NETGEAR ReadyNAS Duo systems provide reliable data storage for small businesses, often configured with RAID 1 for redundancy. However, if a RAID rebuild is interrupted by a sudden NAS shutdown, it can cause file system corruption, RAID metadata loss, and complete data inaccessibility.
This case study details how we successfully recovered critical business data from a NETGEAR ReadyNAS Duo with 2 x 16TB Seagate IronWolf drives, after a sudden power loss during a RAID rebuild caused data corruption for a local construction company.
As Oxford Data Recovery, with 25 years of RAID forensic recovery experience, we used RAID metadata repair, file system reconstruction, and deep data extraction techniques to restore lost business data.
The Challenge: NAS Shutdown During RAID Rebuild, Causing File System Corruption
A construction company contacted us after their NETGEAR ReadyNAS Duo RAID 1 array became inaccessible, with the following issues:
- One of the 16TB Seagate IronWolf drives failed and was replaced.
- A RAID rebuild was initiated, but the NAS suffered a sudden shutdown mid-process.
- The ReadyNAS system no longer recognized the RAID array.
- Business-critical project files, financial records, and CAD drawings were at risk.
Since a failed RAID rebuild can overwrite existing data, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the NETGEAR ReadyNAS Duo (2 x 16TB IronWolf drives) arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full RAID-level diagnostic. Our findings:
- RAID metadata corruption – The RAID 1 array was in an inconsistent state due to the rebuild failure.
- File system corruption (EXT4) – The sudden shutdown caused incomplete writes, making files unreadable.
- No mechanical damage to the drives – Meaning data recovery was highly possible.
Since NETGEAR ReadyNAS systems use Linux-based file systems, we focused on manual RAID reconstruction and file system repair.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging Both NAS Drives
To preserve the existing RAID structure, we:
- Created sector-by-sector clones of both Seagate IronWolf drives.
- Prevented further corruption by working on disk images instead of the original drives.
2. Manually Rebuilding the RAID 1 Array
Since the RAID metadata was corrupted, we:
- Analyzed parity and mirroring configurations using forensic RAID tools.
- Reconstructed the RAID 1 array outside of the NETGEAR ReadyNAS system.
3. Repairing the File System & Extracting Data
Since the EXT4 file system was damaged, we:
- Repaired missing file system structures to restore access to stored files.
- Extracted project files, invoices, and business records from recovered sectors.
4. Verifying & Restoring Construction Business Data
Once the RAID array was rebuilt, we:
- Checked all recovered CAD drawings, project contracts, and financial data.
- Verified the integrity of spreadsheets, invoices, and blueprints.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a new secure RAID storage device.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our RAID 1 metadata repair and file system reconstruction techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the construction company’s critical business data, including:
✅ Architectural CAD drawings and blueprints
✅ Financial transaction records and invoices
✅ Client contracts, project schedules, and staff files
The company was able to restore its business operations without losing essential data.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful RAID recoveries, we are the leading RAID 1 and NAS data recovery specialists in Oxford and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ NETGEAR ReadyNAS RAID 1 rebuild failure recovery
✔ RAID metadata repair & file system reconstruction
✔ EXT4, Btrfs, and Linux-based NAS data recovery
✔ Secure & confidential business data retrieval
If your RAID rebuild has failed, your NAS system is corrupted, or your ReadyNAS is not detecting your drives, stop all further recovery attempts and contact us for professional RAID data recovery.