Synology RAID servers provide scalable storage solutions, allowing users to expand or shrink partitions as needed. However, if a partition expansion or shrinking process fails, the RAID volume can become corrupted, fragmented, or completely inaccessible, leading to potential business-critical data loss.
This case study details how we successfully recovered lost data from a Synology RAID server with 4 Seagate SCSI 5TB disks after a partition resizing operation failed, leaving the stored files fragmented and unreadable.
As Ireland’s oldest and most experienced data recovery company, we used RAID reconstruction, partition repair, and forensic-level data recovery techniques to restore lost files.
The Challenge: Failed Partition Expansion or Shrinking on a Synology RAID Server
A business client contacted us after their Synology RAID server became inaccessible following an attempt to expand the partition size. The reported issues included:
- RAID system no longer detecting the volume after the partition expansion attempt.
- Files missing or appearing fragmented when attempting to access stored data.
- Synology DSM (DiskStation Manager) unable to mount the RAID volume.
- Important business documents and project files were at risk.
Since DIY recovery attempts could worsen the fragmentation, an immediate and professional solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the Synology RAID server arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full RAID and partition-level diagnostic. Our findings:
- Partition table corruption – The failed expansion process caused file system inconsistencies, making the volume unmountable.
- RAID metadata inconsistencies – The RAID configuration remained partially intact, but the file structure was unreadable.
- No physical drive failure – All 4 Seagate SCSI disks were mechanically functional, meaning full data recovery was possible.
Since Synology NAS systems use Btrfs or EXT4 file systems, we needed to rebuild the RAID structure and repair the partition table to extract the missing files.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging All 4 RAID Drives
To prevent further corruption, we:
- Removed all drives from the Synology NAS and created forensic sector-by-sector clones.
- Preserved original RAID metadata to reconstruct the RAID array without further modification.
2. Manually Rebuilding the RAID Array
Since the RAID metadata was partially corrupted, we:
- Analyzed the RAID parity and striping structure using forensic RAID recovery tools.
- Reconstructed the RAID array manually without relying on the original Synology DSM.
- Recovered the logical volume, making it accessible again.
3. Repairing the Corrupt Partition Table & Extracting Data
Since the partition was damaged due to the failed expansion, we:
- Rebuilt the partition table, ensuring correct file system alignment.
- Extracted fragmented files and reconstructed missing parts.
- Recovered and verified all essential business documents and project files.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our RAID reconstruction and partition repair techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the client’s lost data, including:
✅ Business documents and financial records
✅ Client project files and operational databases
✅ Critical reports and digital archives
The company was able to restore its RAID storage system without losing any data, preventing significant business downtime.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading Synology RAID recovery specialists in Ireland and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ Synology RAID data recovery (RAID 5, RAID 6, SHR, and more)
✔ Partition table repair & RAID metadata reconstruction
✔ Btrfs & EXT4 file system recovery
✔ Secure & confidential data retrieval for businesses
If your Synology RAID system has failed after a partition expansion or shrink attempt, stop all further recovery attempts and contact us immediately for expert data recovery.