LinkStation Discovery

[Mystagogue]

My LinkStation Live HS-DH500GL would not power up successfully.  It gave me a red error light which flashes 4 times (which I think means the fan is bad).  I hit the reset switch on the back of the linkstation, and then it was able to boot up normally (good!!!). 

 

But now my Windows 7 x64 machine cannot (SMB) see the LinkStation, even though it was able to see it in the past (prior to these odd problems).  In other words, my Windows Explorer window does not show the unit.  My router can see the Linkstation just fine (it reports the IP address it is using, and provides its name).  I can even ping the LinkStation IP address from my machine, but thats all.

 

I tried downloading a "LinkStation Live CD image" dated 2007.2.15 which "fixes the LinkStation discovery problems."  It did not succeed in making the LinkStation visible to my Windows network.  Before the program reported the error (unable to map drive), it did give me this information:

 

Host: HS-DHGL-EM1ED
Workgroup: Unknown

 

I don't know the firmware revision of the unit, but I don't believe I have flashed it since I bought it (2007?).  I see there is a new firmware dated 2010.  Can I apply it, even if my machine cannot see the LinkStation?  Does a firmware update attempt have any risk of losing data on the LinkStation's drive?  Would a firmware update fix this problem?

 

Is there something else I'm missing regarding how can I make the LinkStation visible on my network?

[davo]

you unit is in EM mode, the latest FW is 2.10 (2010-7-20) you will need to download and install this.

[Mystagogue]

I have now flashed to the latest (2010-7-20) for my Linkstation Live HS-DH500GL.  My Windows 7 x64 machine can now see "hs-dhgl1ed" in Windows explorer, however...

 

•  It cannot access the "share" folder on the drove.  Windows reports "windows cannot access \\HS-DHGL1ED\share"
• The Linkstation Navigator (aka "Buffalo NAS Navigator") software also "sees" the linkstation, but when it attempts to install the PC connectivity component, it fails: "Cancelled or an error occurred."

In the past when the linkstation worked, I always heard it "grinding" away - as if it was endlessly indexing or defragmenting.  Now I simply hear the hard drive platters spin-up, and thats it.  Yet the linkstation is not reporting problems - its error light is not flashing and there is no beeping.  The power light is on continuously after it boots, and the link/act light is "running" (flashes with network traffic).

 

Keep in mind that this linkstation *was* reporting problems before I used its reset button (which appeared to restore an older "EM" firmware).  Prior to that reset, it would try to boot and then flashed an error light four times.  As I say, I've now upgraded the firmware and there is no more error lights.

 

Bottom line: the linkstation is "alive" but quiet, and the "share" folder can't be accessed.  Any hints?

[Dustrega]

Did you try accessing via the IP? (e.g. \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx which is the IP of the NAS)