? Need to recover data from RAID 0 disks came out of dead M17x

The nightmare of Alienware continues. My M17X R1 is officially dead after dealing with overheating and fried video cards. It finally failed to power on while on the line with Tech Support. (previous post in warranty issues)The hard disks are fine and have been removed from the laptop while it is being shipped to ALienware. But they are Raid 0 configuration and full of mission critical info that I can't wait another 3months to get back.
Two SAMSUNG 128 GB SSD SATA-2 HDD drives in Raid 0 config can be read with a dual drive usb enclosure? I don't need to boot with the drives, simply pull off the critical files while I wait for Alienware to do something with the laptop. Can this be done, what is the best enclosure for the job, and will this jeopardize any of my data if I do this?
Thx in advance for any help.
I posted in Tom's Hardware as well and no one is answering this one.


M17X R1 - Core 2 Duo 2.6 GHz - 4GB RAM - Dual SSD 128GB - Dual Nvidia 9800GTX SLI (fried) - 2X Blue Ray

 

You *have* to use a device that uses the specific Nvidia RAID software in order to pull anything off them. RAID 0 works by dividing all files between the two dics, you need the RAID software to compile them back together in order to read the files. Your exact situation is why RAID 0 is *not* for misson critical data. Unless you can configure them back in a RAID array everything on both drives is useless. Literally *every* file on the discs is split between the two, so it's not simply a matter of 1 file on disc 1 and 1 file on disc 2, it's 1/2 of file 1 on disc 1 and 1/2 of file 1 on disc 2, which makes reading anything on an individual drive basis impossible.

 

Theoretically.. if you know the stripe size and which is the first drive, you could try parsing the raw bytes together alternating at the stripe size and you should create a clean image. You'd need to write software to do the raw sector hits or buy software that could do that, though, and you'd need a drive at least the sie of the full RAID array to dump the data to. That's why I back up my entire array weekly since I'm also running RAID 0.

 

Thx for the replies. I was afraid of the Raid controller issue. Any enclosure supporting Raid I have come across, requires a format of the drives. Which is pointless. I am already kicking myself for not running a recent backup. What little defense I have is that it was still booting and running windows when I sent in the video cards. They just wouldn't run for more than a minute or two without heating up beyond safe.
I seriously thought it was a simple issue of receiving new cards, replacing them and be done. Now that it is dead, I am reaching for straws. Tech support seems to think the motherboard is the culprit. I will wait before I attempt it and possibly compromise the data.

 

If it's absolute mission critical and not sensitive data, perhaps you can find someone with an M17x that would be willing to swap their drives out temporarily to pull data off for you. Risky business doing this online, but it may be your only current viable option. I have an M17x if you're out of options and would like to discuss it.

 

Let me put it this way.... I don't have the money but I have considered scraping it together somehow to get a new M17 just so I can get my book off before another month passes.... If they get the M17 back next week and drag their feet incessantly I will most likely take you up on that offer. We are talking files of less than 50MB *kicks own butt again*....
AW drug their feet from purchase to replacement parts. I know it's typical and after talking to a very knowledgeable tech support person, I know why. But it doesn't help. Thanks again and I'll keep in touch if you are serious about helping.

*my luck, if I got a new one... A- it would be a different raid controller or B- it would be like the original and get here more than a month late*

 

cant you put out an sos for someone near you to let you put the HD into their m17x and then export to an external hard drive?

 

Good idea but I do live in BFE, NC. That is what I am working on, but every big city is at least an hour and a half or more away. If I can find someone a little closer it would be feasable.
I also checked on prices at the ebay outlet and AW's refurb systems that are almost up to par to mine are only about 1100 dollars. Considering they are still holding almost 800 dollars of mine for the quadro 3600 card they sent me, while I sent back the replacement cards that were unacceptable; that doesn't seem like a lot of money.
Amazing that a 4874.00 dollar machine drops in value so quickly. Figured it would be at least worth half of purchase price. I just have to decide if getting my data back now is worth 1100 dollars or just wait. And while I sit and simmer maybe I'll get lucky and find someone close by.

M17X R1 - Core 2 Duo 2.6 GHz - 4GB RAM - Dual SSD 128GB - Dual Nvidia 9800GTX SLI (fried) - 2X Blue Ray

 

Yeah, I'd definitely make a post asking for anyone in your area to help first. Will save you round trip shipping charges to me. I'm still willing to help if you run out of options, though.