Aberdeen Data Recovery is proud to be Scotland’s No.1 RAID recovery specialist, with over 25 years of experience helping businesses and IT professionals rescue critical data. Our team combines deep technical expertise with a friendly, customer-focused approach. We understand how stressful a RAID array failure can be, especially for IT administrators and business users who rely on these systems. That’s why our RAID array data recovery services are designed to provide fast, reliable, and professional support to get you back up and running quickly. We have successfully recovered data from all types of RAID failures – even in complex scenarios – and we’re here to help you next.
Supported RAID Levels and Configurations
We recover data from any RAID level or configuration, no matter how simple or complex. Our engineers have experience with all standard RAID types, including:
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RAID 0 (Striping): High-performance striped arrays with 2 or more disks (no redundancy).
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RAID 1 (Mirroring): Redundant mirrored disk pairs for fault tolerance.
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RAID 5 (Striping with Parity): Arrays with distributed parity (common in servers, requires ≥3 disks).
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RAID 6 (Dual Parity): Similar to RAID 5 but with two parity stripes (tolerates 2 disk failures, requires ≥4 disks).
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RAID 10 (1+0 Striped Mirrors): Nested RAID combining mirroring and striping (often 4, 6, 8… disks).
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Other RAID Variants: We also handle RAID 50, RAID 60, JBOD/spanned volumes, and other custom or nested RAID setups.
Whether your array consists of 2 disks or 32 disks, we have the tools and knowledge to reconstruct and recover the data. Our specialists carefully analyse the RAID geometry and parity structure to ensure all drives (and all stripes/blocks of data) are put back together correctly. Even if you’re using an uncommon or proprietary RAID configuration, chances are we’ve seen it before and can recover it.
Supported Systems: Hardware, Software, NAS, and More
We support all types of RAID systems and storage platforms. RAID can be implemented in many environments, and our team is skilled in dealing with each of them:
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Hardware RAID Controllers: We can recover arrays managed by dedicated RAID controller cards or RAID-enabled servers (including SCSI, SAS, SATA controllers from various manufacturers). Even if the RAID controller has failed, we can often reconstruct the array from the member disks.
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Software RAID: If your RAID was created via software (Windows Disk Management, Linux MDADM, Storage Spaces, Apple RAID, etc.), we can handle it. We’re familiar with Windows, Linux, and other OS-based RAID configurations and can work with the metadata each OS uses to define the array.
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Network Attached Storage (NAS) Devices: We specialize in NAS RAID recovery for all sizes – from small 2-drive home NAS units to large NAS/SAN systems with dozens of drives. We can extract drives from the NAS enclosure and recover the array data directly.
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Rack-Mounted & Enterprise RAID Systems: Our lab regularly deals with enterprise-grade RAID enclosures and servers. Whether it’s a rack-mounted RAID chassis, a SAN storage array, or a tower server with hot-swap bays, we have the facilities to handle large multi-disk systems safely.
No matter if your RAID is in a standalone NAS box, part of a server, or a software-defined storage pool, we have the equipment and expertise to retrieve the data. We maintain a library of RAID controllers and adapters to interface with drives and mimic the original environment if needed, which helps in recreating complex arrays.
Supported Brands and Platforms
Aberdeen Data Recovery works with all major RAID, NAS, and storage brands on the market. Over the decades, we’ve seen virtually every platform out there. Some of the common brands and manufacturers we handle include:
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Server/Storage Vendors: Dell EMC, HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise), IBM, Lenovo, and Intel server RAID systems.
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NAS and SAN Brands: Synology, QNAP, NetApp, Buffalo, Drobo, Thecus, LaCie, Promise Technology, and ASUS (ASUSTOR) network storage devices.
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RAID Controller Manufacturers: Adaptec, Areca, LSI, Intel, IBM, Dell PERC, HP Smart Array, and other controller hardware.
