RAID 0/1/5/6/10 · Emergency & Business Recovery
RAID Data Recovery Singapore
Failed array? Degraded RAID? Rebuild gone wrong? We reconstruct RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10 in our cleanroom lab — without the original controller if needed. Do not rebuild first. Emergency service, NDA.
4.9 / 5915 reviews · 20+ years · cleanroom lab (opens Google in a new tab)- All RAID levels
- NDA for business
- Emergency service
- Fixed written quote
Quick answer
Yes — failed and degraded RAID arrays are usually recoverable, including RAID 5 with two failed disks and arrays where a rebuild failed. We reconstruct the array from the member disks in our lab, often without the original controller. The single most important thing: do NOT force a rebuild, re-initialise, or run repair tools — that's what turns a recoverable array into a lost one. Emergency service and NDAs available.
Overview
When your array goes down, downtime is money — act correctly, fast.
RAID exists to protect against a single disk failure — but it's not a backup, and it fails in ways that panic even experienced IT teams: a second disk drops during a rebuild, a controller dies, a volume goes offline, or a rebuild completes onto the wrong data. When that happens, business-critical files, databases and virtual machines are suddenly inaccessible.
CBL has reconstructed thousands of arrays across every RAID level and controller — hardware and software RAID, on servers and NAS units alike. We work from the member disks, rebuild the parity and stripe order, and extract your data safely. For downtime-critical systems we offer emergency and priority service, with NDAs and proper invoicing for businesses.
Before you touch that array
Do not rebuild, re-initialise, swap disks in a different order, or run CHKDSK/fsck. If a disk failed, power the array down and label the disk order. One wrong rebuild can permanently overwrite recoverable data. Call us first.
Interactive
RAID levels & recoverability
Select your RAID level to understand its fault tolerance and how we recover it.
RAID 0 — striping, no redundancy
Tolerates 0 disk failures
Data is striped across all disks for speed, with no redundancy. If one disk fails, the array is down — but the data is usually still recoverable. We image each disk and reconstruct the stripe set. Do not re-create the array.
RAID 1 — mirroring
✓ Tolerates 1 disk failure
Two disks hold identical copies. If one fails, the other still has your data; if both fail or the mirror corrupts, we recover from the healthiest member. Common in small servers and NAS.
RAID 5 — striping with single parity
✓ Tolerates 1 disk failure
Data and parity are distributed across all disks. RAID 5 survives one failure — but if a second disk fails (common during a rebuild), the array goes offline. This is highly recoverable in our lab by reconstructing the parity and disk order — but only if you haven't forced a rebuild. RAID 5 failure recovery →
RAID 6 — striping with double parity
✓ Tolerates 2 disk failures
Two parity blocks allow the array to survive two simultaneous failures. When a third fails, or the array otherwise goes offline, we reconstruct it from the members.
RAID 10 — mirrored stripes
✓ Tolerates 1+ failures (depends on which)
Combines mirroring and striping. It survives one failure per mirror set; lose both disks in a mirror and the array drops. We identify the surviving members and reconstruct the nested array.
Critical
What NOT to do with a failed RAID
More RAID data is lost to well-meaning recovery attempts than to the original failure. Please avoid these.
Forcing a rebuild
Rebuilding onto a degraded/stale disk overwrites recoverable parity data. The #1 cause of permanent RAID loss.
Re-initialising the array
"Initialise" or "create new array" wipes the configuration and can destroy the layout.
Reordering the disks
Disk order matters. Reinserting in the wrong slots confuses reconstruction. Label them first.
Running CHKDSK / fsck
Repair tools on a broken array can corrupt the file system further.
Do this instead
Power the array down, label each disk with its slot number, and call us. Preserving the current state gives the highest chance of a full recovery.
Diagnosis
Why RAID arrays fail
An array rarely dies from one clean event. It usually fails because a small problem went unnoticed for months, then a second problem arrived while the first was being fixed.
Multiple disk failures
A second disk fails before/ during a rebuild — very common with aging drives bought together.
Controller failure
The RAID controller or card dies, orphaning the array configuration.
Power surge / outage
Sudden power loss mid-write corrupts parity and metadata.
Failed rebuild
A rebuild that errors out or completes onto stale data.
What we actually see in the lab
- Drives from the same batch. Members bought together and written to identically wear out together. A second failure days after the first is normal, not bad luck.
- A second failure during the rebuild. A rebuild reads every sector of every surviving member — the heaviest load the array will ever see. Marginal drives fail exactly then.
- Silent bad blocks. Sectors written years ago and never read back since. Everything looks healthy until a rebuild reaches them and stalls.
- Controller or backplane failure. A dead card orphans the configuration; a failing backplane or cable drops members intermittently, which looks like disk failure but is not.
- A member dropped offline, then re-added. A disk that fell out holds stale data. Re-inserting it after the array has moved on gives the controller two versions of the truth.
- The wrong disk replaced. Under pressure the healthy member gets pulled instead of the failed one. On a RAID 5 that is instantly two members down.
- Power events. An outage or surge mid-write leaves parity that no longer matches the data it protects.
