The LaCie Big Disk is a high-performance NAS (Network Attached Storage) device, commonly used by creative professionals and design companies for large file storage and backups. However, when a power failure occurs, a RAID 0 array can enter degraded mode, often resulting in one or both drives going offline, leading to total data loss unless properly recovered.
This case study details how we successfully recovered essential design projects and business files for a local design company from a LaCie Big Disk NAS in RAID 0, after a power failure caused the RAID to degrade and become inaccessible.
As Cambridge Data Recovery, with 25 years of experience, we used RAID metadata reconstruction, NAS file system repair, and deep sector-level data extraction techniques to restore lost data.
The Challenge: RAID 0 Degraded Mode After Power Failure on LaCie Big Disk
A local design company contacted us after their LaCie Big Disk RAID 0 NAS failed, with the following issues:
- A power failure caused the RAID 0 array to enter degraded mode.
- The NAS was detected but failed to mount or access stored files.
- Attempts to reconnect or restart the system resulted in RAID errors.
- The NAS contained critical design files, client projects, and Adobe work.
Since RAID 0 offers no redundancy, even a minor disruption can result in complete data inaccessibility, making professional recovery the only option.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the LaCie Big Disk 2-bay NAS (RAID 0 setup) arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full RAID and hardware-level diagnostic. Our findings:
- RAID metadata corruption – Preventing the array from rebuilding.
- File system damage (HFS+/EXT4) – Making the design company’s files unreadable.
- No physical drive failure detected – Meaning data recovery was highly possible through logical repair.
Since RAID 0 arrays distribute data across multiple drives without redundancy, we prioritized RAID reconstruction and raw data extraction.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging Both RAID 0 Drives to Prevent Further Data Loss
To preserve the remaining data, we:
- Created forensic sector-by-sector clones of both RAID 0 disks.
- Used advanced imaging tools to bypass bad sectors and extract readable data.
2. Rebuilding the RAID 0 Array & Repairing the File System
Since the RAID metadata was corrupted, we:
- Reconstructed the RAID 0 structure by identifying the striping sequence and disk order.
- Repaired missing RAID headers and metadata to restore file access.
3. Extracting & Verifying Design Company Data
Once the RAID 0 structure was rebuilt, we:
- Recovered Adobe Photoshop (PSD), Illustrator (AI), and InDesign (INDD) files.
- Restored project folders, client presentations, and business invoices.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external backup device.
The Results: 99% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our RAID 0 reconstruction and NAS metadata repair techniques, we successfully recovered 99% of the design company’s lost files, including:
✅ High-resolution Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign projects
✅ Client proposals, presentations, and marketing materials
✅ Financial documents, invoices, and business records
The company was able to continue working without losing any critical client projects, preventing missed deadlines and financial losses.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful RAID recoveries, we are the leading NAS and RAID 0 data recovery specialists in Cambridge and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ RAID 0 degraded mode recovery & NAS metadata reconstruction
✔ HFS+/EXT4 NAS file system repair & missing data extraction
✔ Adobe project, high-resolution design, and invoice retrieval
✔ Secure & confidential data recovery for creative professionals
If your LaCie Big Disk RAID 0 NAS has failed due to a power outage, file corruption, or RAID errors, stop using the device immediately and contact us for expert NAS data recovery.