ReadyNas NV+ v2 Booting & 'fault disk' problem - PLEASE HELP (8+ yrs of data/work at risk)

Dear NETGEAR 'Moderator',

Thank you for your reply (have you read all postings above?).

Whilst I was (I am learning the hard way) perhaps slightly overly confident in RAID 5 (4 disks after all!), I now know that it's only ONE device (Netgear ReadyNas) that needs to fail to cause a major problem.

I understand that even if there is NO hardware problem with my ReadyNas & Disks are NOT faulty (very unlikely/impossible for 4 drives to fail at once), that each ReadyNas may run a different version of firmware,

hence each ReadyNas may 'communicate' and read (RAID 5) drives in slightly different way (almost like 'speaking' a different language like one talking in Italian & another in Chinese; i.e. I cannot simply replace ReadyNas hardware/device and plug in may 4 drives & read them!!!!?!).

I am however shocked to learn that you/NetGear do NOT appear to have much confidence in your own ReadyNas products (hardware & software).  Surely as a manufacturer you should ensure that even if

your hardware fails, that at least 1 of 4 drives (in RAID 5) can still be read by your customers/user (by using some software and/or USB IDE SATA cable connected to computer) to recover data, without the need for 

expensive support (Level 2 or Level 3).

I always thought that was the whole point of having 4 disks (& RAID 5) was to have a 'back-up' if one disk fails.  Now it appears that even if none of the drives failed, but only the ReadyNas gliched/failed, that would result in me not having any backup, as sadly there appears to be no (simple) way to read or salvage data from what might (likely) be perfectly health drives!?!

Lesson learned is that NO ONE (none of your customers) should ever trust a NETGEAR READYNAS device more than they should trust a single harddrive plugged into the back of a computer using USB (in fact, data recvovery of an external USB drive would probably be easier, faster & cheaper).

I think NETGEAR has a lot to answer for, in terms of Hardware/Software issues, as well as insufficient Warnings in Manuals AND on ReadyNas devices itself and poorly trained staff (Level 1 support) giving potentially wrong or hazardous advice over the phone.  NETGEAR have given me (& probably thousands of others a false sense of security) and it's not made sufficiently clear how stressful, time-consuming and costly data-recovery from a Netgear ReadyNas can be.

I am now left with no other choice but escalating this case to level 2 / level 3 support in the UK (not Philippines!) in the hope that some of the (very professionally trained staff in Cork, such as Stefan) will be able to assist in rebooting & retrieving my data.  I am awaiting call from NETGEAR support later today (will advise on this forum if & when case is closed)

Meanwhile If there's anything else NETGEAR can do to help, please let me know ASAP.