A business client encountered a severe RAID 5 failure on their Windows 2005 server, which contained six hard drives configured into a RAID 5 array. The issue began when the server experienced a power blackout, causing the RAID array to enter offline mode.

Upon rebooting the server, the client discovered:

One of the drives had failed completely, rendering the RAID 5 array unstable.
Entering the RAID array management system, only two drives were online, but they were not recognized as part of the array.
The client attempted BIOS recovery, which seemed to restore the RAID, but when the server booted up:
- The disks appeared as unallocated space in Windows.
- All previously stored data was inaccessible.
- The system prompted the client to format the drives, which would have permanently erased all data.

Realizing that critical business data was at risk, the client sought expert data recovery services from Manchester Data Recovery, a company with over 25 years of experience in recovering lost, deleted, and inaccessible RAID data.

Challenges

RAID 5 Array Failure Due to Power Blackout – The sudden power loss caused:
- RAID metadata corruption
- Multiple drive inconsistencies
- Loss of logical volume structure
BIOS Recovery Made the Issue Worse – While the BIOS recovery option restored physical drive visibility, it reset RAID configuration, causing the array to appear as unallocated space.
No RAID Backup or Spare Drive Replacement – Since RAID 5 can only tolerate one drive failure, a second drive loss rendered the array unusable.
Utility Prompting for Format – Accepting this option would have completely erased all data.

Solution by Manchester Data Recovery

Upon receiving the server RAID 5 drives, Manchester Data Recovery’s engineers followed a structured forensic recovery process:

✅ RAID Disk Cloning & Sector-Level Imaging – Each drive was cloned sector-by-sector to prevent further data loss or degradation.
✅ RAID Metadata Reconstruction & Virtual RAID Setup –

Engineers analyzed RAID metadata from the cloned drives to determine the original RAID 5 parameters (stripe size, parity rotation, disk order).
A custom RAID 5 virtual reconstruction was created in a controlled lab environment, bypassing Windows’ corrupted volume.
✅ Corrupt File System Repair & Partition Recovery – Since Windows displayed the RAID as unallocated, engineers reconstructed the NTFS file system to restore access.
✅ Data Extraction & Verification – Engineers extracted and verified all recovered business data for completeness and integrity.
✅ Secure Data Transfer – Successfully recovered files were transferred to a new external storage device, ensuring the client regained full access.

Results & Client Impact

100% of business-critical data successfully recovered
RAID 5 array virtually reconstructed despite metadata corruption
All server files restored without the need for reformatting
Client prevented permanent data loss and business downtime

The client was extremely relieved, as Manchester Data Recovery successfully retrieved all lost business data, preventing operational disruptions.

Conclusion

This case highlights the dangers of power blackouts on RAID arrays and the risks of using BIOS recovery options without expert guidance. If a RAID array shows as unallocated space, it is critical to avoid formatting, as professional RAID reconstruction techniques can often restore lost data.

For businesses facing RAID failures, unallocated RAID volumes, or lost RAID data, Manchester Data Recovery provides advanced forensic recovery solutions to retrieve critical files efficiently and securely.

👉 Experiencing RAID Failure? Contact Manchester Data Recovery Today!