Inspur RAID arrays are commonly used in video production companies due to their high-capacity storage and redundancy features. However, when a RAID 5 array starts showing frequent I/O errors, it often indicates sector corruption, degraded disks, or RAID controller issues, which can lead to file system corruption and data inaccessibility.
This case study details how we successfully recovered critical video production files from an Inspur 8-disk RAID 5 array with 6 x 1TB Western Digital Blue hard drives, after sector corruption caused frequent I/O errors and file system failure.
As Oxford Data Recovery, with 25 years of RAID forensic recovery experience, we used RAID metadata reconstruction, bad sector bypassing, and deep file system repair techniques to restore the lost business data.
The Challenge: RAID 5 Showing Frequent I/O Errors & File System Corruption
A video production company contacted us after their Inspur RAID 5 array started failing, with the following issues:
- Frequent I/O errors when accessing files or attempting to transfer data.
- RAID 5 array becoming unstable, with delays and unresponsive performance.
- Some video files showing signs of corruption or partial playback.
- Concerns that continued use could cause complete RAID failure.
Since sector corruption can spread across a RAID array, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the Inspur RAID 5 array with 6 x 1TB WD Blue drives arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full RAID-level diagnostic. Our findings:
- Multiple bad sectors across all drives – Causing frequent I/O errors and slow performance.
- RAID metadata corruption – Leading to inconsistencies in parity calculations.
- File system corruption (NTFS/EXT4) – Making stored video files unreadable.
Since forcing a RAID rebuild could overwrite data, we focused on manual RAID reconstruction and targeted file recovery.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging All RAID Drives to Preserve Data
To prevent further corruption, we:
- Created sector-by-sector clones of all six RAID drives.
- Used advanced imaging tools to bypass bad sectors.
2. Manually Rebuilding the RAID 5 Array
Since the RAID controller was failing to rebuild the array, we:
- Analyzed parity distribution and striping order using forensic RAID tools.
- Reconstructed the RAID 5 array outside the Inspur system.
3. Extracting & Repairing Video Production Files
Since some video files were partially corrupted, we:
- Repaired fragmented video segments using forensic recovery tools.
- Rebuilt missing file structures and metadata.
4. Verifying & Restoring Video Business Data
Once the RAID array was rebuilt, we:
- Checked all recovered footage for playback integrity.
- Restored project files, timelines, and audio tracks.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external RAID storage system.
The Results: 98% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our RAID 5 metadata repair and sector bypassing techniques, we successfully recovered 98% of the video production company’s lost data, including:
✅ High-resolution video footage and raw production files
✅ Edited project timelines and rendered video exports
✅ Audio files, graphics, and project metadata
The company was able to restore full production workflows, avoiding major financial and reputational loss.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful RAID recoveries, we are the leading RAID 5 data recovery specialists in Oxford and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ RAID 5 I/O error recovery & bad sector repair
✔ RAID metadata corruption repair & parity reconstruction
✔ Video file recovery & playback integrity repair
✔ Secure & confidential data retrieval for media professionals
If your RAID 5 array is showing I/O errors, corrupt files, or is failing to rebuild, stop further attempts and contact us immediately for professional RAID data recovery.