Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) ProLiant RAID 10 servers are widely used in business environments due to their high-performance redundancy and fault tolerance. However, if a RAID 10 array fails to rebuild after a drive replacement, the system remains in degraded mode, preventing data access and increasing the risk of total failure.
This case study details how we successfully recovered business-critical data from an HPE ProLiant RAID 10 server with 12 x 1TB Seagate hard drives, after the array failed to rebuild following a drive swap.
As Oxford Data Recovery, with 25 years of RAID forensic recovery experience, we used manual RAID reconstruction, parity analysis, and deep data extraction techniques to restore lost business data.
The Challenge: RAID 10 Remains in Degraded Mode After Drive Replacement
A business client contacted us after their HPE ProLiant RAID 10 system failed to rebuild properly. The reported issues included:
- One of the 12 RAID 10 drives had failed and was replaced with a new 1TB Seagate HDD.
- The RAID controller attempted to rebuild but failed, leaving the array in degraded mode.
- The business was unable to access files, databases, and virtual machines.
- Concern that further system use could lead to permanent data loss.
Since RAID 10 relies on mirroring and striping, a failed rebuild can cause data inconsistencies, requiring immediate professional intervention.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the HPE ProLiant RAID 10 server with 12 x 1TB Seagate hard drives arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full RAID-level diagnostic. Our findings:
- RAID metadata corruption – The controller failed to properly integrate the new drive into the array.
- Multiple inconsistent parity errors – The system was unable to match mirrored data, preventing a rebuild.
- No physical failure on remaining drives – Meaning a full RAID reconstruction was possible.
Since forcing a RAID rebuild could overwrite existing data, we focused on manual RAID 10 reconstruction and file extraction.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging All 12 RAID 10 Drives
To preserve data integrity, we:
- Created sector-by-sector clones of all RAID drives before making any changes.
- Isolated the failed and replaced drives to analyze discrepancies.
2. Manually Rebuilding the RAID 10 Array
Since the RAID metadata was corrupted, we:
- Reconstructed the RAID 10 stripe pattern using forensic tools.
- Manually corrected mismatched mirror data to ensure data consistency.
- Recovered the logical volume outside of the RAID controller environment.
3. Extracting & Verifying Business-Critical Data
Once the RAID 10 array was rebuilt, we:
- Recovered databases, virtual machines, and company files.
- Repaired damaged files and ensured all extracted data was complete.
- Transferred the recovered data to a new external RAID storage system.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our RAID metadata repair and deep parity analysis, we successfully recovered 100% of the business’s critical data, including:
✅ Company databases and financial records
✅ Virtual machines and cloud backup data
✅ Operational files, project data, and user profiles
The business was able to restore full operations, preventing significant downtime and financial loss.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful RAID recoveries, we are the leading RAID 10 data recovery specialists in Oxford and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ HPE ProLiant RAID 10 rebuild failure recovery
✔ RAID metadata corruption repair
✔ RAID stripe reconstruction & data integrity verification
✔ Secure & confidential business data retrieval
If your RAID 10 system has failed to rebuild, is stuck in degraded mode, or is preventing data access, stop all further attempts and contact us for professional RAID data recovery.