: In redundant arrays like RAID 5, metadata is used to identify which drive fell out of sync first so it can be excluded from the rebuild.
: Specialized lab software (like PC-3000 RAID Edition) emulates the array geometry to mount it as a virtual logical unit.
: Failed drives are taken into a Class 5 clean room for mechanical repairs, such as head replacements or platter swaps, to create a usable image.
: Every healthy drive in the array is cloned sector-by-sector using write-blocked channels. This ensures engineers work only on copies, never the originals.
: If the filesystem is too damaged, a raw signature scan is performed to find files based on their headers.