Recovering hard-disk data after deleting RAID 1 array at BIOS in Poweredge 840 (SAS 5/iR)

I've already tried, but Dell Support can't help.

I need to know if you know a similar software as Ontrack Easy Recovery that recover RAID partitions. Any idea?

Thanks!

There is NO WAY to recover using a single disk.  If a three-disk RAID 5, you must have two of the three disks in order to have any hope of recovery.

You cannot force online a Ready drive.  Force Online is only for Failed drives.  If you have two drives showing Ready, then you only have three options:

1)  Import Foreign Configuration from disks. 
Assuming you are using a PERC 5/6, go to CTRL-R (during POST).  Hit CTRL-N to go to the Next tab, PD MGMT ... do any drives show as Foreign?  On the top row of tabs (VD MGMT, PD MGMT, CTRL MGMT), do you have one that says Foreign?  If no to both, then skip to number 2.  If yes, then you need to try to import the foreign config.  On the CTRL MGMT screen, what is the firmware/package versions?  If not at least 5.1.1.0040, then you will probably need to update it before an import will be successful.  If firmware is ok, then go to VD MGMT screen, highlight controller, hit F2, then Foreign>Import.  If not successful, then go to number 2.

2)  Professional data recovery.
Decide if the data is critical and MUST be recovered.  If so, call a data recovery service like OnTrack or Drive Savers before doing anything else.  This will likely cost thousands of dollars, so be prepared to weigh the cost against the value of the data you stand to lose.  Anything else can hamper even professional recovery efforts.  If this data is not critical or you choose not to pursue professional data recovery, then you can try number 3 as a last-ditch effort.

3)  Retag the array.
Assuming your data has not been damaged beyond recognition to the controller, you can re-assign each drive its place within the array, by using a retag.  Do not do this if you want to use professional data recovery services ... if it doesn't work, it is likely that even they won't be able to recover anything after doing this.  In CTRL-R, hit F2 on the controller, then Clear/Delete VD.  Then hit Enter and configure the array anew, but make sure that the Advanced box is NOT checked.  For this to work, all disks must be in their original order, and all settings (stripe size, etc.) must be exactly the same as the original array.

I would contact Dell Support for guidance with these steps.

Good luck.

if you decide to perform  such operation, create action plan first!

1) you need something like acronis corporate boot DVD, but it costs $$$

2) external USB HDD if you can reach site with server the fastest way, SMB or FTP server with free space to fit image of your array.

3) boot from acronis DVD , create backup of whole RAID and then do whatever you want.

4) if something goes wrong, just recover RAID configuration and put stored image back

P.S.

Was tested on Dell PE 2950 with RAID-1 and works fine for windows and different linuxes.

P.P.S.

For me to recover system after such actions will take aprox. week, raid was damaged by one O&M engineers,  fortunately it happens on server which was one of fourth in cluster. so system was sustained .

Thanks for your ideas!

I remember, that I saw a message about foreign configuration during boot process. If i can do the import is there any chance to keep old datas on HDD-s?

Or by reconfiguration I must say goodbye to data?

Thanks

Thanks for your quick answers!

If RAID array cannot be build, is it possible to create images from each disk separately?

Maybe backing up data of hdds, rebuilding array from configuration (or replacement of RAID controller) and restore from image files can help.

Or not?

>I remember, that I saw a message about foreign configuration during boot process. If i can do the import is there any chance to keep old datas on HDD-s?

>Or by reconfiguration I must say goodbye to data?

in most cases data will be restored correctly, but back up is very useful - its your personal "time machine"

>If RAID array cannot be build, is it possible to create images from each disk separately?

if its raid-1 yes it is possible , in some cases it works with raid-10, but  get data a little bit tricky

Fantastic advice THEFLASH1932. You have just saved my pay cheque!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I used this to save my job 

3)  Retag the array.
Assuming your data has not been damaged beyond recognition to the controller, you can re-assign each drive its place within the array, by using a retag.  Do not do this if you want to use professional data recovery services ... if it doesn't work, it is likely that even they won't be able to recover anything after doing this.  In CTRL-R, hit F2 on the controller, then Clear/Delete VD.  Then hit Enter and configure the array anew, but make sure that the Advanced box is NOT checked.  For this to work, all disks must be in their original order, and all settings (stripe size, etc.) must be exactly the same as the original array.

Once again bravo!