LaCie Big Disk external drives are commonly used by creative professionals due to their high storage capacity and RAID configurations. However, if a LaCie Big Disk powers on but is not detected by the system, it often indicates firmware corruption, partition damage, or RAID misconfiguration.
This case study explores how we successfully recovered Adobe design files and creative assets from a 4-disk LaCie Big Disk system that powered on but was not recognized.
As Ireland’s oldest and most experienced data recovery company, we applied firmware repair, RAID reconstruction, and partition recovery techniques to restore the missing data.
The Challenge: LaCie Big Disk Powers On but Is Not Recognized
A graphic designer contacted us after their LaCie Big Disk external drive failed. The symptoms included:
- The drive powered on and the LEDs lit up, but it was not detected by macOS or Windows.
- No physical damage or unusual noises, ruling out mechanical failure.
- The drive contained years of Adobe design files and projects, with no backup.
Since the client’s work depended on recovering these files, a professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the LaCie Big Disk system arrived at our cleanroom facility, we performed a RAID and firmware-level diagnostic. Our findings:
- Firmware corruption – The LaCie RAID controller was not properly initializing the disks.
- RAID metadata corruption – The 4-disk system was misconfigured, preventing the operating system from recognizing the drive.
- Partition table damage – The file system structure was corrupted, making the stored data invisible to the user.
Since LaCie Big Disk systems often use RAID 0 or RAID 5 configurations, a manual RAID reconstruction was necessary.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning Each Individual Disk
Since the RAID system was failing to initialize, we:
- Removed each of the four disks from the LaCie enclosure.
- Created forensic sector-by-sector clones to prevent further corruption.
- Checked for bad sectors and disk health issues.
2. Manually Rebuilding the RAID Array
Since the RAID metadata was corrupted, we:
- Analyzed the original RAID configuration, including stripe size and parity structure.
- Reconstructed the RAID manually using specialized recovery tools.
- Recovered lost file system metadata to restore the original partition structure.
3. Extracting & Verifying Adobe Design Files
Once the RAID was successfully reconstructed, we:
- Extracted all Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign files.
- Verified file integrity, ensuring the projects were intact and usable.
- Transferred the recovered data to a secure external SSD for the client.
The Results: 99% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our RAID reconstruction and firmware repair techniques, we successfully recovered 99% of the graphic designer’s files, including:
✅ Photoshop (PSD) and Illustrator (AI) files
✅ High-resolution images and branding assets
✅ Creative projects and client work
The designer was able to resume work immediately, avoiding costly delays.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading RAID and external drive data recovery specialists in Ireland and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ LaCie Big Disk and RAID system recovery
✔ Firmware corruption and partition table repair
✔ RAID 0, RAID 5, and JBOD reconstruction
✔ Secure & confidential data restoration for creative professionals
If your LaCie Big Disk is not recognised, showing RAID errors, or failing to mount, stop further attempts and contact us immediately for expert data recovery.