Dell PowerEdge servers are widely used in engineering and enterprise environments for high-performance data storage and redundancy. However, corrupt RAID metadata can make the RAID configuration unreadable, leading to inaccessible critical business data.
This case study details how we successfully recovered essential engineering project files and company data from a Dell PowerEdge RAID 5 array with 6 disks, after RAID metadata corruption rendered the array unreadable.
As Ireland’s oldest and most experienced data recovery company, we used RAID reconstruction, metadata repair, and advanced forensic recovery techniques to restore the lost data.
The Challenge: Corrupt RAID 5 Metadata on Dell PowerEdge Server
A national engineering company contacted us after their Dell PowerEdge RAID 5 system became inaccessible. The reported issues included:
- RAID controller failing to recognize the RAID 5 configuration.
- The system displaying missing or offline disks, despite all drives being functional.
- Attempts to rebuild the RAID resulting in further corruption warnings.
- Business-critical engineering project files, CAD designs, and financial records were at risk.
Since further RAID rebuild attempts could overwrite valuable data, an immediate and professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the Dell PowerEdge RAID 5 system arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full RAID and drive-level diagnostic. Our findings:
- Corrupt RAID metadata – The RAID controller could not reconstruct the RAID 5 configuration due to missing or inconsistent metadata.
- Misaligned parity data – The failed RAID caused striping inconsistencies, making file access impossible.
- No physical drive failure – All 6 disks were mechanically functional, meaning a full recovery was possible.
Since RAID metadata corruption prevents normal RAID reconstruction, we needed to manually rebuild the RAID array without using the original controller.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging All RAID 5 Drives
To prevent further corruption, we:
- Removed and individually imaged all 6 hard drives.
- Created sector-by-sector clones to preserve all existing data.
- Prevented further damage by using write-blocking tools.
2. Manually Rebuilding the RAID 5 Array
Since the RAID metadata was corrupt, we:
- Analyzed the RAID striping pattern and parity distribution manually.
- Reconstructed the RAID 5 array using forensic-level RAID recovery tools.
- Bypassed the failed RAID controller, allowing direct file system access.
3. Extracting & Verifying Engineering Data
Once the RAID was successfully reconstructed, we:
- Recovered all CAD files, technical schematics, and project documents.
- Ensured the integrity of financial records and company databases.
- Transferred the recovered data to a secure external RAID storage device.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our RAID 5 reconstruction and metadata repair techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the engineering company’s critical data, including:
✅ CAD drawings, schematics, and blueprints
✅ Engineering project files and technical reports
✅ Financial records, invoices, and contract documents
The company was able to resume operations without any data loss, avoiding costly setbacks in their projects.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading RAID and enterprise data recovery specialists in Ireland and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ Dell PowerEdge RAID 5 data recovery
✔ RAID metadata corruption repair
✔ RAID 5, RAID 6, and RAID 10 reconstruction
✔ Secure & confidential data retrieval for engineering firms and businesses
If your RAID 5 system is showing corrupt metadata, missing disks, or failed rebuilds, stop all further recovery attempts and contact us immediately for professional data recovery.