Jump to content
  • 0

Recover lost data after new drive install


TECman

Question

WHS 2011 System set up is:

C:/ SSD, Two 2TB HDD in the pool, One 2 TB as system backup (USB external).
I had a failing drive. System backup only did a partial backup.
I replaced the drive, let DP do its work, then found a lot of missing files.  I assume they were on the failed drive.  When I try to do a restore files from the external drive, I can only access ones the were created after the new drive was installed.  All previous backups listed are grayed out and not accessible for retrieval.  I think the data is still on the external system backup drive but I don't know how to retrieve it.  Any suggestions?  Thank you.

Server Pic.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0

We would need a bit more info. Did you have duplication? What amount of data did you have on the Pool?

I fear though that your backups are lost. You have two 2TB HDDs that you backup (I think) to a 2TB HDD. Server Backup does try to retain backups but once the backup HDD becomes full, it will wipe and do a new fresh full backup. As you have added a new HDD and that HDD will have had data on it, chances are that the BUP HDD got full and wiped.

This is speculation on my part.

What you could try to do is to locate the large .vhd files on the BUP HDD and have explorer show the "Date created". My guess is that it will show August 31st, around 1 AM...

This is (one of the) the reason(s) why my BUP HDD is far larger than the amount of data to be backed up and why I have rotating BUP HDDs...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Thank you.  The oldest date for a .vhd file is 9/1/19.

 I think you are right about over writing.  When I installed the new drive I failed to uncheck the box to back up "Videos" (689 GB).  I normally don't do a server back up for videos so that is what took up so much space.  I still hope there is some way to recover my lost data.  Thanks for your help.  If you have any other suggestions please pass along.

vhd files.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Sadly, I think you are right.  My only hope that the failed drive can be made operable enough to retrieve the data.  I so, what procedure would you recommend to get it back?  Make a copy of the repaired drive or insert it back into the WHS box and make a backup or  ???

Created.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

So that is not my expertise (as if I have any) but if that failed drive would come to life, I would consider to not use it in your WHS box. I would want the strain on that disk to be minimal. So I would connect it to a PC, perhaps through an USB enclosure, and simply copy as much of the date of it as possible.

I think I would try to use a copy program that won't halt on issues with a file but continue with the next. Perhaps Robocopy can do this for you.

PS I was running WHS2011 until Christmas last year, still love it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

You are running WHS. Surely you have got clients with access to shared folders? Just connect the failed HDD, via a USB thingy for instance, and copy to the appropriate shared folders for instance.

Having said that, I would first copy from one HDD to another, just as it is fast and requires the smallest uptime for the failing HDD.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Thank you for the suggestions but the pooled drive is toast.  Drive heads are badly damaged. No way to recover.  Recapping and wondering if this is and option:

I replaced a failing hdd in the server.  I thought it would be a good idea to do a server backup to my external USB drive first.  I normally don't back up "Videos" (about 900 GB) by unchecking the box.  This time I forgot to do that so the next backup made space by deleting my old backups.  The result is the old backups are grayed out and not accessible and half my data is missing. I did not make shadow copies.  I know, lots of mistakes on my part.

Is there a way to recover this data?  Perhaps a data recovery program that will make overwritten or deleted files recoverable?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Yeah, I fear with writing at least 900GB to a 2TB HDD, much of the old information will have been overwritten. Very hard to recover from such a thing.

If I may I would like to offer a bit of advice on drivepool and on  backups with WHS2011 (or WSE2016 for that matter), although budget constraints may limit their value.

1. If you have DrivePool, you really want Scanner as well.
2. Any data that is worth while to back up, have it duplicated. Duplication is no backup but at least in many cases it will benefit uptime and limit recovery-work.
3. If you have a Pool, ensure that you free space on it that is at least as large as one largest HDD. This way, DP (possibly triggered by Scanner) will be able to evacuate in case of a HDD failing.
4. If you make backups, have at least two backup HDDs as target. Rotate them, like once a week. Possibly keep the other offsite.
5. The backup HDDs, they need to be large.That way, purging of old backups does not occur often (and for the cases where it does occur and you need older ones you have the offsite backup HDD. May not have all the latest but most data is rather static anyway).

Of course, WHS2011 Server Backup requires a bit of care in setting up given the limitations it has but there are decent workarounds that I can advise on.

Edit: There are companies that specialise in recovery. Perhaps they can retrieve a lot from the failed drive. I have no experience with this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Answer this question...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...