Storage

[TomG]

I need some help to determine if my Model LS-WSXL/R1 (linkstation mini) has an unrecoverable hardware failure.

The LS had been working fine for past 2 years on my home network.  Then my neighborhood experienced a long power outage.  When electricity came on, I couldn't access the device.  NASNAVI2 showed EM status.

I shut it down and directly connected it to my XP computer, then followed Storage FAQ #2 to force a firmware update.  The first couple attempts didn't work so I followed the steps to reset the unit.  After resetting, the firmware force update worked; NASNAVI2 showed the unit at Firmware 1.60, an IP address, RAID 0 and 15% full.  However, I could not browse the share from within NASNAVI2 -- error of "Could not open the shared folder.  Confirm drive status."  I tried the Web access, it displayed the login prompt but wouldn't accept the defaults of Admin + Password.  It said incorrect username or password so I tried a couple others -- I hadn't ever changed the login as best I can recall, I think the reset would have set the defaults anyway. Lastly I tried to access it from Windows via Start...Run...\\ IP address, but that said network path can't be found.  

My Norton firewall and the Windows firewall are both off.

The blue power LED comes on steady, the green LED blinks fast showing access attempts (I think). No amber LED.

Today I turned the LS off, then On, and now my situation is worse.  The LEDs are the same but NASNAVI2 no longer shows the RAID or storage percentage AND the device icon now has a big red exclamation point.  Balloon says "Connection Error! Some disk information are not obtained.  Failed to get the error information."  When I click on the icon, it takes 90 seconds before it gives the error that says check drive status (whereas before it would only take a few seconds to give the error dialog).  Also, now when I try web access, instead of getting the device's login screen I get a standard, white, connection timeout screen.

Any suggestions????

[davo]

post a screen shot of the nas navigator and the system / storage section of the web admin page.

[TomG]

Thank you, Ok, please take a look.  Not sure how one can post images here on the board, so here are links to my two screenshots. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tfgoetz/7633402162

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tfgoetz/7633402286

I realize the second one is just a denied login screen for web admin.   (When I posted yesterday, I wasn't being prompted for a login when I attempted Web Admin but instead got a connection timeout screen, not sure if that is significant).  And as stated above, login to Web Admin is being attempted using the defaults of admin and password as I don't believe I ever changed them (plus I reset the unit back to factory settings prior to doing the firmware update).

I appreciate your brainpower and help!  This NAS has been my backup to two functioning laptops so I still have data there --- but it is (was?) the sole source for all my ripped CDs and older photos that I kept dumping onto it.  I know, I know -- not backed up!  : (

[TomG]

Let me add, right after I did the firmware update NasNavi2 did show me info about the drive.  There was a rectangle that showed RAID status and percentage of the data. I think it was 13% of the 1TB capacity, something like that.  I'm presuming that was live info and not something stored in memory somewhere. 

Thinking I was on the right path, I had shut down the drive and moved it back to my router and restarted.  But I still wasn't able to view the shares so I shut it down again and moved it back (ie directly connected it) to my windows xp laptop lan port.  And then it no longer shows info about the drive.  So that's why I suspect the disk is hosed.  But this is my first NAS and that's why I'm asking the forum.  Thanks!

[davo · Accepted solution]

Use this file to recover the unit:

http://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVnSU5KYUk4NVVLSk5Vag

[TomG]

Nice!  Thank you, that recovery file allowed me to get into Web Admin. 

Ok, so here is the screenshot showing storage:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tfgoetz/7640282588

And a shot of nasnavi which is still reporting a connection error:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tfgoetz/7640282658

When I try to browse I get the same error as before:  "Could not open the shared folder. Check drive status."   I'm walking on eggshells now, seems like I'm close to getting to my data.  Keeping everything powered, maybe a magical reboot will return me to normal?

[TomG]

Update --NasNavi is still showing the connection error..............BUT the drive can now be browsed.  YEAH!!!!!!

I literally was sitting here tonight when the backup program (my LS mini came with memeo which I see is no longer used, too bad as it has worked great for me) popped a msg saying the scheduled backup had been completed.  whuh?  Despite the error msg the data is apparently getting thru.

Thank you DAVO, I will mark this solved at the recovery file you sent..  : )

[TomG]

Update --- my LS mini is back to normal!  Thumbs up to Buffalo and, again, thanks to davo and this forum   The recovery file got me back into the drive but NasNavi was still showing a connection error.   I  want to report that went away after I unplugged the NAS from my laptop and plugged it back into my router.

I'm supposing that's because the other computer on my network could once again see the NAS (and perhaps that non-connection was the cause)

In any event, I'm a litte more aware. 

The event that caused all this power outage stuff was, um, strong winds -- do a search for 'derecho wash dc'.   Peace to all!!!