Bracknell Data Recovery is Bracknell and London’s No.1 RAID recovery specialist, with over 25 years of experience handling the most complex RAID failures. We understand that RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) systems are critical for business and home users alike – providing speed and redundancy, but not infallible protection. Experts warn that “RAID is not a replacement for backup”, so when an array fails, professional recovery is essential. Our friendly technical team combines deep expertise with state-of-the-art facilities to recover data from any RAID scenario. Whether your RAID server went down or your NAS volume is unreadable, we carefully diagnose each case and use advanced imaging and reconstruction techniques. We work with customers across the UK, offering rapid turnarounds and clear advice.

RAID Levels Supported

Bracknell Data Recovery supports all common RAID configurations: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10 and Virtual RAID (software-defined or hybrid RAID in NAS systems). We handle arrays from 2 up to 64 disks, in both hardware and software RAID environments. This includes small two-disk RAID1 or RAID0 setups, enterprise SAN controllers, rack-mounted server arrays and large NAS clusters. Our team is experienced with both hardware RAID (dedicated controllers) and software RAID (e.g. Linux MD, Windows Storage Spaces, VMware, Hyper-V). In all cases we rebuild the exact striping and parity layout. For example, RAID 5 (which requires at least three disks) can keep working after one disk fails, but a second failure will usually destroy the array. We are ready to intervene before the second failure occurs. We can even work with exotic or mixed drive volumes (such as Synology Hybrid RAID or Drobo BeyondRAID) – our experts analyze proprietary metadata to restore your data.

RAID 0 (Striping)

RAID 0 stripes data across multiple disks to maximize performance, but it has no redundancy. In a RAID 0 array:

• Disk Failure: If any one disk fails, the entire array typically becomes unreadable. For example, one bad drive destroys the striped data layout. Recovery approach: We image every surviving disk using special hardware that tolerates damaged heads. Our engineers then reconstruct the original stripe order in software, carefully stitching the fragments back together.
• Disk Misordering: If drives are pulled and reinserted in the wrong order, the controller cannot map the stripes correctly. Recovery approach: We reverse-engineer the original disk order by analyzing data patterns on each disk. Once the correct order is determined, we rebuild the array in our lab to restore the files.
• File System or Configuration Corruption: A corrupted file system or overwritten RAID metadata can make the volume “disappear.” Recovery approach: We mount the disk images in forensic software to rebuild the lost file system structures. For RAID 0 specifically, we recreate the missing metadata (stripe size, offset) by comparing intact file signatures across disks. This allows us to piece together the full dataset.

At Bracknell Data Recovery, we emphasise extreme caution with RAID 0 recoveries, since any mistake risks total data loss. We avoid do-it-yourself tools when a RAID is broken, and instead rely on our controlled lab processes to maximise recovery success.

RAID 1 (Mirroring)

RAID 1 duplicates data on two or more disks. It can survive one disk failure, but if both mirrors fail, data is lost. Common RAID 1 issues include:

• Drive Failure: A single disk may fail (often due to mechanical faults or wear)
• . In RAID 1, a one-disk failure simply degrades the array – the remaining mirror still holds all data. Recovery approach: We identify the healthy drive (usually without powering down unnecessarily), create a bit-for-bit image, and verify its integrity. If needed, we rebuild the lost mirror from the intact copy. This restores full redundancy.
• Mirror Sync Loss: Occasionally a drive may develop bad sectors or firmware bugs that corrupt data silently, causing the two mirrors to go out of sync. Recovery approach: We perform a sector-by-sector comparison of the disks. When mismatches are found, we use the uncorrupted mirror data to overwrite errors, effectively resynchronizing the pair. This ensures a consistent copy of your files.
• Multiple Failures or Controller Errors: If both mirrored drives fail (e.g. due to a power surge or controller glitch), or if the RAID controller malfunctions, the volume may vanish altogether. Recovery approach: We independently image all disks and use metadata analysis to reconstruct the array. Even with two failed drives, our engineers can often recover data by reading any surviving sectors and repairing the mirrored copies in software. Since “RAID 1 relies on the health of the individual drives”, our team is prepared with diagnostic tools to handle even severe drive damage.

With 25 years in the field, Bracknell Data Recovery has restored RAID 1 arrays from many environments: from desktop RAID cards to large NAS mirror volumes. We always verify that only the good disk’s data is used, and document every step so you retain confidence in the recovered files.

