[Sticky] Monterey Volume not mounting

@softraid-support

2 drive stripes? Do you mean using the recovery software? Disk drill? How can I achieve that? Good to hear there's a small chance...

@castelfranco 

You already did the main damage. So you cannot do more by creating/deleting volumes.

Mark the disks, 1-4. Create a RAID 0 (You must have same 64k Stripe unit size, which fortunately is the default size)

Hopefully the file boundaries align and when you create the same as before, you will start getting recoverable files. The problem is you must force disk1 and disk2 in order.

Here is what you should do:

Label your disks 1 2 3 4 with SoftRAID.

Create a 2 drive stripe with 1-2. Scan with Disk Drill. When it finds jpk files, "Preview" Several. If none are valid, assume you have this incorrect. Delete the volume.

Create a 2 drive stripe with 2.3. repeat

Then 3-4. repeat.

then 1-4 repeat

then 2-4 repeat.

Finally rename 1-2 to say 6 and 5 (reversing their order). try again. (with 6-5 ,which will really be 2-1)

Then try 6-3 and 6-4.

One of these combinations ought to work. Once you get a valida jpg, stop and let Disk Drill perform a full scan overnight and see what it an find.

Ah, sorry! RAID 0 is clear now, will give it a try, keep fingers crossed.

Is there something I should consider regarding the data I have already moved back before creating the RAID 0 volumes?

@castelfranco 

If you have copied/written data to this volume, your chances of recovery are greatly reduced, although possible.

Do not do this concept if you have fresh data, as it will all be deleted when you delete your volume to test.

It's not fresh data, just a tiny part of the data that used to be on the volume before, I know it will be erased. I'm asking, because now the recovery software lets me choose folders to not recover and/or looking for deleted data only. means that for my understanding it's looking for the lost data only. Also, it lets me analyze the volume or each single disk, as I created a RAID 1+0. Still better following your instructions and going on creating a RAID 0?

@castelfranco 

Yes, because if you use RAID 1+0, you have more possibilities of getting the order wrong.

RAID 0 reduces the number of combinations.

@softraid-support

 I'v created a RAID 0 volume with the 4 disks, renamed the disks and created a volume made of two disks, is this what you call a 2-disk stripe? Must I delete the 4-disk volume? Made a scan of the 2-disk stripe but didn't find any jpg or "jpk" (typo?), only tons of video files (I only kept video files on the RAID). "Rescued" one but it was broken... Shall I go ahead now with trying the other combinations?

@castelfranco 

I don't think you understand. You had a 4 disk RAID 1+0 volume previously, is that correct?

That volume is deleted. So chances of recovering more than raw files is minimal. But you want to try.

A RAID 0 is made up of 2 RAID 0 volumes mirrored together.

This means you can try a recovery on "either" set of RAID 0 volumes. to recover data you must solve the puzzle of finding two disks that were part of a RAID 0 pair.

To try this, you must find 2 disks that were part of a RAID 0, but in the correct order also. If they are set up as 2-1 instead of 1-2, you won't get any files at all.

Since you created a new volume, that volume is taking up space you could be searching for your files.

I am assuming you had a single RAID 1+0 volume when this happened? if I am wrong, tell me, as your SoftRAID log does not have any information in it.

If you had a RAID 10 volume on your entire disks, then you need to do my suggestion. Copy off any data on Media (remember anything you copied onto that volume wiped all data that was there before)

Your chances of recovering anything are small. I am trying to give you your best chance.

Running two OWC Thunder 4 RAIDS with HFS+ drives.  No issues, but when I tried to mount them after updating to Mac OS 12.2.1 they are not recognized. Had no prior issues with 12.2.

Also recently updated to Softraid 6.2.1 since last mounting them.

DISREGARD above... reloaded drivers, restart with drives live and they mounted to desktop.

Just bought the Mac Studio M1 Max installed the latest Softraid and used my serial number for my OWC Thunderbay 4 but I cannot get my RAID 5 to mount?????

Here's the report:

Problem solved, needed to allow in System Pref and after a couple reboots its mounted.

@craigmorgan 

Congrats on your Studio Max!

The SoftRAID driver is not loading, is the problem.

Did you do this?
https://support.apple.com/en-lk/guide/mac-help/mchl768f7291/mac
Select reduced security and enable this:
Select the “Allow user management of kernel extensions from identified developers” checkbox to allow installation of software that uses legacy kernel extensions.

Now you need to reinstall the SoftRAID driver.

After enabling third party extensions, reinstall the SoftRAID driver, (do not immediately restart) and go to System Preferences / Security to "Allow" OWC as an identified developer. Click on "Not now" (restart later), quit System Preferences, and go to SoftRAID and restart.

@softraid-support Thanks for the speedy response, should I follow these instructions and reinstall the driver if I've got it mounted and it seems to be working?

If so what's the best way to reinstall the driver?

Thanks

Craig

@craigmorgan 

If the driver is now working (Your volume is mounting), no you don't need to do a reinstall.

The best way is either:

"reinstall SoftRAID driver" or

"Uninstall SoftRAID driver", then "install SoftRAID driver.

from the utilities menu.