ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery is a free data recovery software that can help recover data from RAID arrays. It supports many common RAID levels like RAID 0, 1, 5, and 6. ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery is easy to use and provides a step-by-step process for RAID recovery.
What is ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery?
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery is a free DIY data recovery software for RAID arrays. It can recover data from failed or corrupted RAID arrays of levels 0, 1, 5, and 6. The software works for both hardware RAID created on a dedicated controller and software RAID configured in Windows. ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery can recover data from the following RAID scenarios:
- Missing or deleted RAID partition
- Accidental RAID deletion
- RAID partition corruption
- RAID controller failure
- Hard drive failure in RAID
The free version allows recovering up to 2GB of data without any restrictions. There is also a paid version called ReclaiMe Pro that offers unlimited data recovery.
Key Features of ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery
Here are some of the key features of ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery:
- Recovers data from RAID 0, 1, 5, and 6
- Supports hardware and software RAID configurations
- Retrieves data from missing or inaccessible RAID
- Recovers data after accidental RAID deletion
- Supports RAID recovery after drive or controller failure
- Easy-to-use wizard interface
- Allows recovering 2GB data for free
- Provides preview of recoverable files
- Available for Windows OS
How ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery Works
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery works on a logical level to reconstruct RAID arrays. It does not need to repair the physical RAID configuration to recover data. The software works in following steps:
- Scans all connected drives to detect RAID signature and configurations
- Analyzes the RAID layout like stripe size, number of drives etc.
- Reconstructs the RAID logically using the metadata
- Extracts recoverable partition data into a virtual image
- Allows browsing and recovering files from the virtual image
By reconstructing RAID arrays logically, ReclaiMe allows data recovery even if the physical RAID is not repaired. This avoids lengthy RAID repairing process before data can be recovered.
Detailed Steps to Recover Data with ReclaiMe Free
Here are the detailed steps to recover lost data from RAID arrays using ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery:
- Install ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery – Go to the official website and download the latest version installer. Install it on a Windows PC connected with the RAID drives.
- Launch ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery – Open the installed application. On the first screen it will prompt to start a new recovery session.
- Analyze Connected Drives – The software will now analyze all connected drives to look for RAID signature. It will detect the RAID level and layout.
- Build Virtual RAID – Based on the analyzed parameters, ReclaiMe will now start building a virtual RAID to logically reconstruct arrays.
- Browse Virtual RAID – Once the virtual RAID is built, the partitions will be listed. Browse the partitions to view the files inside.
- Preview and Recover Files – You can now preview files like photos, documents, videos etc. Select the files you want to recover and restore them to a safe storage location.
- Save Recovery Session – Optionally save the ReclaiMe recovery session to resume recovery later. Saving session is recommended.
The process is quite straightforward thanks to the step-by-step wizard interface of ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery. With just a few clicks, you can recover lost data from failed or inaccessible RAID arrays.
How to Increase Chances of Successful RAID Recovery?
To improve the chances of successful data recovery from RAID arrays using ReclaiMe Free, follow these tips:
- Stop using the RAID array immediately if you notice any failures
- Avoid restoring or reinitializing the RAID as it overwrites data
- Connect the RAID drives to another PC for recovery
- Avoid repairing the RAID which may overwrite metadata
- Use ReclaiMe as soon as possible before more data is lost
Quick action with a data recovery software like ReclaiMe Free provides the best chance to get back lost data from failed RAID arrays.
Can ReclaiMe Recover Data after RAID 5/6 Failure?
Yes, ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery works for both RAID 5 and RAID 6 arrays. RAID 5 and 6 are commonly used redundant RAID levels ideal for storage and data protection.
In case of a single drive failure in RAID 5 or two drive failures in RAID 6, ReclaiMe can recover data by rebuilding the arrays logically using the parity information. The virtual RAID built by ReclaiMe provides access to recover data even if the physical RAID rebuild fails.
ReclaiMe Free supports advanced RAID recovery techniques like reverse parity recovery to maximize chances of data recovery from failed RAID 5/6 arrays.
What RAID Issues can ReclaiMe Free Fix?
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery can fix the following common RAID issues to recover data:
- Missing RAID partition: If the RAID partition is missing, inaccessible or has incorrect size, ReclaiMe can reconstruct it logically to regain access.
