# Is it possible to retrieve a node ID? **URL:** \ **Category:** troubleshooting\ **Tags:** disqualification\ **Created:** [November 28, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497 "2023-11-28T14:28:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![maxPalermo](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/letter_avatar/maxpalermo/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@maxPalermo](https://forum.storj.io/u/maxPalermo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497/1 "2023-11-28T14:28:42Z")
Hi everyone, unfortunately I had a problem with the SSD of my PC and all the data including that of the node was lost, is there a way to restore the node (I know the node ID) to continue using it? ---
**Author:** ![nerdatwork](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/user_avatar/forum.storj.io/nerdatwork/32/1135_2.png) [@nerdatwork](https://forum.storj.io/u/nerdatwork)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 2:33pm UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497/2 "2023-11-28T14:33:49Z")
> [@maxPalermo](#): > > all the data including that of the node was lost This will result in your node being disqualified which is permanent. > [@maxPalermo](#): > > is there a way to restore the node No. You would have to start fresh with a new node id and new auth token just the way you started this node from scratch. ---
**Author:** ![maxPalermo](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/letter_avatar/maxpalermo/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@maxPalermo](https://forum.storj.io/u/maxPalermo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497/3 "2023-11-28T14:37:32Z")
and all the data stored in my hard drive that I use for the node, should I delete it? ---
**Author:** ![daki82](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/user_avatar/forum.storj.io/daki82/32/1128_2.png) [@daki82](https://forum.storj.io/u/daki82)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497/4 "2023-11-28T16:18:51Z")
maybe you have a backup of the OS drive somewhere? i assume yes. nodedata is useless without identity, and vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![nerdatwork](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/user_avatar/forum.storj.io/nerdatwork/32/1135_2.png) [@nerdatwork](https://forum.storj.io/u/nerdatwork)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 5:15pm UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497/5 "2023-11-28T17:15:01Z")
> [@maxPalermo](#): > > all the data stored in my hard drive that I use for the node What does this data contain ? Is it node’s identity ? ---
**Author:** ![maxPalermo](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/letter_avatar/maxpalermo/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@maxPalermo](https://forum.storj.io/u/maxPalermo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 11:12pm UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497/6 "2023-11-28T23:12:35Z")
sorry if I’ve been unclear, since I have to start over, do I have to format the node with 6.8 TB of data? ---
**Author:** ![nerdatwork](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/user_avatar/forum.storj.io/nerdatwork/32/1135_2.png) [@nerdatwork](https://forum.storj.io/u/nerdatwork)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 1:42am UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497/7 "2023-11-29T01:42:45Z")
> [@maxPalermo](#): > > with 6.8 TB of data? Did you lose node’s identity or node’s data ? The node’s data is in `storage` folder while identity is in `storagenode\identity`. What is this 6.8TB of data about ? You said 👇 > [@maxPalermo](#): > > all the data including that of the node was lost Losing either node’s identity or node’s data will disqualify your node which is why its suggested to backup node’s identity. ---
**Author:** ![maxPalermo](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/letter_avatar/maxpalermo/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@maxPalermo](https://forum.storj.io/u/maxPalermo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 1:53am UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497/8 "2023-11-29T01:53:53Z")
thanks for the reply ---
**Author:** ![Alexey](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/user_avatar/forum.storj.io/alexey/32/41_2.png) [@Alexey](https://forum.storj.io/u/Alexey)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 4:49am UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497/9 "2023-11-29T04:49:39Z")
To be clear: to restore your node if it’s not disqualified yet, you need: 1. Its identity folder with 6 files in it. If you followed the guide, you should have a backup of this identity and also copy on your disk with data (this is the recommended way because you need both the identity and its data, so it is recommended to store them on the same drive for portability and to avoid problems like this) 2. Its data If you have both - you may just run it with your usual `docker run` command or install the Windows GUI version and point it to the identity and its data. ---
**Author:** ![maxPalermo](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/letter_avatar/maxpalermo/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@maxPalermo](https://forum.storj.io/u/maxPalermo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497/10 "2023-11-29T19:14:21Z")
are these the 6 files needed to restore the node? ![Screenshot (6)](https://storj-s3.bcdn.literatehosting.net/original/2X/a/a4efe03b98dafff0f8aa7b4dce920abd0503ed78.png) ---
**Author:** ![JWvdV](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/user_avatar/forum.storj.io/jwvdv/32/7814_2.png) [@JWvdV](https://forum.storj.io/u/JWvdV)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497/11 "2023-11-29T20:12:16Z")
Indeed, if you also have the data on that disk then your node has survived. Then you don’t need to restart from scratch. In that case also don’t forget the disk, but just ask someone hoe to recover the node on Windows. ---
**Author:** ![maxPalermo](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/letter_avatar/maxpalermo/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@maxPalermo](https://forum.storj.io/u/maxPalermo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 6:48am UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/is-it-possible-to-retrieve-a-node-id/24497/12 "2023-11-30T06:48:36Z")
Thank you all for your help the node has been restored, after having reinstalled everything from the beginning I replaced the 6 identity files that I had as a backup in another hard disk