LaCie Big Disk 2-Drive Data Recovery – No Power, No Lights, No Recognition

A family in Nottingham encountered a distressing issue when their LaCie Big Disk external hard drive suddenly stopped working. The drive contained years of family photos and videos, documenting holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. When plugged in, the device showed no lights, no sounds, and was not recognized by any computer. Fearing permanent data loss, the family contacted Nottingham Data Recovery, Nottingham’s best data recovery company, with 25 years of experience in professional data recovery.

The Problem

The failure of the LaCie Big Disk was likely due to one or more of the following issues:

  1. Power Supply or Circuit Board Failure
    • The lack of lights or sounds indicated a power failure in the enclosure or a damaged power circuit board inside the unit.
  2. RAID Configuration Complications
    • LaCie Big Disk models often use RAID 0 or JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks), meaning the two internal disks could be striped together. A failure of one disk could make all data inaccessible.
  3. No Backup Available
    • The family had not backed up the photos and videos anywhere else, making data recovery critical.

The Data Recovery Process by Nottingham Data Recovery

Step 1: Initial Assessment

The recovery team performed a thorough evaluation:

  • External Power & Circuit Board Testing:
    • The power adapter and internal power supply were tested for faults.
    • The circuit board (PCB) inside the LaCie enclosure was found to be damaged, preventing power delivery to the disks.
  • Drive Inspection:
    • The two internal hard drives were removed from the LaCie enclosure and tested individually.
    • Both drives were detected, confirming that the failure was due to the enclosure rather than complete disk failure.
  • RAID Configuration Analysis:
    • The drives were confirmed to be in a RAID 0 configuration, meaning data was split across both disks.

Step 2: RAID 0 Reconstruction & Data Extraction

Since RAID 0 lacks redundancy, the team had to:

  • Clone Both Drives:
    • Each disk was imaged sector-by-sector using specialised recovery tools.
    • Any bad sectors were bypassed and reconstructed where possible.
  • Rebuild the RAID Array Virtually:
    • Using proprietary tools, the original RAID 0 structure was recreated in a virtual environment.
    • The RAID stripe size and disk order were determined using metadata extracted from the drives.
  • File System Repair & Recovery:
    • The file system was partially corrupted due to power loss, requiring manual directory repair.
    • Once restored, all family photos and videos were extracted.

Step 3: Data Validation & Secure Delivery

  • Integrity Check:
    • All recovered files were tested for corruption and confirmed playable.
    • Large video files were checked for completeness to ensure no loss of footage.
  • Secure Data Transfer:
    • The family’s recovered data was transferred to a brand-new external hard drive.
    • They were advised on cloud storage and backup solutions to prevent future data loss.

Challenges Faced

  1. RAID 0 Complexity
    • Since RAID 0 splits data across two disks, even a minor corruption can make recovery difficult.
  2. Power Circuit Failure
    • Repairing the damaged power components would have risked further damage, making direct disk imaging the safest approach.
  3. Urgency
    • The family had sentimental value attached to the data, making the recovery extremely time-sensitive.

Outcome

Nottingham Data Recovery successfully:
✅ Recovered 99% of the family’s photos and videos, ensuring no lost memories.
✅ Delivered the recovered files within 3 days, meeting the family’s urgent request.
✅ Provided recommendations for automatic backups and safer external storage practices.

Lessons Learned

  1. RAID 0 is NOT a Backup
    • RAID 0 provides performance but no redundancy. If one drive fails, all data is at risk.
  2. Power Surge Protection is Crucial
    • Using a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) or a surge protector can prevent electrical damage.
  3. Seek Professional Help Immediately
    • DIY recovery attempts on RAID-configured disks can overwrite critical RAID metadata, making professional recovery harder.

Why Choose Nottingham Data Recovery?

✅ 25 Years of Experience in handling RAID failures and external hard drive recoveries.
✅ RAID Experts in virtual reconstruction of striped disk arrays.
✅ Fast & Secure Data Recovery, ensuring minimal downtime for clients.

This case highlights Nottingham Data Recovery’s expertise in RAID recovery and power circuit failure troubleshooting, ensuring precious family memories were safely restored.

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