What to do right now
- For RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 with one missing disk, and JBOD, FileFix Ultimate can rebuild the array virtually and recover files, free for personal use.
- If any member disk is unhealthy, image it first with bad sector skipping, then work from the images.
- ext2/3/4 and Mac HFS+ drives are read read-only, with names and folders where records survive.
- For RAID 6, RAID 10, hardware controller metadata, ReFS, APFS, Btrfs, ZFS or recovery over a network, use R-Studio or a recovery lab.
How to recover a NAS or RAID array for free
Label every disk before removing it
Power the NAS down, take the disks out and write the bay number on each one. Order matters for striped arrays. Never let the NAS or Windows initialise, repair or resync the array while you recover.
Check each disk's health
Connect the disks to a Windows PC with a SATA adapter or dock and open Disk health & tools. If a disk reports reallocated or pending sectors, clicks, or keeps disconnecting, do not scan it directly.
Image weak disks first
Use Create a drive image (skip bad sectors) to copy each weak disk to a file on a different, healthy disk. The image skips unreadable areas, records them in a .map file and can resume if interrupted.
Rebuild the array virtually
On the home screen choose Rebuild a RAID from its disks and add every member disk or image. Auto-detect uses Linux mdadm metadata when present and otherwise tries common orders, stripe sizes and parity layouts. For RAID 5 you can add a missing disk and it is rebuilt from parity.
Scan the virtual drive
The rebuilt array opens as a read-only virtual drive. Scan it in Deleted file recovery; for NAS volumes formatted ext4, deleted files are looked up through block maps and the journal, and existing files appear with their folders.
Save to a separate disk
Save the recovered files to a disk that is not a member of the array. Nothing is ever written to the members, so you can try another layout if the first result looks wrong.
What R-Studio does that FileFix Ultimate does not
Based on public information in October 2026, R-Studio from R-Tools Technology reconstructs RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10 as well as nested and vendor-specific layouts with automatic parameter detection, includes a built-in hex editor for manual work, supports a wide range of file systems and, in its network and technician editions, can recover data from other computers over a network. Its demo mode lets you scan and preview but limits what can be saved, and editions differ by supported file systems and intended use; check the current terms on the maker's page.
FileFix Ultimate does not read RAID 6, RAID 10 or hardware RAID controller metadata, and it has no network recovery. It does not analyse ReFS, APFS, Btrfs or ZFS. If your array or file system is in that list, a professional tool like R-Studio or a recovery lab is the realistic route, and paying for it can be money well spent.
What you get for free at home
The tasks that usually push home users toward a professional licence are covered free for personal use, and offices and technicians get the same features with a one-year licence per PC: virtual RAID 0, 1, 5 and JBOD reconstruction with mdadm superblock detection, drive imaging with bad sector skipping, resume and a map file, and read-only access to ext2, ext3, ext4, HFS+, HFSX, ISO 9660 and UDF. Disk images in VHD, VHDX, E01, raw, VMDK and QCOW2 formats open directly, which helps when the data lives inside a virtual machine.
On top of that come the everyday tools: deleted file recovery on NTFS, FAT32 and exFAT with names and folders, lost partition search, signature search for 68 file types and repair of damaged files into new copies, with no recovery limit and no upload.
Why imaging first matters with arrays
A RAID rebuild reads every member many times while parameters are tested. If one disk is already weak, those repeated reads can push it over the edge, and in a RAID 5 a second failed disk usually means the data cannot be rebuilt. Imaging each member once turns a fragile set of disks into stable files you can experiment with.
Keep the images on a healthy disk with enough space for all members combined, and keep the original disks unchanged and labelled. R-Studio, R-Tools, Synology and QNAP are trademarks of their respective owners and are not affiliated with FileFix Ultimate.
Where you need a professional tool or lab
- RAID 6, RAID 10, nested arrays and hardware controller metadata are not supported.
- With RAID 5, two or more missing or failed disks usually make the array unrecoverable by software.
- ReFS, APFS, Btrfs and ZFS volumes cannot be analysed.
- Disks with physical damage, such as clicking heads, need a lab with clean room equipment.
How FileFix Ultimate helps
- Virtual RAID 0, 1, 5 and JBOD rebuild, including one missing RAID 5 disk restored from parity.
- Drive imaging that skips bad sectors, keeps a .map file and resumes after interruption.
- Read-only ext2/3/4, HFS+, ISO 9660 and UDF, plus VHD, VHDX, E01, VMDK and QCOW2 images.
- Never writes to member disks; the rebuilt array is a virtual, read-only drive.
FileFix Ultimate is free for personal use, works offline and never writes to the drive you are recovering from. Business use needs a one-year licence per PC. Check the signature before you run it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free program that rebuilds RAID like R-Studio?
For RAID 0, 1, 5 and JBOD, yes. FileFix Ultimate rebuilds those arrays virtually from disks or images and detects mdadm settings automatically. RAID 6 and RAID 10 need a professional tool.
Can I recover a Synology or QNAP NAS disk on Windows?
Often, yes, when the volume is a Linux mdadm array with ext4. Btrfs volumes, which some NAS models use by default, cannot be read by FileFix Ultimate.
Should I image the disks or scan them directly?
Scan directly only if every disk is healthy. If any disk shows warnings or read errors, image it first and rebuild the array from the images.
What if auto-detect picks the wrong disk order?
Nothing is written to the disks, so you can change the order, stripe size or parity layout and try again. A layout is right when folders and files open normally.