ADM.
The one thing not to press. Updating or resetting a unit hit by ransomware before reading ASUSTOR's advisory.
MakerTerraMaster
F2, F4 and F5 desktop units on TOS.
TRAID survives one failed disk and TRAID+ survives two. Creating a storage pool erases the disks it uses, so a new pool on the original drives is the step to avoid.
Layout and file system. TRAID, TRAID+ or classic RAID in TOS storage pools.
The one thing not to press. Creating a new storage pool on the original disks.
MakerDrobo
5N2, 5C, 5D3, 8D and B-series units.
Drobo used its own BeyondRAID layout, not a standard RAID level. Choose Not sure for the layout; it is worked out from the drive copies during the free assessment.
Layout and file system. BeyondRAID, Drobo's own layout.
The one thing not to press. Moving the drives into another unit or a PC, or changing their order.
From our approved site wording; no maker document is cited for this note yet.
MakerTrueNAS
TrueNAS Mini and self-built TrueNAS boxes.
TrueNAS runs OpenZFS. A pool reports ONLINE, DEGRADED or FAULTED; hold off on zpool clear until every missing disk is back, and copy the disks before anyone forces an import.
Layout and file system. OpenZFS: mirrors or RAIDZ1, RAIDZ2 and RAIDZ3 groups.
The one thing not to press. zpool clear, or destroying the pool, while disks are missing.
MakerUnraid
Self-built Unraid servers.
Unraid keeps each file whole on one disk, with its own file system, and does not stripe. Never format a disk that shows as unmountable: Unraid's documentation says formatting erases it and updates parity, so it cannot be rebuilt.
Layout and file system. An unstriped array with parity; XFS by default on each disk, ZFS or Btrfs optional.
The one thing not to press. Formatting a disk that shows as unmountable.
ModelSynology DiskStation and RackStation
What it means. DiskStation (DS) desktop units and RackStation (RS) rack units run DSM, most often with SHR and a Btrfs or ext4 volume. Some models do not support SHR, or only in part.
First safe move. Note the model on the label, the number of bays and the DSM version if you can see it.
Do not. Move the drives into a newer DiskStation to test them.
Synology, What is Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR)? ↗Synology, Which file system should I use to create a volume? ↗
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
ModelQNAP TS, TVS and TS-h
What it means. TS and TVS units usually run QTS on ext4; TS-h units run QuTS hero on ZFS. One cannot be converted to the other in place.
First safe move. Note the model and whether it runs QTS or QuTS hero.
Do not. Reinitialise to switch operating systems.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
ModelWD My Cloud EX2 Ultra, EX4100, PR2100 and PR4100
What it means. Multi-bay My Cloud units. WD says My Cloud OS 5 is supported at least until the end of 2026.
First safe move. Note the model and the alert code in the dashboard.
Do not. Change RAID Mode or run a Full Restore.
Western Digital, My Cloud updates and support ↗Western Digital, Answer 24755: My Cloud alerts and drive lights ↗
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
ModelWD My Cloud models that cannot run OS 5
What it means. The original single-bay My Cloud, the first My Cloud Mirror, the EX2 and the EX4 cannot run OS 5, and support for My Cloud OS 3 ended on 15 April 2022. WD advises backing up now, turning off remote access and disconnecting them from the internet.
First safe move. Copy the data off while it still reads.
Do not. Leave it exposed to the internet.
Western Digital, Answer 29230: models that cannot run My Cloud OS 5 ↗Western Digital, My Cloud OS 3 end of support ↗Western Digital, My Cloud updates and support ↗
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
ModelWD My Book Live
What it means. Its final firmware came out in 2015, and WD advised disconnecting it from the internet after the 2021 attacks.
First safe move. Unplug it from the network and copy what you need.
Do not. Reset it to clear an error.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
ModelNETGEAR ReadyNAS desktop and rack units
What it means. NETGEAR states that ReadyNAS storage systems and software are end of life; the last ReadyNAS OS 6 download offered is 6.10.8.
First safe move. Note the model and the message on the front display or boot menu.
Do not. Run Factory default from the boot menu.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
ModelBuffalo LinkStation and TeraStation
What it means. LinkStation and most TeraStation units use Linux software RAID; TeraStation WSS models run Windows Storage Server with NTFS.
First safe move. Note the model and whether it is a WSS unit.
Do not. Initialise or format the drives.
From our approved site wording; no maker document is cited for this record yet.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
ModelASUSTOR Drivestor, Lockerstor and Nimbustor
What it means. ASUSTOR units run ADM. ASUSTOR's status page lists which models still get software support.
First safe move. Note the model and ADM version, and shut down with a press until it beeps.
Do not. Update ADM on a unit hit by ransomware before reading ASUSTOR's advisory.
ASUSTOR, How to shut down the NAS with the power button ↗ASUSTOR, Security advisory AS-2022-002 (DeadBolt) ↗
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
ModelTerraMaster F2, F4 and F5
What it means. Desktop units on TOS, using TRAID, TRAID+ or classic RAID. TerraMaster's forum says TOS 4.x reached end of life on 1 May 2026 and that the F2-210 and F4-210 cannot go past it.
First safe move. Note the model and TOS version.
Do not. Create a new storage pool on the original disks.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
ModelDrobo 5N2, 5C, 5D3, 8D and B-series
What it means. Drobo units use Drobo's own BeyondRAID layout, which is read from copies of every drive in the lab.
First safe move. Keep the drives in their slot order and choose Not sure for the layout.
Do not. Move the drives into another Drobo to get it going.
From our approved site wording; no maker document is cited for this record yet.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
ModelTrueNAS Mini and self-built TrueNAS
What it means. TrueNAS runs OpenZFS, which keeps a checksum for every block and can repair from a mirror or RAIDZ copy.