- Accidental re-initialise. "Create new array" or "initialise" chosen at a controller prompt, usually while trying to make a missing volume reappear.
The last one is the most dangerous, because it can overwrite the layout itself. The rest is routine RAID data recovery work, provided the array is powered down before anyone tries to fix it.
How it works
Our RAID recovery process
Step 1: Free diagnosis
We assess each member disk, identify failed drives and the array parameters, and confirm recoverability — at no cost.
Step 2: Image every disk
We clone each member disk individually first, repairing any physically failed drives in the cleanroom, so the originals are never risked.
Step 3: Reconstruct the array
We determine the RAID level, stripe size, disk order and parity rotation from the images and virtually rebuild the array — no original controller required.
Step 4: Extract & verify
We mount the reconstructed volume, extract your files, databases or VMs, and provide a list to verify.
Step 5: Secure return
Verified data returned on fresh media, confidentially.
See also how professional recovery works →
Capability
What we recover — RAID & beyond
| Scenario | Approach | Typical outcome |
|---|---|---|
| RAID 5, single/second disk failure (not rebuilt) | Parity + order reconstruction | High |
| RAID 0 with one dead disk | Repair disk + stripe rebuild | High |
| RAID 6 multi-disk failure | Double-parity reconstruction | High |
| Controller failure | Rebuild without original controller | High |
| Failed rebuild onto stale data | Recover from imaged members | Case-by-case |
We handle Dell PERC, HP Smart Array, LSI/Broadcom, Adaptec, and software RAID (mdadm, LVM, Storage Spaces, ZFS) — plus NAS arrays and server/virtualisation recovery.
Hardware
Controllers and systems we recover
Most people describe an array by the controller sitting in front of it. Each family writes its own metadata to the member disks, and knowing where that metadata lives — and when to ignore it entirely — is most of the work. That holds whether it is a RAID server in a rack, a tower server under a desk, or an external enclosure on someone's bench.
- Dell PERC. LSI-derived, with a DDF-style configuration region at the end of each member. The "foreign configuration found" prompt at boot is where PERC arrays are most often destroyed.
- HP / HPE Smart Array. Proprietary metadata and a delayed parity rotation that generic tools misread — producing a volume that mounts and then hands back corrupt files.
- LSI / Broadcom MegaRAID. The engine inside many OEM cards. Spanned levels such as RAID 50 and 60 must be reassembled span by span, in the right order.
- Adaptec. Its own metadata block, and a parity rotation that changed between card generations — so the layout is proven from the data, never assumed.
- Areca. Much of the volume-set definition lives on the card itself. A dead Areca can leave perfectly healthy members that look unpartitioned.
- Intel RST (fakeRAID). Assembled by the driver, not by a controller. A Windows reinstall, BIOS reset or motherboard swap can orphan the whole set.
- Linux mdadm software RAID. The superblock sits at a different offset depending on metadata version, usually with LVM and ext4 or XFS on top.
- Windows Storage Spaces. Slab-based rather than classic striping. Parity spaces need the pool database read before a single file can be addressed.
The "foreign configuration" prompt
If a controller offers to import, clear or initialise a foreign configuration, choose nothing and power the system down. That prompt is a fork in the road, and one branch overwrites the array layout.
We also see ZFS, Btrfs and vendor variants such as Synology SHR — covered on our NAS data recovery and server recovery pages. If your controller is not listed, tell us the model anyway; the reconstruction comes from the disks either way.
Same problem, different words
RAID data recovery, array rebuild, degraded array — what people actually mean
People arrive here typing "RAID data recovery", "raid recovery singapore", "RAID 5 recovery", or simply "my server won't boot". The words differ. The confusion behind them is usually one of the four below.
Degraded, failed, offline
A degraded array is still running with a member missing — your data is live, but there is no protection left. A failed array has lost more members than its level tolerates and will not present a volume at all. Offline usually means the controller can see the disks but refuses to assemble them, often because the metadata on the members disagrees. Degraded is the moment to get a copy of the data off while the volume is still stable — or, if a second member is already throwing errors, to power the system down and call us. It is never the moment to experiment.
A rebuild is not a recovery
A rebuild is the controller regenerating a replacement member from parity. A recovery is a lab reconstructing your data from images of the members. They are opposites: a rebuild writes, a recovery only reads. That is why starting a rebuild onto a member that is itself failing goes so badly: the controller overwrites good parity as it goes, then stops halfway when the weak drive gives out.
Hardware RAID, software RAID, fakeRAID
Hardware RAID runs on a dedicated controller with its own processor and cache. Software RAID — mdadm, Storage Spaces, and most NAS data recovery cases — is assembled by the operating system. FakeRAID, such as Intel RST, is a driver pretending to be a controller. All three are recoverable. They simply keep their layout in different places, which is why we identify the type before touching anything.
RAID is redundancy, not backup
RAID protects against a disk dying. It does nothing about deletion, ransomware, a corrupted file system, fire or theft — every member sees those instantly and faithfully. If the array is your only copy, you do not have a backup.
Transparent pricing
How much does RAID recovery cost?
