When Windows does not open an Ext4 device as an ordinary drive, do not initialize or format it to make it appear in Explorer. First establish whether you need to copy existing files or recover deleted ones, and whether the source is a standalone device, an image or a member of a larger storage configuration.
Identify the complete source
Record the original Linux or NAS system, device identity, capacity and any encryption or array layers. An Ext4 partition on one disk is not equivalent to a member containing only part of an array. If the device belongs to an active NAS, coordinate with its administrator instead of removing disks without a plan.
For an existing image, keep its original bytes and use a separate working copy when making changes is necessary. Record how the image was made and whether read errors occurred. A matching image size alone does not certify that every source byte was read.
Separate file-system support from every possible configuration
Ext4 has specific structures and features described in the Linux kernel’s Ext4 documentation. A tool’s Ext4 support statement is not evidence that every feature, damaged metadata state or storage stack has been tested.
XRecovery’s documented Ext4 scope includes remote scanning or quick scanning. Use the documented matching route; do not infer an Ext4 deep-scan capability from the application’s support for deep scanning on other file systems. XRecovery runs on Windows 7 and later, with the same functions on x86 and x64 editions.
If files are encrypted, arrange valid authorized access. File-system recognition does not bypass encryption. If the source repeatedly disconnects or returns errors, resolve whether continued reading is appropriate before more scans.
Choose a route to the files
For a readable NAS/Linux target, connect through SSH with root privileges and identify the intended Ext4 volume. For a locally attached readable source, select the correct device and use the supported quick-scan route. XRecovery can also read supported IMG, RAW, DD, VHD, VHDX, VMDK and EDISK images; confirm that the selected image contains the intended volume before scanning. A plausible capacity and generic file-system label are not sufficient identification.
Select a separate destination for exported content. Start with representative important files and keep output organized by source and attempt. Use names and directories to locate candidates, but inspect the file contents in suitable applications before treating them as complete.
Validate what you recovered
Open required documents, images or recordings and inspect the parts needed for the task. For a Linux application dataset, copying a file is not the same as verifying the application’s consistency requirements. Preserve the unmodified export and validate a copy through the relevant application or administrator’s procedure.
Record the tool version, source configuration, access method, scan route and any unreadable regions. If the volume or required feature is not recognized, keep that limitation explicit rather than forcing a different file-system interpretation or writing repairs to the source.
For the next step, see NAS Data Recovery: Start with the Copy You Can Still Access.