IBM RAID 5 arrays are widely used in small business servers due to their fault tolerance and performance benefits. However, when a RAID 5 system starts running slowly before failing, it often indicates degraded disks, parity corruption, or RAID controller issues, leading to server crashes and data inaccessibility.
This case study details how we successfully recovered critical business data for a small work-from-home design business from an IBM RAID 5 array with 3 x SCSI hard disks, after progressive slowdown led to a complete system failure.
As Leeds Data Recovery, with 25 years of RAID recovery experience, we used RAID parity reconstruction, bad sector bypassing, and deep file system repair techniques to restore lost business files.
The Challenge: RAID 5 Running Slow & Server Failing to Boot
A small design business owner contacted us after their IBM RAID 5 server stopped working, with the following issues:
- The server had been running noticeably slower for weeks.
- File transfers took much longer, with occasional freezing.
- Eventually, the server failed to boot, preventing access to critical design files.
- The array contained client projects, invoices, and software files.
Since forcing a RAID rebuild after failure can overwrite existing data, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the IBM RAID 5 array (3 x SCSI hard disks) arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full RAID-level diagnostic. Our findings:
- One drive had failed weeks earlier – The array had been running in degraded mode, slowing performance.
- A second drive developed bad sectors – Leading to parity miscalculations and data loss.
- RAID controller failure – Preventing the array from being recognized at boot.
Since RAID 5 relies on parity for redundancy, data loss can occur when multiple drives degrade, requiring manual RAID reconstruction to avoid further corruption.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging All RAID 5 Disks
To preserve data integrity, we:
- Created forensic sector-by-sector clones of all three SCSI drives.
- Used advanced imaging tools to bypass degraded areas and extract recoverable sectors.
2. Manually Rebuilding the RAID 5 Array
Since the RAID controller failed and the array was incomplete, we:
- Analyzed RAID striping and parity calculations to determine the correct configuration.
- Manually reconstructed the RAID 5 array outside the original IBM system.
3. Extracting & Verifying Design Business Data
Once the RAID array was rebuilt, we:
- Recovered client projects, design templates, and work files.
- Repaired corrupted invoices, contracts, and financial records.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a new secure RAID storage system.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our RAID 5 parity reconstruction and bad sector recovery techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the design business’s lost data, including:
✅ Graphic design projects and client files
✅ Financial records, invoices, and tax documents
✅ Software configuration files and business contracts
The business was able to resume operations immediately, preventing financial loss and project delays.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful RAID recoveries, we are the leading RAID 5 data recovery specialists in Leeds and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ RAID 5 slow performance & drive degradation recovery
✔ RAID controller failure troubleshooting & array reconstruction
✔ Business file recovery & document retrieval
✔ Secure & confidential data recovery for small businesses
If your RAID 5 server is running slow, failing to boot, or has suffered multiple drive failures, stop all further recovery attempts and contact us immediately for professional RAID data recovery.