The correct approach is to acquire each disk individually, then reconstruct the array using software. This is the only reliable method when the RAID controller is unavailable because RAID 5 distributes data and parity stripes across all physical disks, and the controller’s proprietary metadata is needed for hardware-level access; without it, imaging the logical volume directly is impossible. On the CHFI exam, this scenario tests your understanding of RAID forensics and the principle that each disk must be preserved as a separate bit-for-bit image using a write blocker, then rebuilt in tools like FTK Imager or X-Ways by specifying stripe size, parity rotation, and disk order. A common trap is assuming you can attach the drives to a different controller and boot the array, but that risks data corruption or overwriting evidence. Remember the mnemonic: “Image each, then stitch the stripe” — always acquire the physical disks first, then reconstruct logically.
CHFI Evidence Acquisition and Duplication Practice Question
This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of evidence acquisition and duplication. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A forensic examiner needs to acquire a hard drive that is part of a RAID 5 array. The RAID controller is unavailable. What is the best approach to acquire the data?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Acquire each disk individually, then reconstruct the array using software
When the RAID controller is unavailable, the only reliable method to acquire the data is to image each physical disk individually using a forensic write blocker, then reconstruct the logical RAID 5 volume in a forensic software tool (e.g., FTK Imager, X-Ways Forensics, or EnCase). This preserves the original evidence on each disk and allows the examiner to rebuild the array by specifying the stripe size, parity rotation, and disk order, which is essential because RAID 5 distributes data and parity across all disks and can tolerate a single disk failure.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Acquire each disk individually, then reconstruct the array using software
Why this is correct
This is the standard method when the controller is unavailable.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Acquire only one disk because RAID 5 can be reconstructed from a single disk
Why it's wrong here
RAID 5 requires all disks for full data reconstruction.
✗
Use a hardware write blocker that supports RAID
Why it's wrong here
Write blockers typically do not reconstruct RAID.
✗
Connect the RAID array to a similar controller and acquire as a single drive
Why it's wrong here
The controller is unavailable.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the misconception that a hardware RAID controller is required for forensic acquisition, or that a single disk from a RAID 5 array contains enough data to reconstruct the volume, when in fact individual disk imaging and software reconstruction is the only forensically sound approach when the controller is unavailable.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RAID 5 uses block-level striping with distributed parity, meaning each stripe spans all disks and one block per stripe is parity (XOR of the data blocks). The exact stripe size and parity rotation method (e.g., left-symmetric, left-asymmetric) must be known to reconstruct the array correctly. In a forensic context, tools like `mdadm` (Linux) or RAID reconstructor utilities can assemble the array from individual disk images if the metadata (e.g., superblock) is intact, but if the controller was proprietary, the examiner may need to manually determine the parameters by analyzing the disk layout.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CHFI exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CHFI question in full detail.
Evidence Acquisition and Duplication — This question tests Evidence Acquisition and Duplication — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Acquire each disk individually, then reconstruct the array using software — When the RAID controller is unavailable, the only reliable method to acquire the data is to image each physical disk individually using a forensic write blocker, then reconstruct the logical RAID 5 volume in a forensic software tool (e.g., FTK Imager, X-Ways Forensics, or EnCase). This preserves the original evidence on each disk and allows the examiner to rebuild the array by specifying the stripe size, parity rotation, and disk order, which is essential because RAID 5 distributes data and parity across all disks and can tolerate a single disk failure.
What should I do if I get this CHFI question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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