Share this article
Improve this guide
How to Recover Data From RAID 1 Disk Safely
When one drive fails, you still have the data on the other
4 min. read
Published onAugust 9, 2024
published onAugust 9, 2024
Share this article
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
Recovering data from RAID 1 sounds complicated but it’s really not. The whole point of a RAID configuration is that two disk drives work in tandem to store the same data. If one of them fails, you still have the other one with the information intact. So, you only need to treat them as individual drives and identify the working one. With the right tools and methods, you can make the process much more manageable.
How do I recover data from a RAID 1 disk pair?
1. Clone the drives
Cloning the drives ensures that you do not accidentally damage the original data. By working on the cloned drives, you mitigate the risk of data loss from any errors during the recovery process.
2. Use a Linux Live CD
Using a Linux Live CD can help access file systems like EXT4 or Btrfs that Windows cannot read natively. This method is invaluable if the RAID was initially set up using a Linux-based NAS.
3. Try data recovery software
Professional data recovery software can bypass various software-level issues preventing access to your data. These tools are designed specifically to handle RAID configurations.
Luckily, we prepared a list of thebest data recovery softwarethat can make this process as easy as making a few clicks.
If you’d like to get straight to it, we advise using Stellar Data Recovery. This software is very easy to use and it is quite renowned for its capabilities.
⇒Get Stellar Data Recovery
4. Use Disk2VHD for Virtual Backup
Creating a virtual hard drive enables you to work with a full backup copy of your RAID data in a controlled environment, reducing any risks associated with direct recovery attempts.
5. Seek professional data recovery services
Professional services have specialized tools and experience to recover data from even the most challenging RAID failures. This should be considered if all other methods fail or if you are not comfortable executing advanced recovery techniques yourself.
By following these methods, you can cover various angles and approaches to recover data from broken RAID 1 arrays efficiently and safely. Always remember to back up your data regularly to prevent future data loss.
We have a complete guide onhow to set up RAID 1 on Windows 11that may help you after you recover the data. If you want more information, also check our guide onhow to set RAID on external drives.
We recommend using the comments section below if you have any additional questions about this matter.
More about the topics:data recovery,hard drives
Claudiu Andone
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Oldtimer in the tech and science press, Claudiu is focused on whatever comes new from Microsoft.
His abrupt interest in computers started when he saw the first Home Computer as a kid. However, his passion for Windows and everything related became obvious when he became a sys admin in a computer science high school.
With 14 years of experience in writing about everything there is to know about science and technology, Claudiu also likes rock music, chilling in the garden, and Star Wars. May the force be with you, always!
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Claudiu Andone
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Oldtimer in the tech and science press, with 14 years of experience in writing on everything there is to know about science, technology, and Microsoft
