Synology DiskStation NAS devices are widely used by small businesses, including building companies, for secure file storage and collaboration. However, a power failure can cause a RAID setup to enter degraded mode, leading to data inaccessibility or further drive failures if not handled correctly.
This case study details how we successfully recovered critical construction project files for a building company in Glasgow from a Synology DiskStation NAS with two disks, after a power outage caused one or more drives to go offline unexpectedly.
As Glasgow Data Recovery, Scotland’s oldest and best data recovery company, we have 25 years of experience using RAID reconstruction, NAS firmware repair, and forensic-level data extraction techniques to restore lost business data.
Synology DiskStation RAID Degraded After Power Failure
A Glasgow-based building company contacted us after their Synology NAS stopped functioning, with the following issues:
- A power outage had caused the NAS to enter RAID degraded mode.
- One of the disks had gone offline unexpectedly.
- The NAS failed to rebuild the RAID and data was no longer accessible.
- The system contained essential construction plans, invoices, and project documentation.
Since RAID degradation can worsen if the wrong recovery steps are taken, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the Synology DiskStation NAS (2-disk RAID setup) arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full RAID and file system diagnostic. Our findings:
- One drive had failed completely, making the RAID volume unreadable.
- RAID metadata corruption – The NAS could not recognize the degraded RAID configuration.
- File system damage (EXT4/Btrfs) – Preventing access to stored data.
Since power failures can lead to data corruption, we prioritised RAID reconstruction and NAS file system repair.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging Both RAID Disks to Prevent Further Data Loss
To preserve the recoverable data, we:
- Created sector-by-sector forensic clones of both NAS disks.
- Used specialised recovery tools to extract readable sectors and bypass bad sectors.
2. Rebuilding the RAID Array & Restoring Corrupt RAID Metadata
Since RAID metadata was damaged, we:
- Manually reconstructed the RAID array outside of the Synology NAS system.
- Rebuilt missing RAID headers and partition structures.
3. Extracting & Repairing Construction Company Data
Once the RAID was successfully rebuilt, we:
- Recovered all project blueprints, CAD files, and architectural plans.
- Restored invoices, financial documents, and supplier records.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external backup device.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our RAID reconstruction and NAS file system repair techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the building company’s lost data, including:
✅ Construction blueprints and CAD designs
✅ Financial records, invoices, and project management files
✅ Client contracts and supplier details
The company was able to resume operations without losing any essential files, preventing financial and project delays.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful RAID recoveries, we are Scotland’s leading NAS data recovery specialists. Our expertise includes:
✔ Synology NAS RAID failure recovery & metadata reconstruction
✔ EXT4/Btrfs NAS file system repair & missing data extraction
✔ Construction project file and business document retrieval
✔ Secure & confidential data recovery services
If your Synology DiskStation NAS has failed after a power outage, is stuck in RAID degraded mode, or is preventing access to important project files, stop using the device immediately and contact us for expert NAS data recovery.