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Drive Manufacturers: We work with arrays using drives from Seagate, Western Digital (WD), Toshiba, Samsung, Hitachi, and others.
Don’t worry if you don’t see your device’s maker on the list – chances are we have experience with it. From enterprise data center hardware to consumer-grade NAS units, our engineers are familiar with the nuances of each brand’s RAID setup. This broad experience allows us to adapt our recovery approach to the specific hardware or software in use, ensuring the highest chance of a successful recovery.
Common RAID Failure Scenarios We Handle
RAID arrays are robust, but they can still fail for many reasons. Our RAID recovery team has encountered and resolved all types of RAID failure scenarios, including:
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Multiple Drive Failures: RAID is designed to tolerate a drive failure or two (depending on level). But if more disks fail than the array can handle (e.g. two drives in RAID 5, or a third drive in RAID 6), the RAID will crash. We frequently deal with cases where multiple drives failed either simultaneously or in succession – often due to age, heavy use, or after one drive went bad and another failed during the rebuild. Our experts can create sector-by-sector clones of each failed disk and use parity calculations to reconstruct data even when the RAID won’t mount normally.
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RAID Controller Failure: A faulty RAID controller or server motherboard can make a healthy array inaccessible. In these cases, the drives themselves might be perfectly fine, but without the exact controller, the data can’t be read. We can bypass failed RAID controllers by reading raw data from each disk and reassembling the RAID using the known configuration (order of disks, block size, parity rotation, etc.). This allows us to recover data from a RAID even when its controller hardware has died or is no longer available.
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Rebuild Errors or Failure During Rebuild: After replacing a failed drive, a RAID array rebuilds to restore redundancy. This rebuild process can sometimes fail – for example, if another disk encounters read errors or fails mid-rebuild, or if the new drive has compatibility issues. A failed rebuild can leave the array in a vulnerable state where data is inconsistent. We have specialized techniques to handle partially rebuilt RAID volumes, allowing us to extract intact data from before the rebuild or even continue the rebuild in a controlled environment.
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Logical Corruption and Parity Issues: Sometimes the RAID hardware is fine but the data is logically corrupted. This could be due to file system corruption, malware, or improper shutdowns causing parity inconsistencies. For instance, mismatched parity data might make the array unable to synchronize data properly. Our team can repair or work around issues like corrupted RAID metadata, parity loss, or inconsistent stripe data to piece together a valid dataset. We use advanced tools to correct parity and read around bad areas of the disk to salvage as much data as possible.
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Bad Sectors on Drives: One or more drives in the array may develop bad sectors (unreadable areas) over time. In a RAID, bad sectors can wreak havoc – if critical parts of files or the parity information reside on bad sectors, it can prevent rebuilding or cause files to be incomplete. We utilise hardware imagers to create best-possible clones of drives with bad sectors, reading unstable drives in multiple passes to retrieve data from weak areas. By reconstructing the array from these clones, we often recover data that was inaccessible due to disk read errors.
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Accidental Reinitialization or Reconfiguration: It’s not uncommon for a user or technician to accidentally initialise a RAID array or reconfigure it incorrectly. For example, someone might inadvertently reset the RAID configuration in the controller BIOS or initialise disks as new volumes, essentially “wiping” the logical RAID structure. Even an accidental deletion of a RAID volume or partition can happen. The good news is that as long as the original data on disks isn’t overwritten, we can typically recover it. Our engineers can determine the original RAID parameters (order of disks, stripe size, etc.) and rebuild the array virtually to extract the files, even if the RAID was reformatted or initialized anew.
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Firmware Bugs and Failures: Occasionally, RAID controllers or NAS devices have firmware bugs that can lead to array failure. A firmware glitch might drop disks out of the array or corrupt the RAID metadata. We stay updated on known issues with popular RAID controllers and NAS models. In cases of firmware-related failure, we can often recreate the array manually and ignore the faulty metadata, or roll back firmware when possible, to get the RAID accessible again. We also regularly assist in migrating data from a failing device to a stable platform once data is recovered, to prevent repeat incidents.
