LinkStation 220D - how to recover from 2 dead disks?

[thecosmicfrog]

Hi all,

I have a LinkStation 220D where both disks have died. I replaced these with two new 3TB disks and installed them. I assumed that the NAS would pick up that these are two empty disks and flash the stock firmware on to them.

Unfortunately, nothing happens on power-on except for the red light flashing 7 times. Pressing the Function button on the back causes the top white light to flash quickly, but nothing else happens. I've also tried holding the Function button during power-on, then pressing it again to try and perform a Factory Reset, but nothing happens to this effect.

From what I understand (correct me if I'm wrong), the EM Mode feature on the LS220D is stored in the /boot partition of a working disk. As I don't have a working disk, I don't have this /boot partition.

NAS Navigator picks up nothing in any of the above situations.

I'm very technically proficient, particularly with Linux, so I'm happy to try any solutions including imaging the new disks if such a solution is available.

Thanks in advance.

[thecosmicfrog]

Solved my own problem. Contacted Buffalo support and they were very helpful. Wrote up a blog post detailing the fix:

http://aaronhastings.me/completely-recovering-from-a-bricked-buffalo-linkstation-ls200-series-nas-and-opening-the-firmware-too/

[strossel]

Hi!

I've bought a LS220D and used the HHD:s in another NAS and planned using the LS220D with a couple of older HDD:s.

Now i can't get the LS220D working. I've followed your guide - great work! But it still doesn't work.

I've removed all partitions and the whole volume is unallocated.

When I start the LS220D it first flashes white and then red 7 times in intervals.

Then I push the function button and it starts to flash white. I start TFTP Boot.exe and get "accepting requests".

Then nothing happends.... i can ping 192.168.11.150 and I get a respons. Can you give me any advice? Does MBR or GPT matter?

//
strossel

[thecosmicfrog]

Sorry for the delay in getting back, strossel. GPT was the partition table I used. Did you try contacting Buffalo support? They were very helpful for me.