First safe move. Save the zpool status output and note every disk's serial number.
Do not. Force an import or destroy the pool.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
ModelUnraid servers
What it means. Each file sits whole on one disk with its own file system, XFS by default, and the array does not stripe.
First safe move. Note which disk shows the problem and keep the parity disk with the set.
Do not. Format a disk that shows as unmountable.
Checked against the maker’s documents on 6 November 2026 · Link to this record
Messages from server RAID controller cards stay in the decoder on our RAID data recovery page.
Plain English
NAS words, in plain English
- NAS
- Network attached storage: a small computer on your network whose only job is to hold drives and share folders from them.
- Bay
- One numbered slot in the front of a NAS that holds a drive. The bay order matters when the layers are rebuilt.
- Storage pool
- The drives a NAS has joined together, before any volume is made on them.
- Volume
- The space made on top of a storage pool and formatted with a file system, where the shared folders live.
- SHR
- Synology Hybrid RAID: Synology's automatic layout, built on Linux RAID, that lets drives of different sizes waste less space.
- TRAID
- TerraMaster's own layout. TRAID survives one failed disk and TRAID+ survives two.
- BeyondRAID
- Drobo's own layout for spreading data across its drives, used instead of a standard RAID level.
- RAIDZ
- The ZFS way of grouping disks with parity. RAIDZ1, RAIDZ2 and RAIDZ3 survive one, two or three failed disks.
- Parity
- Extra calculated data spread across the drives so the NAS can work out what was on a drive that has dropped out.
- Btrfs
- The file system Synology recommends for most volumes. It brings snapshots and checks on its own data.
- ext4
- A long-standing Linux file system, used by QTS on QNAP units and by older or entry-level Synology models.
- XFS
- A Linux file system, used by default on each Unraid array disk and on many Buffalo units.
- ZFS
- The file system and volume manager used by TrueNAS and QuTS hero. It keeps a checksum for every block it stores.
- Snapshot
- A saved, read-only picture of a shared folder at one moment, kept on the same volume as the folder itself.
- Read-only cache
- An SSD cache that only holds copies of data already on the hard drives, so losing it loses nothing.
- Read-write cache
- An SSD cache that takes new data first and passes it to the hard drives later, so it can hold data they never received.
- System partition
- The small area on each drive where the NAS keeps its own operating system, separate from your data.
- Drive image
- A complete sector-by-sector copy of a drive, which the lab works from so the original is left alone.
- Write blocker
- A device that lets a drive be read but stops anything from writing to it while it is copied.
The documents behind this page
- Synology, What is Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR)?
- Synology, Which file system should I use to create a volume?
- Synology, Snapshot Replication: snapshots (DSM 7 help)
- Synology, Hyper Backup: create a data backup task (DSM 7 help)
- Synology, Storage Manager overview (DSM 7 help)
- Synology, Repair a storage pool (DSM 7 help)
- Synology, What do I do when a volume crashes?
- Synology, What are the reasons for a volume crash?
- Synology, What to do when a volume is read-only
- Synology, What can I do if I received a Btrfs metadata error?
- Synology, What to do when the system partition has failed
- Synology, How to fix hard drive failure and retrieve the data from your hard drives
- Synology, Will SSD cache increase risks of data security?
- Synology, SSD cache (DSM 7 help)
- Synology, What should I do when a read-write SSD cache degrades?
- Synology, What can I do if my Synology NAS is unresponsive?
- Synology, How to migrate between Synology NAS (HDD migration)
- Synology, How do I reset my Synology NAS?
- Synology, Software Life Cycle Policy
- Synology, DSM 6.2 end of life status
- QNAP, Can I upgrade QTS to QuTS hero directly on my NAS?
- QNAP, QTS 5.1 RAID group status
- QNAP, QTS 5.0 storage pool status
- QNAP, Recovering a RAID group with an Error status
- QNAP, FAQ 534: recovering a RAID group
- QNAP, FAQ 57: Not active and Degraded read-only RAID groups
- QNAP, Security advisory QSA-21-12 (Qlocker)
- QNAP, Response to Qlocker
- QNAP, Security advisory QSA-22-02 (DeadBolt)
- QNAP, Operating system support status
- QNAP, FAQ 3435: power button behaviour
- QNAP, QTS 5.2 system reset and restore to factory default
- Western Digital, My Cloud updates and support
- Western Digital, My Cloud OS 3 end of support
- Western Digital, Answer 29230: models that cannot run My Cloud OS 5
- Western Digital, Answer 24755: My Cloud alerts and drive lights
- Western Digital, My Cloud EX4100 user manual
- Western Digital, WDC-21008: security measures for My Book Live
- NETGEAR, Knowledge base 22891: ReadyNAS boot menu
- NETGEAR, ReadyNAS OS 6 failing to boot
- NETGEAR, ReadyNAS downloads
- ASUSTOR, Security advisory AS-2022-002 (DeadBolt)
- ASUSTOR, What to do about DeadBolt ransomware
- ASUSTOR, How to shut down the NAS with the power button
- TerraMaster, TOS 6 help: storage pool
- TerraMaster forum, TOS 4.x end of life notice (staff post)
- Unraid, Array overview
- Unraid, File systems
- TrueNAS, ZFS primer
- TrueNAS, Replacing disks (SCALE 24.04)
- OpenZFS, zpoolconcepts(7)
- OpenZFS, Message ZFS-8000-8A
- OpenZFS, Message ZFS-8000-HC
- Australian Cyber Security Centre, Ransomware
Free assessment
Before anyone presses Repair, talk to us.
Every drive assessed free, a fixed quote in writing, and the list of recovered files before you pay. If nothing can be recovered, you hear that plainly and owe nothing.