Copying files from Linux NAS drive to Windows

English Compatibility
1

Hi all, we’re going to have to connect an old NAS hard drive (Linux) directly to a new Windows 11 laptop using SATA cable.

Since Windows is unable to read a Linux drive, what software do people recommend for accessing and copying the files from this Linux disk onto Windows?

Also, we’d like all the original file metadata (dates, timestamps, etc.) to be preserved during the copy process.

Thanks in anticipation. :slight_smile:

2

It’s not guaranteed that you’ll be able to read a drive that’s been taken out of a NAS.

That said, you should be able to install, say, Linux Mint in VirtualBox on the Windows PC and setup a shared folder on the Win11 NTFS drive.

EDIT: Alternatively you could use WSL. Install WSL | Microsoft Learn

3

Thanks for your reply Richard, I’ve done this often with other HHD’s to a Windows machine just not a QNAP NAS with a Linux drive.

Have you maybe tried doing this yourself at all? Or anyone else?

We’d appreciate anyone else’s experience too please?

Marshal

4

It is important to know what model NAS you had been using, and possibly the firmware. Also critical is your original drive configuration.

It is possible, but the question also becomes why are you doing this to begin with. There are other options to recover the data if your NAS died, such as migration to a new NAS.

Lots of questions.

5

Hi Marshal, not with a QNAP NAS drive (never needed to)

EDIT: To be more specific, I’ve mounted a Linux Mint (ext4) 3.5” drive in a caddy and connected it via USB to a Win11 laptop running Linux Mint in a VirtualBox VM. Both the ext4 operating system and a small NTFS (temporary storage) partition were automatically recognised and fully readable. All that was needed was to set up a shared folder and select the appropriate USB device from VBs Menu > Devices > USB.

6

Thanks for your replies Richard again, and Dosborne.

Our NAS is QNAP TS-253BE NAS running 2 x 2.0TB Western Digital. Unfortunately can’t remember the firmware. Drive configuration if I remember was one simply mirroring the other.

I had an issue with NAS a few years ago (don’t remember what it actually was) and because of house renovations we unplugged and stored until now.

I don’t have an ethernet port on our new laptop so thought best option would be USB SATA which we have used many times over the years.

I appreciate your mention Migration to a new NAS Dosborne however we’re going to manage without a replacement NAS. A lot of our data was thankfully backed up elsewhere but there are files/data that we with to try and retrieve form our NAS which I will say was new late 2019 and only used for 3 year.

In the light of this we would appreciate suggestions on how best to retrieve our data please?

Kind regards,

Marshal

7

Does your router have an available port? I would think getting the data off the “correct” way, by using the NAS, would be easier than messing around with a USB dock, drivers, etc. Some older models are easier than others, but some are next to impossible.

8

I had a go at reading a NAS drive with Mint (both VM and dual boot PC) with limited results. If your NAS is well and truly bricked you could try data recovery software such as: QNAP Recovery

9

Regarding this situation, we still strongly recommend either repairing the NAS or contacting local support to extract the data using a functioning NAS, to prevent any data loss.

If needed, you can create a ticket for us.Thanks!

1 Like