How to install existing media into a new EX2 Ultra without losing data?

Western Digital’s My Cloud EX2 Ultra is a powerful NAS (Network Attached Storage) device used for media storage, backups, and file sharing. If you’ve been using an EX2 Ultra or another compatible WD NAS and want to migrate your existing drives into a new EX2 Ultra chassis without losing any data, the process must be handled carefully. Incorrect installation or reinitialization can result in data loss. This guide walks you through the safe way to install your existing media (hard drives) into a new EX2 Ultra.

Step 1: Understand the Risks and Requirements

Before moving drives between NAS enclosures, it's essential to confirm compatibility. The new EX2 Ultra must be the same model or support the same file system and RAID configuration as the old unit. Additionally:

Do not insert the drives and allow the system to automatically initialize.

Avoid triggering a factory restore or creating a new volume unless you're certain it won’t overwrite existing data.

Backing up your data to an external drive or cloud service beforehand is strongly recommended, if possible.

Step 2: Power Down Both Units

Turn off your old EX2 Ultra (or other compatible WD NAS) and the new EX2 Ultra. Remove the power cords from both units. This ensures safe removal and installation of hard drives without causing physical or logical damage.

Step 3: Label the Drives

If your setup uses two drives in RAID 1 (mirror), RAID 0 (stripe), or JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks), label each drive with its original bay number (Drive 1, Drive 2). This is critical because inserting drives in the wrong order could cause data corruption or mounting errors.

Step 4: Transfer the Drives

Open the drive bays of both NAS units. Carefully remove the drives from the old EX2 Ultra and insert them into the exact same slots in the new unit. Be sure they are fully seated and locked into place. Do not install any new or additional drives during this process.

Step 5: Power On the New EX2 Ultra

Plug in and power on the new EX2 Ultra without a network cable connected at first. This prevents the device from attempting any automatic updates or cloud-based configuration changes that could initialize or alter the existing setup.

Allow the unit to power up fully. The front LED lights may blink for several minutes as the system recognizes the drives.

Step 6: Access the Dashboard Locally

Connect the EX2 Ultra to your router and access the device locally through your browser. Type the device’s IP address or use WD Discovery software to find it on your network. You should be taken to the My Cloud Dashboard.

If the drives are healthy and the configuration is intact, the EX2 Ultra will recognize the volume without prompting you to format. You should see your data volume, available space, RAID type, and system health displayed.

Step 7: Confirm Data Integrity

Before making any changes, browse through your shared folders and verify that all your data is intact and accessible. You can also run a disk scan from the dashboard to ensure no errors are present. Avoid updating firmware or altering RAID settings until you’ve confirmed everything is working.

Step 8: Reconfigure Settings as Needed

If the new unit prompts you to set up cloud access, admin password, or network settings, proceed without affecting the storage volume. You can re-enter your user credentials, map network drives, and re-enable remote access once your data is secure.

Final Tip

If the system prompts for a disk format or RAID rebuild during setup, do not proceed. Power down the unit immediately and contact WD Support for recovery guidance. Proceeding could result in total data loss.

By carefully transferring your drives and avoiding any destructive initialization, you can successfully install existing media into a new EX2 Ultra without losing any data.