A client contacted Belfast Data Recovery after their Netgear ReadyNAS SC101 storage system became inaccessible following a firmware update. The reported issues included:
- RAID 1 setup with two drives lost its partition structure after the firmware update.
- The NAS no longer appeared in the operating system, making data access impossible.
- When using the UT system, the partition name appeared, but there was no drive letter, storage details, or access to files.
- Standard recovery tools failed, as Netgear uses a proprietary file system, preventing direct drive access via enclosures.
- No backup was available, making professional RAID and proprietary file system recovery essential.
Since firmware updates can alter RAID metadata or change partition structures, specialized forensic techniques were required to extract and reconstruct the data.
Our Expertise in Netgear ReadyNAS SC101 Recovery
With 25 years of experience, Belfast Data Recovery specialises in:
✔ Recovering data from Netgear ReadyNAS devices with RAID failure after firmware updates
✔ Forensic RAID reconstruction for proprietary Netgear file systems
✔ Advanced NAS data recovery using Acelabs PC3000, DeepSpar, RapidSpar, DFL-SRP, and Atola Insight Forensic tools
Diagnosis & Recovery Process
Upon receiving the Netgear ReadyNAS SC101 drives, our engineers conducted a detailed forensic assessment. The key findings included:
- The firmware update had altered RAID 1 metadata, making the partition unreadable.
- The proprietary file system was damaged, preventing normal recovery software from accessing data.
- The drives were physically functional, meaning logical RAID recovery was possible.
To successfully recover the client’s lost data, we implemented a multi-step forensic RAID 1 recovery strategy:
Step 1: Drive Cloning & Data Preservation
- Used DeepSpar Disk Imager to create sector-by-sector forensic clones of both RAID 1 drives.
- Applied adaptive read techniques to extract data from sectors affected by logical corruption.
Step 2: Netgear Proprietary File System Reconstruction
- Used Acelabs PC3000 RAID Edition to manually reconstruct the RAID 1 array, bypassing the Netgear firmware update changes.
- Decoded Netgear’s proprietary file system structure to restore the missing partition data.
Step 3: File System Repair & Data Extraction
- Repaired damaged partition metadata and file allocation tables.
- Extracted and validated all important school and business-critical data.
Step 4: Secure Data Transfer & Future Protection
- Conducted final validation checks to confirm all recovered files were intact.
- Successfully transferred the restored data to a secure high-performance external storage device, formatted for standard OS compatibility.
- Provided guidance on future firmware update precautions and RAID backup solutions.
The Result
We successfully recovered 99.2% of the client’s lost files, including:
✅ All school administrative files, student records, and lesson plans
✅ Personal and business-related documents stored in the NAS system
✅ Archived emails, research papers, and other critical information
The client was able to restore full access to their essential data and continue operations without disruption.
Why Choose Belfast Data Recovery for Netgear ReadyNAS Hard Drive Recovery?
✅ 25 Years of Expertise – Specialists in RAID 1 failures and proprietary file system recovery.
✅ Forensic RAID Reconstruction – Restoring Netgear NAS data even after firmware corruption.
✅ Fast & Secure Process – Ensuring complete confidentiality and successful recovery.
If your Netgear ReadyNAS SC101 has lost its partition after a firmware update, contact Belfast Data Recovery today for expert RAID and NAS data recovery services!