Drobo 5D, 5D3, 5C, 8D and Mini desktop RAID recovery
Drobo’s desktop units connect by Thunderbolt or USB and are still storing photo libraries and video archives years after the company stopped trading. We recover data from every model.
About Drobo Desktop: 5D, 5D3, 5C, 8D & Mini
Drobo units use BeyondRAID, a proprietary layout that spreads data across drives of different sizes. Standard RAID tools cannot read it, so the drives must be imaged and the BeyondRAID structure rebuilt by specialists. With Drobo no longer supported and replacement chassis scarce, moving the drives to another Drobo is rarely an option – and it is risky if the pack is degraded.
The 5D, 5Dt and 5D3 also have an mSATA SSD accelerator bay; if that SSD fails, the volume can become unreadable until it is included in the reconstruction.
Drobo Desktop: 5D, 5D3, 5C, 8D & Mini models we recover
Find the model or part number on the drive label or the underside of the enclosure. If yours is not listed, call us – we recover every Drobo Desktop: 5D, 5D3, 5C, 8D & Mini model, including versions not shown here.
| Range | Years | Type and capacity | Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drobo (Gen 2) / Drobo S | 2008–2012 | 4–5 bay USB 2.0 / FireWire / eSATA | Drobo, Drobo S, Drobo S (Gen 2) |
| Drobo (Gen 3) | 2013–2018 | 4-bay USB 3.0 | Drobo (Gen 3) |
| Drobo Mini | 2012–2017 | 4 × 2.5" Thunderbolt / USB 3.0 | Drobo Mini |
| Drobo 5D / 5Dt | 2012–2018 | 5-bay Thunderbolt 1/2, USB 3.0, mSATA cache | Drobo 5D, Drobo 5Dt |
| Drobo 5C | 2016–2022 | 5-bay USB-C | Drobo 5C |
| Drobo 5D3 | 2018–2022 | 5-bay Thunderbolt 3, mSATA cache | Drobo 5D3 |
| Drobo 8D | 2018–2022 | 8-bay Thunderbolt 3, mSATA cache | Drobo 8D |
Years are approximate sales periods. Drobo stopped trading around 2022, but we still recover every model.
Frequently asked questions
My Drobo shows red lights after a drive failed. Should I replace the drive?
Only if every other drive is healthy. A second failure during the rebuild can make the pack unreadable. Power it down and call us if you are unsure.
Can I put the drives into another Drobo?
It can work with a compatible model, but it is risky with a degraded pack and replacement units are now hard to find. We rebuild from drive images instead.
What happens after I send the drive in?
We carry out a professional evaluation (£94.80), then send you a fixed quote and a list of recoverable files before any recovery work is charged.
Talk to an engineer
Describe the problem and the make and model if you know it. We will reply with a price and the fastest way to get it fixed, usually the same working day.
020 7237 6805 London repair centreUnit 1, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY
Monday to Saturday, 9am–6pm
Ready to send it in? Book online and get your job number by email straight away.