The Truth about Recovering RAID 5 with 2 Failed Disks

Users often focus on RAID 5. Indeed, it has the advantage of streaming data independently from multiple disks in an array. In this case, data can be processed in parallel and parity data is distributed across all disks in the array. To create such an array, you will need at least 3 disks and at the same time it will be able to withstand a single disk failure. Then the question arises, how to recover data from RAID 5 in case of failure of 2 disks and keep the array at the same time?

You should start by rebuilding the data, then rebuilding the RAID with the same configuration and loading the data onto the recovered RAID.

How to Recover RAID 5

1. 1. From a previously saved backup

1. 2. Using the manual method

1. 3. With a dedicated professional RAID data recovery application

Before starting, it is recommended that you create an image of any failed disks. If the hard drives are not found by Windows, you will have to take them to a service representative to create the disk image.

You need to be prepared because you will most likely have to pay a lot of money, since you may have to replace hard disk controllers from a donor drive or replace platters with a donor drive.

Use Backup

First you need to check if an available backup can be restored at all. If possible, try restoring the backup to a different location, and if the data is clean and usable, proceed to the next step.

Replace any damaged disks with new disks, test them for functionality, and then load the data onto the newly configured RAID.

Now you should check the performance of the RAID array.

You should also take into account some of the nuances when recovering disks using this method:

• This process can take a long time,

• Recently recovered data may be incomplete and differ from the original form.

Tip:how many drives can fail in RAID 5?

Perform Manual Recovery

In order to use the manual method of recovering data from RAID 5 when two drives fail, you need to prepare:

• Purchase an external storage device with sufficient disk space (network attached storage (NAS) or personal computer).

• Install a UPS, router, backup PC or NAS, computer system for operations.

• Two working and preferably new disks to replace damaged disks.

Keep in mind that this recovery should only be performed by professionals, as otherwise you may lose the entire array.

So here we go: connect all damaged disks to the boot disk and restore the contents to the disk. The next step is to replace the existing disk with scratch disks, then you need to restore and configure the RAID as a duplicate of the original.

Now, simply transfer all the data from the boot disk to the newly built RAID array and you are done.

You should also take into account some nuances when restoring disks using this method:

• This process is long and laborious, and there are no guarantees that everything will go smoothly.

• Not all files may well be restored and they may differ from the original.

• During the transfer of data, they can be damaged or disappear without a trace.

Use Professional Tools

The latest method to recover data from raid 5 with 2 failed drives is the safest and most efficient. It is related to purchasing the professional application DiskInternals RAID Recovery and recovering data from an array (including RAID Server failure recovery) using this assistant.

You can use a free trial of RAID Recovery to evaluate your RAID recovery capability. In addition, this application will help you create an image of each discarded disk for free as a bonus.

So, connect the drives in the array to your computer as independent local drives.

Download and run DiskInternals RAID Recovery software from the website, then open and mount the disk image obtained from the service. To do this, click Disks -> Mount Image, then click RAW Disk Image -> Next and click the Select and Attach Disk Image button.

Once you plug in the drive, click on Commands and select RAID Master.

Next, select Standard Mode and RAID, then select the disks and locations for RAID recovery. Click the Next button and in the new window click Arrange by RAID Levels. Select the type of RAID array (in this case, RAID 5), then the reconstructed RAID will be added to the list of disks and marked in red.

Now right click on the recovered RAID and select Open As, select one of the options:

• Reader

• Uneraser

Once the scan is complete, select the data you want and save it in a new safe place by activating the purchased license.

Good luck!