RAID 5 (Striping with Parity)

RAID 5 stripes data across multiple disks and writes distributed parity information, offering one-disk fault tolerance. Typical RAID 5 problems include:

• Single Disk Failure: A RAID 5 array can continue if one disk fails. Recovery approach: We immediately image the remaining disks and use the parity blocks to mathematically rebuild the missing data. Once the array is stable, we verify file integrity before transferring your data to a safe location. Prompt replacement of the failed drive helps avoid complications.
• Second Disk Failure: If a second drive fails before the rebuild is complete, the array normally collapses. In this worst-case scenario, the RAID 5 layout is shattered. Recovery approach: We still attempt recovery by leveraging parity and any intact stripes. Our experts use forensic tools to reconstruct the logical volume. For example, by analyzing the parity algorithm and data block distribution, we can often piece together much of the original data even with two missing drives. (Note: success depends on which blocks were lost, but we exhaust all options in the lab.)
• Parity Inconsistency / Write Hole: Sudden power loss or system crash during a write can leave the parity information corrupted (the “write hole” effect). Recovery approach: We detect and correct parity mismatches by cross-referencing replicated data on the remaining disks. Our recovery software can flag inconsistencies and restore parity to match known good data patterns, allowing the rebuild to proceed correctly.
• Disk Reordering or Incorrect Rebuild: If disks are reinserted in the wrong order or a rebuild is misconfigured, the parity stripes won’t align. Recovery approach: We examine the raw disk images to determine the correct sequence and stripe offset. By adjusting the disk order and stripe size settings in our recovery tools, we can realign the array to its original state before attempting a rebuild.
• Controller/Firmware Faults: RAID controller failures or buggy firmware can render the array inaccessible even if all drives are healthy. Recovery approach: We bypass the controller entirely by imaging each drive individually. Using detailed knowledge of RAID 5 formats, we then manually reconstruct the array in software. This often involves reading controller metadata from each disk and emulating the original controller logic in our lab.

Common causes of RAID 5 failure include multiple drive failures and controller/partition loss. Bracknell Data Recovery’s depth of experience means we have seen and overcome each of these. We specialise in restoring your data no matter whether the failure was mechanical, electrical, or logical – always using rigorous, do-no-harm imaging and rebuild strategies.

RAID 10 (Striped Mirrors)

RAID 10 (also called RAID 1+0) combines mirroring and striping. It offers high performance and redundancy, but has its own pitfalls:

• Single Drive Failure: RAID 10 can usually survive one drive failing in a mirrored pair without data loss. Recovery approach: We find which mirror lost a drive, image the partner drive, and rebuild the mirror. Since RAID 10 stores identical copies, the intact mirror ensures all data is preserved.
• Mirror-Pair Double Failure: The array fails if two drives in the same mirrored stripe die. For example, losing both a disk and its mirror pair causes data loss. In a simple 4-disk RAID 10, there’s a 33% chance that two disk failures will knock out a mirrored pair. Recovery approach: If this occurs, we attempt to salvage whatever is left. We image all drives and identify which mirrored pair was lost. Sometimes, portions of data can be recovered from the surviving stripes or from incomplete chunks on the dead drives. Even in this dire scenario, our specialists use advanced parity analysis and file carving to retrieve fragments of files.
• Striping/Configuration Errors: RAID 10 requires the correct drive order and stripe parameters (size, offset). Misconfiguration during a controller replacement or migration can corrupt the view of the array. Recovery approach: We independently analyse the disk images to determine stripe geometry and the mirror structure. Using forensic reconstruction, we virtually reassemble the RAID 10 layout. This often restores full access to the data as if the original hardware were present.

By understanding that “RAID 10’s fault tolerance is dependent on which drives fail”, Bracknell Data Recovery tailors each recovery. We have specialised hardware and software capable of recovering even severely damaged RAID 10 arrays – systematically imaging drives, rebuilding mirrors, and verifying all file data before delivery.

Virtual RAID (Software-Defined and Hybrid NAS RAID)

Virtual RAID refers to RAID-like configurations managed by software or proprietary controllers (rather than traditional hardware RAID cards). Examples include NAS hybrid RAIDs (like Synology Hybrid RAID), Windows Storage Spaces, Linux MD RAID, VMware/Hyper-V virtual disks, and Drobo’s BeyondRAID. These systems offer flexibility but can present unique issues:

• Mixed Drive Sizes and Dynamic Layouts: Systems like Synology SHR and Drobo adjust how data is distributed when you insert different-sized drives. Recovery approach: These layouts are more complex than standard RAID. As DiskInternals notes, recovering an SHR setup with mixed drives “can be more complex than from standard RAID”. Our engineers have reverse-engineered many hybrid RAID formats. We analyse the proprietary metadata on each disk to rebuild the logical volume exactly as the original system did. Once we reconstruct the virtual RAID schema (parity, spare usage, etc.), we can then extract the files.
• Software/OS Issues: Virtual RAIDs depend on software (e.g. Windows, Linux or NAS firmware). A failed update, software bug or corrupted volume can hide the data. Recovery approach: We work with raw disks outside the original OS. For instance, we can mount Linux MD volumes or parse Windows dynamic disk metadata in our lab environment. By skipping the failed software layer, we directly reconstruct the array. This often restores access to the data that the host system could no longer see.
• Metadata Corruption: If the RAID metadata or partition table is lost (for example, due to accidental reformat or a firmware flash), the volume can vanish. Recovery approach: We use low-level tools to locate RAID signatures and rebuild the metadata. For virtual disks, this might involve scanning for known filesystem headers (NTFS, ext4, etc.) and using them to anchor the reconstruction of the RAID. Once the mapping is corrected, the files become accessible again.