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Drive Order Mistakes: If drives are removed for transport or troubleshooting, putting them back in the wrong order can confuse the RAID configuration. Many RAID levels (except RAID 1) require the drives be in the exact original sequence. If the order is mixed up, the RAID won’t mount properly and may appear blank or degraded. We have tools to determine the correct drive order by analysing metadata and parity patterns. By identifying the right sequence, we can virtually reassemble the RAID as it was before the mix-up and recover the data. (Tip: It’s always best to label drives when removing them from a RAID chassis to avoid this issue – but if it happens, we can fix it!)
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Other Scenarios: We handle any other RAID failure causes as well – from power surges and overheating (which can damage multiple drives or controllers at once) to malware attacks, partition table corruptions, and beyond. No matter the cause of your RAID crash, our team has likely seen a similar case and knows the optimal strategy to recover the data.
Our RAID Data Recovery Process
At Aberdeen Data Recovery, we follow a proven recovery process to maximize success while minimizing downtime. Here’s what you can expect when you trust your failed RAID array to us:
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Free Diagnostic & Evaluation: We start with a completely free diagnostic service. You can bring or send your RAID drives to our Aberdeen lab, and our engineers will promptly evaluate the condition of the array. We’ll identify the failure points – whether it’s a bad drive, controller issue, or logical problem – and determine what can be recovered. This diagnostic comes with no obligation and no upfront cost. (In most cases, our team can complete the evaluation within 2 business days and give you a clear report of the situation.)
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Report & Quote: After diagnostics, we provide you with a detailed report of the RAID failure and a plan for recovery. We’ll explain which drives failed or what went wrong, and outline how we intend to retrieve the data. Along with this, we give a firm quote for the recovery service (based on the complexity, not the amount of data). No work is done without your approval – you’re in control of whether to proceed. There are no hidden fees, and if you decide not to go ahead, you can have your drives back at no charge.
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Data Recovery (Standard or Critical Service): Once you approve, our data recovery specialists get to work. We have a standard service, where most RAID recoveries are completed in about 3–5 days on average. For urgent cases (like business-critical servers), we offer a critical 48-hour turnaround service – essentially round-the-clock effort by our team to retrieve your data as fast as possible. During the recovery process, we clone each drive sector-by-sector to preserve the original data. We then use specialized hardware and software to reconstruct the RAID virtually and extract the data to a secure storage server. Our lab is equipped with clean-air facilities for physically damaged drives, and we have an extensive inventory of donor parts to handle mechanical failures if needed.
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Data Verification & Return: After recovery, we verify the integrity of your files. We can arrange a remote session or file listing for you to confirm that the key data you need has been recovered. We then transfer the recovered data to a return medium (such as an external hard drive or a new NAS, typically provided by the client or purchased through us). Finally, we either hand-deliver the data to local clients or ship it securely. We can also securely wipe or return your original drives per your preference. Throughout the process, your data is kept confidential and secure – we regularly work with sensitive corporate and government data, so we maintain strict privacy protocols.
Throughout each step, our team will keep you informed and answer any questions you have. We know RAID failures can be complex, so we make sure to explain the situation in plain language and give you updates on the recovery progress. Our goal is to make the process as transparent and stress-free as possible.
Why Choose Aberdeen Data Recovery for RAID Recovery?
When it comes to RAID data recovery, you want the best experts on your side. Here’s why Aberdeen Data Recovery stands out as the top choice for RAID array recovery services in Scotland and the UK:
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Decades of Specialised Experience: With 25+ years in the data recovery field, we have a depth of experience that is hard to match. RAID recovery is one of our core specialties – our engineers have successfully recovered data from RAID systems of all kinds since the days when RAID was a new technology. This long track record means we’ve encountered both common and obscure failure modes, and we’ve kept up with every new RAID controller and storage trend over the years.
