RAID cannot mount, broken hard drive #4 has been replaced

[jgsfontanilla]

Hi all,

My Linkstation LSQVL 8TB reported that drive #4 broken and needs replacing so I purchased a similar Samsung HD204UI. I powered down the device, removed old drive #4 and installed the blank replacement. I powered up the linkstation and to my surprise Buffalo NAS navigator says that  the RAID is unformatted and cannot be mounted. Isn't the unit supposed to restructure the array automatically after the replacement has been inserted?

When I go to the web admin UI, the check and format disk cannot be clicked. Is there a way to make the Linkstation 'force rebuild' the array structure via a backdoor or something?

I have years worth of data in my Linkstation. It has been almost 1 1/2 weeks now that I am trying to fix it and now I have run out of ideas to be honest. I would really appreciate your help in sorting this mess out.

Kind regards,

Gab