In this endeavor, we took the challenge of using Ubuntu to mount and recover the data from the hard drive.
After physically mounting (yes we needed to turn off the machine and connect using IDE cable), we checked its format.
root@ubuntu:~# fdisk -l /dev/sdb
Disk /dev/sdb: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000d3a8d
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 4080509 2040254+ 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 4080510 1953525167 974722329 83 Linux
root@ubuntu:~# mount /dev/sdb2 /opt/mnt/
mount: unknown filesystem type 'linux_raid_member'
used to manage and monitor software RAID device
root@ubuntu:~# mdadm --assemble --run /dev/md0 /dev/sdb2
If the command executed with no errors, we can then mount the created device to the mount directory
root@ubuntu:~# mount /dev/md0 /opt/mnt
mount: unknown filesystem type 'LVM2_member'
Scanning the created device displays this.
root@ubuntu:~# fdisk -l /dev/md0
Disk /dev/md0: 998.1 GB, 998115524608 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 243680548 cylinders, total 1949444384 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000
Disk /dev/md0 doesn't contain a valid partition table
We then perform an LVM disk scan on the system where it detected the LVM physical volume (woot! woot!)
root@ubuntu:~# lvmdiskscan
/dev/ram0 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/md0 [ 929.57 GiB] LVM physical volume
/dev/ram1 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/sda1 [ 145.13 GiB]
/dev/ram2 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/ram3 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/ram4 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/ram5 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/sda5 [ 3.92 GiB]
/dev/ram6 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/ram7 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/ram8 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/ram9 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/ram10 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/ram11 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/ram12 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/ram13 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/ram14 [ 64.00 MiB]
/dev/ram15 [ 64.00 MiB]
0 disks
18 partitions
0 LVM physical volume whole disks
1 LVM physical volume
root@ubuntu:~# lvdisplay
--- Logical volume ---
LV Path /dev/md1_vg/md1vol1
LV Name md1vol1
VG Name md1_vg
LV UUID n0roAW-9yRg-IXsi-Js7B-aXVf-DvyZ-k28kwQ
LV Write Access read/write
LV Creation host, time ,
LV Status NOT available
LV Size 929.57 GiB
Current LE 475938
Segments 1
Allocation inherit
Read ahead sectors auto
root@ubuntu:# vgdisplay
--- Volume group ---
VG Name md1_vg
System ID
Format lvm2
Metadata Areas 1
Metadata Sequence No 2
VG Access read/write
VG Status resizable
MAX LV 0
Cur LV 1
Open LV 0
Max PV 0
Cur PV 1
Act PV 1
VG Size 929.57 GiB
PE Size 2.00 MiB
Total PE 475938
Alloc PE / Size 475938 / 929.57 GiB
Free PE / Size 0 / 0
VG UUID 1rTeB2-CPpH-grwn-y1fc-s0Rm-8UzS-Wti71X
root@ubuntu:# mount /dev/md1_vg/md1vol1 /opt/mnt
mount: special device /dev/md1_vg/md1vol1 does not exist
root@ubuntu:# lvscan
inactive '/dev/md1_vg/md1vol1' [929.57 GiB] inherit
root@ubuntu:# modprobe dm-mod
root@ubuntu:# vgchange -ay
1 logical volume(s) in volume group "md1_vg" now active
root@ubuntu:# lvscan
ACTIVE '/dev/md1_vg/md1vol1' [929.57 GiB] inherit
This has now activated the volume group and the drive appeared in the Ubuntu desktop and all its contents! :)
Hope this experience helps others facing this issue.