This article explains the causes that can lead to damage of a Buffalo HD-H1.0TGL/R5 RAID 5 array and outlines effective methods for restoring lost data using specialized recovery tools.
RAID storage on Buffalo network-attached storage (NAS) devices is widely used in home and small business environments to store large amounts of data securely and efficiently.
The Buffalo TeraStation HD-H1.0TGL/R5 supports RAID 5, allowing several hard drives to be combined into one array with distributed data and parity blocks. Such a setup provides an optimal balance between performance, fault tolerance, and disk space utilization.
However, even RAID 5 cannot guarantee complete protection from data loss. Disk failures, controller malfunctions, software errors, or improper user actions can corrupt the array and cause data inaccessibility. For NAS users, this often results in the loss of valuable work files, archives, or media collections.
Below, we’ll demonstrate how to recover data from a RAID 5 array (four drives) using the Buffalo HD-H1.0TGL/R5 as an example.
How to Create RAID 5 on Buffalo HD-H1.0TGL/R5
To create a RAID 5 array, access the storage management panel via NAS Navigator. Locate your device, right-click it, and select Open Settings.
Alternatively, enter the NAS IP address in your browser’s address bar. Log in using the administrator credentials (default: admin / password).
Next, navigate to Disk Management → RAID Configuration, then select RAID Array 1 and choose RAID 5.
Mark the drives you want to include, click Setup RAID Array → OK, and confirm with the code displayed on the screen.
The system will start building and verifying the array, formatted with the XFS file system. You can review other RAID parameters here.
Creating a Shared Folder
While verification runs, you can set up shared folders.
Go to Settings → Shared Folders → Add, specify the folder name, select the RAID array, and configure sharing options (Windows, macOS, Linux compatibility, Recycle Bin, access rights, etc.).
How to Recover Data From RAID on Buffalo HD-H1.0TGL/R5
⚠️ Caution: Any wrong action when handling RAID drives may lead to irreversible data loss. If the information is critical and you’re unsure, contact a professional recovery service.
Step 1. What You’ll Need
A Windows PC with available power and data ports.
Since this NAS uses IDE drives, you may need IDE-to-SATA adapters if your motherboard lacks IDE ports.
Hetman RAID Recovery – specialized software for restoring damaged RAID arrays.
A separate storage drive (external or internal) for saving recovered files.
A marker for labeling drives and a screwdriver for disassembly.
Step 2. Begin the Recovery
Remove the drives from the NAS and connect them to your PC. Label each drive in the correct order (1, 2, 3, 4) — the sequence is crucial for RAID 5 reconstruction.
When Windows prompts to initialize or format the disks, click Cancel — never modify the drives.
Launch Hetman RAID Recovery. The program automatically detects the drives, reconstructs the RAID, and displays the array structure. It supports all common RAID types and file systems, including XFS, and works with NAS brands like Buffalo, Synology, and QNAP.
Step 3. Creating Disk Images
You can also work with disk images instead of physical drives.
Select a drive, click Save Disk, and choose a path to store the image. To mount it, click Mount Disk and specify the saved file path.
Once all images are mounted, the utility will rebuild the RAID and display it in the main window.
Step 4. Recovering Data
Double-click the reconstructed array and choose a scan type: Fast Scan or Full Analysis.
Start with Fast Scan to quickly locate existing and deleted files (marked with red crosses).
Select the required files, click Recover, and specify where to save them.
If you can’t find certain files, perform a Full Analysis → Deep Scan to search by content.
Hetman RAID Recovery also includes a manual RAID constructor, allowing you to define parameters such as RAID type, block order, and block size. The software validates your input in real time — if the correct structure appears, proceed to scan and restore.
Conclusion
Recovering data from a RAID 5 array on a Buffalo HD-H1.0TGL/R5 requires precision and the right tools. Although RAID 5 offers fault tolerance, power surges, system failures, or user errors can still make the array inaccessible.
Avoid rebuilding the RAID directly on the NAS — this can permanently overwrite your data. The best solution is to extract the drives, connect them to a PC, and use Hetman RAID Recovery to virtually reconstruct the RAID 5 configuration, read the XFS file system, and recover your files.
Even if the Buffalo NAS itself fails, your data remains safe on the drives and can be recovered with the right approach and software. Acting promptly and handling the drives carefully greatly increases the chances of a successful recovery.
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