Server will not boot
The operating system fails to start, loops during boot or reports inaccessible system volumes.
Enterprise infrastructure recovery
Server data recovery.
Recover mission-critical Windows and Linux servers, RAID arrays, databases, domain services and virtualization hosts with a storage-first laboratory process.
Enterprise RAID expertiseSecure business handlingPriority data planning
Stop rebuilds and repeated restarts
Preserve all original and replacement disks, controller details and the exact disk order.
When infrastructure stops
Server failures are rarely just a single-disk problem.
Controller state, disk order, RAID geometry, operating-system volumes and application consistency must be assessed together.
RAID or controller failure
Virtual disks are degraded, foreign, missing or inaccessible after controller, disk or configuration failure.
Business applications offline
SQL Server, ERP, accounting, Exchange or line-of-business systems cannot access their data.
File system corruption
NTFS, ReFS, EXT4, XFS or logical volumes appear RAW, damaged or inconsistent.
Virtual host storage failure
Hyper-V or VMware hosts have lost datastores, VHDX files, VMDKs or virtual machines.
Power, migration or human error
A surge, failed migration, accidental format, initialization or incorrect rebuild interrupted service.
Recovery coverage
Physical storage through business applications.
We preserve the underlying media first, reconstruct storage safely and then assess the systems and datasets that matter most.
- Windows Server and Linux recovery
- Dell PowerEdge, HPE ProLiant and enterprise servers
- Hardware and software RAID reconstruction
- SQL Server, Exchange and application data
- Active Directory and domain-controller data
- Hyper-V, VMware and virtual-disk recovery
RAID, SAS, SATA and NVMe
Controller metadata, member disks, parity, virtual disks and storage pools.
Windows Server and Linux
NTFS, ReFS, EXT4, XFS, LVM and common server volume structures.
SQL, Exchange, ERP and files
Priority recovery for databases, mail stores, accounting and line-of-business data.
Hyper-V and VMware hosts
VHD, VHDX, VMFS, VMDK and virtual-machine storage affected by server failure.
Capability matrix
Complex systems assessed layer by layer.
Availability depends on media condition, overwrite, prior repair attempts and application consistency.
| Server scenario | Storage recovery | File-system recovery | Application validation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAID failure | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows Server boot or volume corruption | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Linux LVM and file-system damage | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| SQL Server database storage loss | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exchange database recovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hyper-V VHD/VHDX recovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| VMware datastore or VMDK recovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accidental formatting or initialization | ✓ | ✓ | Case based |
Controlled workflow
Preserve first. Reconstruct virtually. Validate carefully.
The original server storage is not used as a working recovery target.
Infrastructure assessment
We document server hardware, controller state, disk inventory, operating system, applications and business priorities before any recovery action.
Preserve and stabilize storage
Every relevant disk is identified and safely imaged. Unstable media is handled separately to avoid worsening physical damage.
Reconstruct RAID and logical storage
Drive order, stripe geometry, parity, controller metadata, LVM and volume structures are rebuilt virtually without writing to originals.
Recover systems and application data
Windows, Linux, databases, mail stores, virtual disks and business files are reconstructed according to their consistency and value.
Validate and deliver securely
Recovered data is checked, prioritized with the customer and delivered through an agreed secure medium and chain of custody.
Protect the recovery path
What not to do after a server failure.
Well-intentioned repair steps can convert a recoverable configuration problem into irreversible overwrite.
This may overwrite controller metadata, partition structures and file-system records.
A weak second disk can fail under rebuild load, and an incorrect member can corrupt the virtual disk.
Label every slot and preserve all original, replacement and spare disks.
Installation writes may overwrite databases, virtual disks and metadata needed for recovery.
Enterprise server ecosystem
Recovery across leading server platforms.
Platform support does not depend on using the original controller as the recovery environment. We analyse the physical members and reconstruct storage safely where feasible.
Dell PowerEdge
HPE ProLiant
Lenovo ThinkSystem
IBM System x
Supermicro
Fujitsu PRIMERGY
Cisco UCSDell PowerEdge • HPE ProLiant • Lenovo ThinkSystem • IBM System x • Supermicro • Fujitsu PRIMERGY • Cisco UCS
All trademarks and logos belong to their respective owners. They are displayed only to identify commonly handled products. Mind Merge is an independent professional data recovery company and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the manufacturers shown.
Server recovery FAQ
Questions from IT teams and business owners.
For critical outages, stop repair activity and record every action already taken.
Can you recover a failed Dell PowerEdge or HPE ProLiant server?+
Yes. We work with enterprise server storage, including PERC, Smart Array and other hardware RAID environments. The safest method depends on disk condition, controller metadata and any rebuild attempts.
Can SQL Server databases be recovered from a failed server?+
Often yes. We first recover the underlying storage and then assess MDF, NDF and LDF consistency. Database-level recovery depends on overwrite, corruption and transaction-log condition.
Should we replace a failed disk and rebuild the RAID?+
Not when the data is critical and another disk may be weak. A rebuild stresses every surviving member and may overwrite evidence if the wrong disk or configuration is used.
Can you recover Active Directory or Exchange data?+
We can recover the server volumes and relevant database files. Application-level restoration depends on file consistency, available system-state data and the target recovery environment.
Do you recover Linux servers and LVM volumes?+
Yes. We handle common Linux file systems, LVM layouts, software RAID and enterprise hardware RAID, subject to the condition of the original disks.
Can you minimize business downtime?+
We prioritize critical datasets and can agree a staged recovery plan. Exact timing depends on media stability, array size, damage level and validation requirements.
Business infrastructure offline?
Downtime costs more than the hardware.
Contact Mind Merge before rebuilding, reinstalling or changing the server configuration. We will help preserve the safest recovery path.