Bracknell Data Recovery supports all forms of virtual and software RAID, including NAS volumes (small home NAS up to multi-bay enterprise SANs). We apply the same careful recovery principles used for hardware RAID. In fact, our expertise with every major NAS brand (listed below) means we are very familiar with their hybrid RAID technologies. Whether it’s a custom-storage pool or a cloud-based virtual appliance, we have the tools to restore your data.

Common RAID Faults & Recovery Process

• Single Disk Failure: The most frequent fault. In RAID 0 it causes total data loss, but in RAID 1/5/10 it leaves the array degraded. Our fix: We image all remaining disks at high speed, repair the failed drive if possible, then rebuild or reconstruct the array so you can copy off the data.
• Multiple Disk Failures: Often fatal in RAID 5/10 or if mirrors are lost in RAID 1/10. Our fix: We use advanced parity and redundancy algorithms to attempt reconstruction even with more than one missing disk. By analyzing striping patterns and redundant copies, we recover as much data as possible, even from a severely damaged array.
• Disk Reordering or Incorrect Slotting: Drives are reinstalled in the wrong slots or order. The RAID controller loses track of the array. Our fix: Our engineers determine the correct order by examining disk contents. We then virtually reassign disks to their original positions, enabling the RAID to be reconstructed.
• RAID Controller Failure: The hardware/firmware controller board dies. Our fix: We bypass the controller by imaging each drive individually. Using knowledge of the specific RAID metadata format, we rebuild the array in software, effectively replacing the controller’s logic with our own. Data is then recovered from the reassembled volume.
• Firmware Corruption: A firmware bug or failed upgrade corrupts the array metadata. Our fix: We carefully dump and analyze firmware images from each drive (if on-disk). For controllers, we recreate RAID parameters from scratch. This allows us to bring the array back online without the original firmware.
• Partition Table or Logical Volume Loss: The RAID exists but partitions/filesystems are lost (e.g. accidental formatting, repartitioning). Our fix: We scan the RAID volume for known filesystem structures (NTFS, ext4, etc.) and recover the partition layout. This lets us mount the filesystem and copy your data even when the “container” has been deleted.
• Bad Sectors and Read Errors: One or more disks develop bad blocks, interrupting the array read/rebuild. Our fix: We use head-swapping and factory-trained techniques to image problematic drives. Then we combine the good reads with parity data to fill in the gaps. In other words, we substitute missing sectors with reconstructed parity so that files remain intact.
• Power Surges/Electrical Damage: Sudden power spikes can corrupt disks or controllers. Our fix: We first assess physical damage. Often drives still have readable platters. We image all drives and treat the data as if from a drive failure, following our standard recovery process. The source of the failure is isolated in lab.
• Overwritten or Deleted Data: Important data was accidentally overwritten or the RAID reinitialised. Our fix: Even if new data covers old files, we can often recover remnants. We search the disk images for file signatures and attempt to piece together any recoverable parts. Full recovery isn’t guaranteed, but our forensic techniques often retrieve critical data.
• RAID Metadata Corruption: The RAID configuration info on disk is corrupted. Our fix: We detect and rebuild metadata tables (RAID superblocks, etc.) from the disk images. For example, we can recalibrate RAID 5 parity distribution or rewrite RAID 1 mirror markers so the volume becomes consistent again.
• Controller Battery Failure: In some RAID setups, a dead cache battery can lead to write cache errors and data loss. Our fix: We remove the battery dependency by directly reading disks. Any in-flight writes are reconstructed via parity analysis.
• Stuck Spindle or Mechanical Defects: Drives that won’t spin or have mechanical faults. Our fix: Our ISO-5 cleanroom allows safe head replacement or spindle repair on damaged drives. Once operational, we image the drive under controlled conditions to extract the data.
• Firmware Lock or Encryption: Some enterprise drives or NAS devices encrypt data or lock drives on startup. Our fix: We have proprietary firmware tools to unlock or decrypt drives. For example, we retrieve master keys or use vendor exploits (legally) to access encrypted arrays. This allows us to import the disks into our lab environment.
• Excessive Rebuild Fragmentation: A RAID stuck in a partial rebuild can scramble data. Our fix: We pause any rebuild and analyze the fragments at rest. By reassembling the array from scratch in our lab (ignoring the corrupted rebuild), we avoid compounded errors.
• Loose Cables or Connections: Sometimes the issue is as simple as a bad SATA/SAS cable causing intermittent drive dropouts. Our fix: We meticulously check and reseat every connection in the lab. We then image drives with direct connections to ensure continuity.
• Multiple Simultaneous Faults: A combination of the above (e.g. two failed drives plus controller error). Our fix: We tackle each fault step by step. Typically we start by imaging everything, then address the most severe issue (like hardware fault) first, then logical issues. Our end-to-end lab process is designed for these complex multi-fault scenarios.