RAID recovery is complex, multi-disk work; cost reflects the number of disks and failure severity.
| Case type | Examples | Indicative range (SGD) |
|---|---|---|
| Logical RAID | Config lost, controller failure, no physical damage | $1,200 – $2,200 |
| RAID + failed disk(s) | One or more disks need cleanroom repair | $1,800 – $3,500 |
| Complex / emergency | Large arrays, VMs, priority turnaround | $3,000+ |
Free diagnosis = free quote
Exact fixed price before work begins. Full detail: data recovery cost guide →
Recovery in the real world
RAID recovery case studies
Representative examples from typical laboratory cases. Anonymised.
Tanjong Pagar · Law firm
RAID 5 server, failed rebuild
A case-management server lost a second disk mid-rebuild. We imaged all members, reconstructed the parity and disk order, and delivered verified case files under NDA within the priority window.
Full recovery
Changi · Logistics SME
RAID 6 array offline after power surge
A power surge corrupted the array metadata on a 6-disk RAID 6. We rebuilt the double-parity set from images and restored the shared database.
99% recovered
Tai Seng · Media house
RAID 0 editing array, one dead disk
A dead disk took down a 4-disk RAID 0 of active video projects. We cleanroom-repaired the failed disk and reconstructed the stripe set.
Projects recovered
The honest comparison
CBL vs a reseller vs DIY software
Three ways a failed array usually gets handled — and what each one actually does to your disks.
Zero-risk guarantees
Emergency diagnosis & a fixed written quote
Free Diagnosis
We assess your array and confirm recoverability — no cost, no obligation.
Emergency Service
Priority turnaround for downtime-critical business systems.
NDA & Confidential
Business-grade confidentiality, NDAs and proper invoicing.
Answers
RAID recovery FAQ
In most cases yes — including degraded arrays and failed rebuilds. We reconstruct the array from the member disks, often without the original controller. A free diagnosis confirms your case.
Often yes — provided you haven't forced a rebuild. We repair the failed disks in the cleanroom and reconstruct the parity set. See RAID 5 failure recovery.
No. A forced or incorrect rebuild is the leading cause of permanent RAID data loss. Power the array down, label the disk order, and call us first.
Usually not. We image each member disk and reconstruct the array virtually, working out the RAID level, stripe size, disk order and parity rotation from the data itself. Send the disks; the controller is rarely necessary.
Yes — Synology/QNAP NAS and servers with virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V), databases and more.
Simple single-volume or logical jobs can start from around $400; typical multi-disk cases run $1,200–$2,200 (logical), $1,800–$3,500 (with failed disks), and $3,000+ (complex/emergency). Your free diagnosis gives an exact fixed quote.
Yes — we offer priority and emergency turnaround for downtime-critical business arrays, with NDAs and invoicing.
Not until you have a copy of the data somewhere else. A rebuild writes to every surviving member while it works, so if a second disk is already marginal this is when it tends to give out — and you are left with half-overwritten parity instead of a degraded but readable array. Copy what matters off first, then rebuild. If the volume has already dropped offline, or a second member has failed, stop there and let us image the disks instead.
Yes — Linux mdadm, LVM, Windows Storage Spaces and Intel RST fakeRAID sets, as well as hardware controllers. We derive the layout from the member disks, so a lost driver, a BIOS reset or a changed motherboard is not a barrier.
What our clients say
Trusted by individuals and businesses in Singapore
Business Profile
RAID Data Recovery – Rated by customers on Google
915Google reviews
4.9 out of 5
Updated 4 Nov 2026
“Thank you to the team at CBL for helping me recover all the contents from my faulty USB, which contained many precious family photos.”
Iris ShenUSB flash drive recovery · via Google “Great relief the engineers managed to recover all my data successfully from my damaged iPhone 14.”
Peter AndroidiPhone 14 recovery · via Google “Amazing service from CBL. They have restored all the data from my laptop. Sarah was very helpful and attentive to my queries.”
S YTLaptop recovery · via Google
The bottom line
A failed RAID array is recoverable far more often than people fear — but only if the first response is right. Power it down, don't rebuild, label the disks, and call CBL. With full RAID-level and controller capability, emergency service, NDAs, we give your array its best chance.
Service scope
What we do — and what we don’t
CBL Data Recovery (S) Pte Ltd (UEN 201101007Z) is the service provider — not a reseller, referral service or agent. We are a data recovery laboratory. You bring or ship your storage device to our own lab at 6 Harper Road, Leong Huat Building #05-02, beside Tai Seng MRT. Our own engineers image the media in our in-house cleanroom and return your recovered files.
Services we do not offer
We do not provide remote access or remote sessions, telephone troubleshooting, virus or malware removal, password resets, account recovery, software installation, or device repair, and we sell no software or subscriptions. Any physical work on your media is carried out solely to bring it to a readable state so it can be imaged — you receive your recovered files, not a repaired device.
We do not bypass encryption or account security. Where a device is encrypted, recovery requires the owner’s own password or key. Diagnosis is free, and all work is quoted in writing before it begins.