LS420 unreachable on network - initialize light blinks forevery

[loud_scott]

My Linkstation LS420 is no longer reachable via LAN or USB.  The device was working properly until ~2 days ago.

The power light is on (steady white) but NAS navigator cannot find the device, nor can i ping it, use the web interface, or find it connected via my router.  The network port on the back of the device (as well as my router) shows the connection light.  My router does not see the device as connected (checked by MAC address).  I have tried it on 2 different networks with the same result. 

When powering off the device (with switch on back) the power light NEVER goes out -- I have left this for 30 mins. 

Based upon the manual, I tried a "reset" via the function button -- turn off device.  hold function button and power on device - then hit function button again.  -- the function light started to blink and i was prepared for a 5-10 minute process.  That was well over 12 hours ago.  The function light is continually blinking and the process seems to have never "finished"

.....Based upon some rudimentary searches it looks like i might need to try to "unbrick it using TFTP"?  Is there anyone that can confirm that and/or point me in the direction to take these next steps?

Is this the behavior displayed *IF* the linkstation enclosure itself has been "fried"?  --There's a relatively decent chance the device was powered on and off several times in a short amount of time due to a failing UPS....
Is it too large of a logical leap to believe the controller within the box is no longer working, and perhaps a new enclosure with my old drives will allow me to access my data?

Thanks in advance,
loud_scott

[Azasel]

What firmware version do you have ?
The problem is known on this device and already discused here.
To solve it the best is to go back to firmware 1.34 and not update to the new one.

[loud_scott]

What firmware version do you have ?
The problem is known on this device and already discused here.
To solve it the best is to go back to firmware 1.34 and not update to the new one.

I'm not sure.  As the device is unreachable and not returning any info to NAS navigator i have noway of finding out.  If I cannot connect to the device via network, or usb, and turning it on (from off) holding the function button ALSO doesn't allow me to flash the firmware; what other alternatives do i have? 

Is this when i need to use TFTP? 

[Azasel]

Unplug the device , plug it again and it will work enought time to downgrade the firmware

It's a known problem with the firmware since 1.80 see this post :

http://forums.buffalotech.com/index.php?topic=22838.0

And please report the problem to Buffalo support, more people report more chance we have they correct the problem.