Synology Recovery Services:
Synology is one of the leading brands for network-attached storage (NAS) devices, used by individuals, small businesses, and enterprises for data storage, file sharing, and backups. Synology NAS systems typically use RAID configurations to enhance data redundancy and performance. However, Synology NAS devices and their internal hard drives can still experience failures due to mechanical issues, RAID corruption, logical corruption, or hardware failures. When these systems fail, our professional Synology hard drive recovery and repair services can help recover your critical data and, in many cases, restore the functionality of the device.
Below information will list common failures we see in our lab for Synology NAS devices and how our professional services can repair and recover data.
Common Causes of Synology NAS and Hard Drive Failures
Synology NAS systems can experience different types of failures that affect the accessibility of data. Below are the most common causes of Synology NAS failures:
1. RAID Array Failure
Many Synology NAS devices use RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations, such as RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, or Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), to improve performance and data redundancy. However, if one or more hard drives in the RAID array fail, or if the RAID configuration becomes corrupted, the array can degrade or fail, making the data inaccessible.
- Symptoms: RAID errors, degraded or failed RAID array, multiple drive failures, slow access to files, or the inability to boot the NAS.
- Causes: Hard drive failure, RAID controller malfunction, improper RAID configuration, or failed RAID rebuild.
- Devices Affected: All Synology NAS models using RAID (e.g., Synology DiskStation, RackStation).
2. Hard Drive Mechanical Failure
The internal hard drives used in Synology NAS devices are prone to mechanical failures involving the read/write heads, spindle motor, or platters. Mechanical failure can result from wear and tear, physical damage, or poor maintenance.
- Symptoms: Clicking, grinding, or buzzing noises, drives not being recognized, frequent system crashes, or failure to boot the NAS.
- Causes: Aging components, physical shocks, excessive use, or overheating.
- Devices Affected: Any Synology NAS with traditional hard disk drives (HDDs).
3. Logical Failure
A logical failure refers to corruption or damage to the file system or partition table, which can render data inaccessible even though the hardware is still functional.
- Symptoms: Missing files or folders, the NAS appearing unformatted, or error messages when trying to access data.
- Causes: File system corruption, improper shutdowns, malware attacks, or accidental deletion.
- Devices Affected: All Synology NAS devices (especially those running DSM).
4. Firmware Corruption
The firmware in Synology NAS devices controls their basic operations and manages data storage. If the firmware becomes corrupted, the NAS may fail to boot or fail to recognize its drives.
- Symptoms: The NAS fails to boot, doesn’t show up on the network, or is not recognised by the DiskStation Manager (DSM) interface.
- Causes: Failed or incomplete firmware updates, power loss during firmware installation, or corrupted firmware files.
- Devices Affected: All Synology NAS devices.
5. Electrical Failure
Electrical failures can occur due to power surges, faulty wiring, or damage to the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) or power supply. These failures can prevent the NAS from powering on or cause the internal hard drives to malfunction.
- Symptoms: The NAS doesn’t power on, drives are not recognized, or there are signs of burnt components.
- Causes: Power surges, overheating, unstable power sources, or faulty connections.
- Devices Affected: All Synology NAS devices and their internal drives.
Signs Your Synology NAS or Hard Drive Needs Repair
If you suspect that your Synology NAS or its internal drives are failing, here are some common signs to watch for:
- RAID Degradation or Failure: RAID arrays degrade, become corrupted, or fail altogether, causing data inaccessibility.
- Clicking or Grinding Noises: These noises indicate mechanical failure, typically within the hard drives.
- NAS Not Recognized on the Network: The Synology NAS does not appear on the network, or the DSM web interface is inaccessible.
- File Corruption or Disappearing Data: Logical corruption or bad sectors on the hard drives may lead to corrupted or missing files.
- Frequent Freezing or Crashing: The NAS crashes or freezes regularly when trying to access files, indicating hardware or RAID issues.
Professional Synology Hard Drive Recovery and Repair Services
When your Synology NAS experiences failure, our professional data recovery and repair services can help recover your data and repair the device. Here are the key services offered by ourselves:
1. RAID Recovery
For Synology NAS systems using RAID, RAID recovery is a critical service when one or more drives in the array fail. Professional services can rebuild failed RAID arrays and recover data from degraded or corrupted arrays.
- RAID Rebuild: Our technicians reconstruct the RAID array to restore access to the data.
- Data Recovery from RAID: Even if multiple drives in the RAID array fail, our recovery specialists can recover your data from degraded or failed RAID configurations.
- Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) Recovery: Our Raid Recovery experts can handle the proprietary Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) configurations.
2. Mechanical Repair for Hard Drives
If the hard drives in your Synology NAS have suffered mechanical failure, such as a head crash or spindle motor failure, the drives must be repaired in a clean environment to prevent contamination.
- Head Replacement: Technicians replace damaged read/write heads using parts from a compatible donor drive.
- Spindle Motor Repair: If the motor fails to spin the platters, it can be replaced to restore drive functionality.
- Platter Recovery: Data can be extracted from the platters if they are intact but other components have failed.
3. Logical Data Recovery
For logical issues, such as file system corruption or accidental file deletion, professional recovery software is used to retrieve lost or inaccessible data.
- File System Repair: Corrupted file systems and partitions are repaired to restore access to the data.
- Deleted File Recovery: Data that has been accidentally deleted or lost due to formatting can often be recovered using our advanced software tools.
- Bad Sector Recovery: Data is recovered from drives that have developed bad sectors or have logical corruption.
4. Firmware Repair
If the firmware on your Synology NAS has become corrupted, professional services can reflash or repair the firmware to restore the device’s functionality.
- Firmware Reflashing: Corrupted firmware is reinstalled, allowing the NAS to boot and operate correctly.
- Firmware Recovery: Even if the NAS is unresponsive due to firmware corruption, our recovery experts can access and recover the data.
5. Electrical Repairs
For electrical failures, such as damage to the PCB or power supply, our professionals can repair or replace the faulty components, allowing the NAS to power on and function again.
- PCB Replacement: A failed PCB can be replaced with a compatible board, and key components (e.g., the ROM chip) are transferred to ensure compatibility.
- Power Supply Repair: Power supply issues preventing the NAS from booting can be repaired or replaced.







