ok, just thought I'd feedback now I've got it working again, should anyone else be finding the same problem. Yes, it DID require booting in EM mode & updating of firmware. But this was NOT the quick & easy process I'd hoped. At least it wasn't for me anyway. Also, this in itself, didn't resolve it. But I needed to do this stage before I went further, to kind of try the 'easy' steps first...
One thing to note I use a Mac, but I borrowed a PC in order to do this. I just got the usual tech support 'unggh' sound when I mentioned OSX! My advice don't even bother trying to resolve this on a Mac. Not worth it.
BTW, Contrary to other posts, I actually had some relatively good service from tech support. I'm in the UK, perhaps it varies between countries.
And if Buffalo Tech are looking on, the lady who helped with my case # 135685? was polite, patient and VERY helpful. Most importantly, she talked me through every step and re-assured me (as much as she could) that she'd never lost any data doing this. This was a real worry for me.
Anyway, they sent me exact instructions on this procedure, as follows:
Stage 1: EM Boot:
Please note it can take a number of attempts to bring the unit to EM mode (approx 15-20). Once the unit is in EM mode it will be displayed as such in the NAS Navigator software (firmware will show as ---)
- Power the unit down (disconnect the power by pulling out the power cable while the unit is ON).
- Reboot it, if the power led is still flashing more than 75 second's from the start, disconnect the power and retry.
- Do this until the unit's power led is constant 65 seconds after the start and the unit is on EM.
NOTE: This actually too me about 10 goes to do this with a stopwatch in hand. Seems so bizarre that you need to just KEEP going until this works, but hey it worked in the end and without data loss.
Now it's in EM mode we can then install the firmware on the unit....? ??
Stage2: Firmware Update:
Please get the latest firmware from our website: (1.54)
http://www.buffalo-technology.com/support/downloads
Extract the downloaded folder to your desktop.
Disable any kind of Firewall and Antivirus software.
Setup a cable network connection with PC and Buffalo-NAS to your router, with a DHCP Server, DHCP is required for to update for newer units.
Disable all other network connections on your PC (such as wireless connection).
Check that the PC and the unit are in the same IP-Address range.
Within the extracted firmware folder open up LSupdater.ini in Wordpad or Notepad.
Modify it as follow:
[Flags]
VersionCheck = 0 (modify this line from 1 to 0)
NoFormatting = 0 (modify this line from 1 to 0)
[SpecialFlags] (add this line to the bottom of the text)
Debug = 1 (add this line to the bottom of the text)?
Save the modifications and start the LSupdater.exe file. Right click the title of the Updater window and select "Debug (D)".
This will bring up the Debug options. Select the following ones:
Ensure all options on the left hand side are selected, on the right hand side select all options apart from "Rebuild Partition Table" (DO NOT select this option as doing so will erase the data on the unit!)
Click OK and proceed with the update.??
So, my experience here is that havig done this, it didn't work for me. The firware was updated ok, and I was very excited! But it still hadn't reset the password as I expected. So I contact them again. They then sent me a new email with an LSRecovery file, which was just an executable file which simply solved the issue. I'm calling this STAGE 3!
So good luck!
Be happy to try & answer any more questions about my experience. However, I would not want to send anyone this LS Recovery file. I was informed it was vital that Stages 1 and 2 were done first and that the LS Recovery mode was very specifically to my situation.
Hope this helps someone!
Dan
p.s. Calm down Davo life's too short.