Each fault above is handled with precision. Bracknell Data Recovery follows a strict process: (1) Live diagnosis (where possible) to identify failed components, (2) forensic imaging of all drives (write-blocked, so originals stay untouched), (3) careful reconstruction of the RAID in a safe environment, and (4) validation of recovered data. We also document everything for your peace of mind. This rigorous method, combined with our decades of RAID-specific experience, leads to high success rates even in very challenging cases.

Supported Brands and Devices

We recover RAID arrays from all major vendors and systems. This includes enterprise and consumer RAID products such as:

• RAID Controllers & Appliances: Dell EMC, HPE (HP), IBM, NetApp, Intel RAID cards, Areca, Adaptec, Promise, Thecus, ASUS, Lenovo, Buffalo Technology, Drobo, LaCie, Netgear and more.
• NAS/SAN Units: Synology, QNAP, Buffalo NAS, WD My Cloud, Seagate NAS, HP/IBM servers, Dell/EMC SANs, Rack-mounted RAID racks, JBOD enclosures.
• Software Platforms: Windows Storage Spaces, Linux MD/RAID, VMware/Hyper-V vSAN, FreeNAS, XPEnology, Linux LVM on RAID, Apple Xserve RAID etc.

We also recover from all drive manufacturers. Our cleanroom lab can open and repair drives from Seagate, Western Digital, Toshiba, Samsung, Hitachi (HGST), Maxtor, Fujitsu, Transcend, Kingston, Crucial, SanDisk, ADATA, Corsair, and any others. Whether your drives came from a branded NAS or DIY RAID box, we have the tools and firmware to handle them. In short, if it stores data in a RAID or multi-drive setup, we can recover it.

Why Choose Bracknell Data Recovery?

• 25 Years of RAID Expertise: Our engineers truly specialise in RAID. As one industry guide notes, recovery experts accumulate “tens of thousands of hours” of experience. With a quarter century of RAID-specific projects, our team has encountered virtually every failure mode. We invest continuously in training and R&D to stay ahead of new RAID technologies.
• Proven Process & Secure Lab: We operate an ISO-grade cleanroom for drive repairs and use write-blockers and forensic imaging tools on every case. This ensures your original media is never harmed. Your data’s confidentiality and integrity are paramount; we meet all industry standards for secure handling and disposal of your disks.
• No Data, No Fee Guarantee: You pay only for successful recovery. If we can’t recover your RAID data, you owe nothing. This risk-free policy reflects our confidence and commitment to you. (Note: this is a service guarantee, not a price list.)
• Comprehensive RAID Support: Unlike generalist labs, we focus heavily on RAID. We have hardware for every controller type and software for every file system. Whether you have a simple 2-disk RAID or a 64-disk SAN, our facility is equipped to handle it.
• Fast Turnaround & 24/7 Availability: We know downtime is costly. We offer express service options (including 24–48h emergency recovery for critical systems) and keep you updated at every step. Our UK-based support team (in Bracknell and London) is ready around the clock to advise and assist.
• Friendly, Clear Communication: Dealing with data loss is stressful. Our staff explain technical issues in plain English and guide you through the recovery options. We provide a straightforward evaluation of what can be recovered and don’t use jargon. Many clients appreciate our honest, no-pressure consultations (just ask, we have testimonials!).

In short, Bracknell Data Recovery combines advanced technology with real people who care. We’ve built our reputation on successfully recovering data that other providers couldn’t. Our local presence means we provide personal service, while our 25-year history means we have global-scale expertise.

Call to Action

Don’t risk losing your critical data – contact Bracknell Data Recovery today. Our friendly RAID data recovery specialists are ready to help you 24/7. Call 0800 689 0668 (national UK toll-free) or email our team for a free consultation. We offer immediate case evaluation with no obligation. Whether your RAID is in Bracknell, London or anywhere in the UK, we’ll walk you through the recovery process, give you a clear plan and cost, and start restoring your data right away. Remember, RAID failures are urgent – the sooner you get help, the better the outcome. Get in touch now and let us put our 25 years of RAID data recovery expertise to work for you.