What Causes RAID Failure and How to Recover From It

Regardless of one's experience with computers, RAID failure makes the heart skip a beat (or two). Information that has been lost on one or more discs is no doubt information that is important to you on either a personal or business level or sometimes both. What once was thought to be impossible is now possible. Lost information can be recovered from a RAID failure and many times it is possible regardless of the reason for the failure.

RAID failure can bring a business to a virtual halt so bringing the information back and secured on the computer is important. RAID failure recovery is possible from the computer itself and there is also software available to help get that information back so you can get it copied and running on a working volume.

Many people were misled to think that information on RAID could not be lost. It can come as quite a shock to find out that it can be. Information CAN be lost from one or more discs and either professional or professional software may be necessary to regain that lost information.

When one hard disk fails, very often, there is no ready standby. Consequently, the raid array is running on degraded mode. While waiting for the replacement drive which may take a day or two, there is an increased likelihood that another disc will fail. Some reasons for RAID failure include:

Virus attack
Data deletion
Missing RAID partition
Loss of RAID configuration settings or system registry
Loss of RAID disk access after system or application upgrade
Power surge
Malfunctioned Controller

Unless one happens to be an IT tech, the thought of "fixing" Raid failure can be very daunting. Like any other issues dealing with computers, RAID failure often leaves the computer owner feels helpless and miserable! BUT... There are things that can be done, however. You may have to go to a professional to get the lost information recovered but often you can use a software program that will help you to do it yourself. The important thing is to get the data back and onto a working volume. Because RAID failures can happen for so many reasons, it is best to have a plan on what to do should it occur.

Be warned though. There are many "quick fixes" typically used by clients attempting to restore a failed RAID that actually cause more harm than good. If you have a RAID failure, it is best if you do not try to recover the RAID yourself using "quick fix" techniques or "off-the-shelf" data recovery software. Never leave computer issues to unknown people or products. There are some reliable RAID recovery programs but be sure it is one that comes highly recommended.

Believe me, RAID failure is never easy to deal with. It can be costly and it is always inconvenient. There are times when the computer may be down for several days while the issue is being resolved. Luckily, there are ways to recover the data.

Product Highlights

Managing RAID on Linux
Managing RAID on Linux covers everything system administrators, power users, and tech managers need to know to put together a system that can support RAID.

Promise Technology FASTTRAK TX2300 2-Port SATA RAID PCI Adapter
2 Serial ATA 3Gb/s Ports for support of up to 2 drives, Native Command Queuing (NCQ), SATA Tagged Command Queuing (TCQ), Large LBA support for drives above 137GB, Combine with the SuperSwap 1100 for an advanced internal storage system.

Storage Area Networks for Dummies
In many companies today, SAN proficiency equals greater prosperity. If that equation gets your attention, back up and grab this book. You'll find out how to build a storage area network, what it does, who needs one, how to tie SANs together, and a lot more.

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The Pros and Cons of RAID Recovery Software for RAID Data Recovery
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Recovery for RAID 5 - A Quick Guide
When RAID 5 is implemented, redundant information is used across an array of discs which would leave one to assume that if information is lost from one disc, it is obtainable from another but that is not the case. Information can and is lost from RAID 5 arrays but the good news is that the information is recoverable.

RAID recovery for Linux Systems
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