At Bracknell Data Recovery, we specialise in the recovery of high-performance external RAID systems, including G-RAID NAS devices configured in RAID 0. If your G-RAID system is suddenly showing as RAW in Windows or Linux, this typically points to a serious file system corruption or a damaged RAID structure. Our experienced team can rebuild your array and extract your critical files — even when your system appears empty or unreadable.
Common Scenario: G-RAID NAS Showing RAW Format
User Symptom:
A G-RAID NAS system previously configured in RAID 0 is no longer accessible. When connected to a Windows or Linux system, the volume appears as RAW, with prompts to reformat or initialise.
Root Cause:
This typically results from file system damage (e.g. NTFS, HFS+, ext4), improper dismounting, power loss during writes, or metadata corruption. Because RAID 0 stripes data across multiple disks with no redundancy, a single disk fault or incorrect rebuild attempt can make the entire volume unreadable.
Our RAID 0 Data Recovery Process – Step-by-Step
1. Initial Drive Assessment and Cloning
- We begin by removing both drives from the G-RAID enclosure.
- Each drive is imaged using a sector-by-sector hardware imager, capturing all readable data while handling:
- Bad sectors
- Unstable heads
- Degraded NAND (for SSDs)
- This process is non-destructive and ensures original media is preserved.
2. RAID 0 Structure Identification
- Using low-level analysis, our engineers determine:
- Stripe/block size (e.g. 64KB, 128KB)
- Disk order
- Offset and parity (if applicable)
- The RAID array is reconstructed virtually using the cloned images, ensuring no additional stress is placed on the original drives.
3. File System Repair
- Once the RAID 0 volume is rebuilt, we examine the logical file system.
- If the volume appears as RAW, we recover and reconstruct:
- Partition tables (GPT or MBR)
- Damaged boot sectors
- Corrupted or fragmented file system structures (NTFS, HFS+, exFAT, ext4, etc.)
- Our tools allow us to rebuild broken file systems without relying on native OS utilities that could overwrite data.
4. Data Extraction and Verification
- Recovered files are extracted from the rebuilt array.
- Data is scanned for integrity, and inaccessible or deleted files are handled using advanced carving techniques.
- A list of recovered files is provided for your approval prior to delivery.
Supported G-RAID and RAID 0 Systems
We support all G-Technology G-RAID configurations and RAID 0 setups:
- G-RAID 2 / G-RAID Studio / G-RAID with Thunderbolt
- G-RAID Shuttle / G-SPEED Q / G-RAID USB-C
- RAID 0 Arrays in External Enclosures or Software Configured
- Drives with SATA, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, or eSATA interfaces
- Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Linux
Why RAID 0 Failure Requires Specialist Help
Unlike RAID 1 or RAID 5, RAID 0 has no redundancy. If either disk is missing, out of order, or partially overwritten:
- The array becomes unreadable
- File system damage can spread rapidly
- Recovery requires exact stripe matching and block reconstruction
This is why data recovery from RAID 0 should only be attempted by specialists with experience in RAID geometry reconstruction and cleanroom imaging techniques.
Why Choose Bracknell Data Recovery?
- 25+ Years of RAID and NAS Recovery Experience
- Specialist Tools for Stripe Analysis and File System Repair
- Certified Cleanroom for Mechanical Disk Work
- Non-Destructive Imaging – Preserves Original Data
- 48-Hour Critical Recovery Option Available
- Full Confidentiality & GDPR Compliance
Whether your G-RAID system is showing RAW format, uninitialised, or not mounting at all, our engineers can recover your data quickly and securely.
Contact Us for a Free Diagnostic
If your RAID 0 system or G-RAID NAS has become unreadable or is prompting for formatting, do not reinitialise the drive. Contact Bracknell Data Recovery today for a free diagnostic and expert assistance with your RAID 0 failure.