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High Success Rates: Our investment in cutting-edge technology and continuous training results in an exceptionally high success rate for RAID recoveries. We utilize the latest hardware-imaging tools and custom software algorithms to recover data even when multiple drives have failed or when file systems are severely corrupted. We’re confident in our abilities – and our many satisfied clients and success stories attest to our expertise.
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Trusted by Government & Enterprise Clients: Aberdeen Data Recovery is a trusted provider for not only local businesses and individuals, but also government agencies and large enterprises. We have handled cases for government departments, hospitals, universities, and global corporations. These clients trust us with their most sensitive and mission-critical data, which speaks to our professionalism, security, and success. When you choose us, you’re choosing a provider with a solid reputation in the industry.
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Local Expertise with a Personal Touch: Unlike some data recovery services that ship your drives across the country or abroad, we are a local Scottish company with a lab in Aberdeen. Your drives stay in-country and are worked on by our in-house team. Clients from Aberdeen and across Scotland (and northern UK) appreciate having a nearby expert to rely on.
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Fast and Flexible Service Options: Time is often critical when a RAID fails – every hour of server downtime can cost money. Because we operate a dedicated RAID recovery lab, we can start on your case immediately. Our standard turnaround is among the fastest in the industry, and for emergencies we can put multiple engineers on 24/7 shifts to meet a 48-hour deadline. We also offer after-hours support for critical cases. In short, we work on your schedule and urgency. Additionally, our free diagnostic and no data, no fee policy mean you don’t take on risk – if for some reason we can’t recover your data (which is rare), you owe nothing.
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Comprehensive Support & Post-Recovery Guidance: Our service doesn’t end when your data is recovered. We provide guidance on how to safely restore your systems and rebuild your RAID, to help you get back up and running. We can also advise on backup strategies or redundant solutions to prevent future data loss. Our goal is to build a long-term relationship as your go-to data recovery experts, not just a one-time fix.
When you choose Aberdeen Data Recovery, you’re choosing a team that genuinely cares about getting your data back and minimising the impact of data loss on your operations. We take pride in being the best at what we do, and we back it up with our friendly customer service and professional expertise.
Contact Our RAID Recovery Team for Free Diagnostics
If your RAID array has failed or is showing signs of trouble, don’t panic – help is available. Contact our RAID recovery engineers today for a free diagnostic evaluation and consultation. Our team will assess your situation and explain the best course of action to retrieve your data, with no obligation and no upfront cost.
Call Aberdeen Data Recovery or fill out our quick inquiry form on our website. You’ll be able to talk directly to experienced RAID recovery specialists who understand the urgency of business data loss. We’ll guide you through immediate steps to take (and not to take) to maximize recovery success.
Get in touch with us now – whether it’s a simple 2-drive RAID 1 or a complex 32-drive storage server, we have the expertise to recover your data. Let Scotland’s leading RAID data recovery team help you get back on track with confidence. Your critical data is too important to trust to anyone but the experts. Reach out to Aberdeen Data Recovery, and let us reunite you with your valuable information.
🧪 Our RAID Recovery Process:
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Free Diagnostic & Assessment
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Detailed Report & Fixed Quote
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Secure RAID Imaging & Disk Cloning
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Manual RAID Parameter Reconstruction
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Data Extraction & File System Rebuild
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Secure Data Return
🚀 Why Choose Aberdeen Data Recovery?
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🏴 Scotland’s Leading RAID Recovery Lab
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🕰️ 25+ Years of Proven Expertise
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💼 Trusted by Government & Corporates
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💸 Competitive Pricing with Free Diagnostics
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🔒 100% Confidential and Secure
📞 Contact Our RAID Engineers Today
Whether it’s a single disk failure or a full-scale RAID collapse, we’re here to help. Get your RAID system diagnosed for free and let our expert team recover your mission-critical data.