Lost a RAID 5 partition? Stop using the drive first
A RAID 5 array can fail logically even when the disks are healthy. A virus, a power cut, a corrupted boot record or an accidental format can leave the whole partition unreadable. RAID 5 Recovery Tool is a Windows program that scans the drive for the lost data and restores it. It identifies files by their unique file signatures.
Tip: When a RAID 5 partition disappears, only the index of the data is removed. Windows can no longer find the files, but they are usually still on the disk until something overwrites them. Stop using the drive straight away.
Quick facts
- Platform: Windows, including Windows 8 and Windows 7
- Purpose: recovering deleted or lost data from RAID 5 partitions
- Trial: a demo version is available so you can check the results before buying the full version
Key features
Recovery from several RAID levels, not only RAID 5
Besides RAID 5, the tool handles RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 2 arrays. It also works with SATA, SCSI and IDE hard drives.
A scan of the whole drive using file signatures
The built-in scanning algorithm searches the complete drive for lost or deleted data. It then restores what it finds using file signatures.
A wide range of causes covered
It targets data lost to virus damage, boot sector corruption, sudden power loss, MBR corruption, bad sectors, file system corruption and accidental formatting.
Recovery from other storage as well
You can use it on memory cards, flash drives, external hard disks, FireWire drives and USB hard disks.
How recovery works
- Install the program and launch it.
- Pick the lost or deleted RAID partition from the list of logical drives.
- Review the list of retrieved files.
Who it's for
It suits you if you run a RAID 5 array on a Windows PC and the partition has become inaccessible, was deleted or was formatted, and you have no usable backup. It is a logical-recovery tool. Plan for a backup as well, because the vendor itself advises keeping one.
Pros and cons
- Pro: a simple three-step process.
- Pro: covers several RAID levels and many drive types.
- Pro: a demo lets you check the results first.
- Con: it works on logical failures, where the data is still on the disks. It cannot repair physically damaged disks.
- Con: the vendor's pages carry no detailed system requirements, so check the demo on your own machine.
FAQs
Should I keep using the drive after losing data?
No. Further writes can overwrite the lost data and make recovery permanent.
Which drive types can it read?
It supports SATA, SCSI and IDE hard drives, along with external disks, USB drives, flash drives and memory cards.
Can I test it before paying?
Yes. A demo version is offered so you can see what it finds before you move to the full version.
Does it only handle RAID 5?
No. It also recovers from RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 2 layouts.