- Accidental RAID deletion: If the RAID has been mistakenly deleted or reset, ReclaiMe can rebuild it virtually using RAID techniques.
- File system errors: Even if the file system on the RAID partition is corrupted or shows errors, ReclaiMe can recover data from the virtual RAID.
- Failed RAID controller: For hardware RAID with a failed controller, ReclaiMe can directly recover data from member disks.
- Corrupt RAID metadata: ReclaiMe can reconstruct the entire RAID using advanced algorithms if the metadata is corrupted or lost.
- Failed drive in RAID 5/6: ReclaiMe can rebuild the data and parity to recover data after one or two drive failures in RAID 5/6.
How to Avoid Losing Data on a RAID Array?
To avoid data loss on RAID arrays, follow these tips:
- Use reputed RAID controllers from brands like Dell, HP, Adaptec etc.
- Monitor SMART parameters of RAID drives and replace aging drives
- Ensure proper cooling and ventilation for RAID arrays
- Keep firmware up-to-date on RAID controller
- Enable email alerts for RAID errors and failures
- Have hot spare drives ready for quick rebuild after a drive failure
- Maintain multiple backups of RAID data on separate devices
Along with these preventive measures, also have a data recovery plan ready in case RAID failure happens. Keeping the ReclaiMe Free installer or bootable media handy allows quick data recovery when required.
What RAID Levels can ReclaiMe Recover?
Here are the RAID levels supported for data recovery by ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery:
| RAID Level | Description |
|---|---|
| RAID 0 | Data striping without redundancy. Recovers data if partition is inaccessible. |
| RAID 1 | Disk mirroring. Recovers data if one disk fails. |
| RAID 5 | Block level striping with distributed parity. Recovers data after a single disk failure. |
| RAID 6 | Like RAID 5 but dual parity provides tolerance for two disk failures. |
In addition to the standard RAID levels, ReclaiMe Free also supports recovery for nested and custom RAID like RAID 10, RAID 50 etc which use standard RAID levels as building blocks.
Does ReclaiMe Work for External RAID Drives?
Yes, ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery works seamlessly for external RAID arrays using USB or Thunderbolt connectivity. As long as the external RAID enclosure presents the member disks as individual drives, ReclaiMe can recover data after external RAID failure.
ReclaiMe supports data recovery for both hardware and software RAID. So whether the RAID is configured externally using a hardware controller or using software RAID inside the external enclosure, the recovery process remains the same.
To recover data from external RAID drives with ReclaiMe, simply disconnect the enclosure and connect the RAID member disks directly to your PC using SATA-USB adapters. Then run ReclaiMe to rebuild the virtual RAID and recover data.
Can I Recover Data after Resetting RAID in BIOS?
If you have accidentally reset or deleted the RAID configuration in BIOS, ReclaiMe provides the best chance for RAID data recovery. When the RAID is reset from BIOS, the original RAID metadata is lost from the disks.
In such a scenario, ReclaiMe analyses the member disks and attempts to detect traces of previous RAID configuration. If RAID signature is found on disks, ReclaiMe can rebuild the virtual RAID. Advanced algorithms in ReclaiMe can reconstruct RAID arrays even with minimal RAID metadata available.
So in most cases, resetting or deleting RAID from BIOS does not lead to complete data loss. ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery can help recover important data even if the RAID no longer shows up due to incorrect BIOS reset.
Can I Use ReclaiMe on a Mac?
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery software is currently only available for Windows operating system. It does not have a native application for MacOS or Linux.
But there are two ways you can use ReclaiMe Free on a Mac:
- Install ReclaiMe Free on a Windows virtual machine running on the Mac. You can then connect the RAID drives and recover data.
- Create a bootable USB drive with ReclaiMe WinPE recovery environment. Boot the Mac into this drive to directly access the RAID for recovery.
The bootable USB method does not require installing Windows or virtual machines on Mac. Just change the boot order to boot into ReclaiMe WinPE USB and recover RAID data like on a Windows PC.
Conclusion
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery provides an easy and effective data recovery solution for failed or inaccessible RAID arrays. It can recover lost data from common RAID levels after various corruption or crash scenarios.
The wizard-driven interface of ReclaiMe Free makes RAID recovery a simple process. Critical business data on RAID arrays can be recovered without needing an expensive data recovery service. Being a free DIY software, ReclaiMe Free RAID recovery is definitely worth trying before considering expensive RAID repair or data recovery options.
