Caldigit raid 5 accidently initialized - need recovery

[tushara]

I accidentally initialized my caldigit raid 5 (Mac hfs+). I want to recover the data from it. can some one explain me how recover my files?

[dmarques]

If you don't have any previous experience, that will not be easy.

You have to remove the drives from the box, attached them to a PC or image them, then find the RAID5 config, if you don't know it already, and use any app in linux (mdam) or windows (winhex) to rebuild the RAID and access data.

[harddrivespecialist]

You have to remove the drives from the box, attached them to a PC or image them, then find the RAID5 config, if you don't know it already, and use any app in linux (mdam) or windows (winhex) to rebuild the RAID and access data.

In other words, you better look for a pro.

[dmarques]

I just didn't want to say it directly

[tushara]

I have made a .img of each hdd. now what shall i do? how to reconstruct the raid5 arry? what software should i use?

[hddguy]

I have made a .img of each hdd. now what shall i do? how to reconstruct the raid5 arry? what software should i use?

I think this is something you will not be able to do yourself...

[dmarques]

Yes, I think it's better to request some help if you don't have any experience with it.

[tushara]

plz help me to do. this caldigit i am using in mac, so it is hfs+ file system, plz tell me what software can rebuild the raid 5. and which software can i use to recover the software.

[hddguy]

First you need to identify the difference between start of the images and start of the RAID volume. Then you need to identify the direction in which data is written by the controller. You need to identify the numerical order of the disks, and you need to know the distribution algorithm used for distribution of parity. You have to then identify the size of each block as written by controller. You need to ensure no members are 'stale' and then you need to process the HFS+ file system to access the data.

It is too much work to explain you on here, will take too much time and without any prior experience of knowledge of RAID arrays and file systems it will be a very difficult job for anyone to assist you.

Possibly you can find someone to help you remotely build this then you can simply wait for all data to be saved. But as for you doing this yourself, there are too many variable parameters. This would need to be looked at by someone who can piece it together.

[warnerr]

now that the images are ready to be mounted you might wish to contact DR-Kiev on this forum and work out a deal with him. He can remote in and knows what to do.

[TaskManager]

depending upon which part you are I can suggest someone professional in india I know personnaly .pm for details.

[tushara]

i know the starting hdd. and i know the stripe size is 256kB and the sector size is 512 bytes. if some one can help me in this i will be very grate full, and also this will be helpful to all who is going to face this problem in future, so plz help me. I have volunteer who have knowledge of hardware and software and they are ready to help at any time. i cant afford money for this but i need the data badly. all i have is willingness in my heart. plz plz help.

[Alt(R-TT)]

I wonder, does anyone want to test the Internet capabilities of R-Studio? Two things to remember: R-Studio doesn't pump all the data through the Internet saving the recovered files on the remote computer, and the new R-Studio Agent for Mac is also capable of connecting through the Internet.
Not sure about the complete data recovery, but help in finding the correct RAID parameters is quite an affordable challenge.

[tushara]

plz suggest some professional in india who can give some idea (since i cant pay) i am locatd at coimbatore.

[tushara]

can some one tell me how to find out 'start of the images and start of the RAID volume' plz

[einstein9]

in ur case scenario since you RE-Init. it, will need an expert like they said: Dr-Kiev

[poehere]

I agree on this one RAID is not easy and you are asking all sorts of question that would take a book to answer for you and nobody has time to write a book here to use so you can do this yourself. Dr Kiev is an excellent person and he could easily do this one for you if you would contact him on this. But on the other hand you keep saying you have no money. Well if you have no money how can you do this one. Software programs cost money. I am sure if you ask for help and use an illegal copy of a software program and do not pay for this one people will not be so willing to help you out on this. Seems like you are in a major bind on this one, no money to buy a program, no money to get help, no money to pay for a recovery on this one. Might have to take all this images and drives and put them away some place until you can get up some money to do the recovery you want on this one. Your data will always be there. Or you can just go from here and reconstruct your RAID and start over with the data on it. This takes time and so does a RAID recovery and nobody can invest all the time you want in this one for free. Sorry