LS-WXL/R1 - stuck in EM Mode ?

[walkedl]

Hi -

 

I have the above unit... been working great for over a year.  I decided to go from RAID 0 to Raid 1 today, so I started by removing the current volume/RAID.  Got about 80% through and said it lost communication with the device.  Hmmmm.. decided to just reset back to factory.  Did that and now the device only comes up in EM mode.   I tried to push back on a firmware update (ls series 1.54) and I get the error "Could not contirm whether the partition exists.  Cannot update firmware.   Aborting".

 

Sigh...  So now I don't quite know where to take it from here.. seems I've bricked my perfectly good working NAS...   Any suggestions?  Thanks,

 

I should add that I have tried the FAQ 2 of 5 using debug mode - but keep getting the same message.

 

Don

[ESCHER]

Be aware that you have deleted all your data.

 

Read FAQ (2 of 5) at the beginning of the forum.

You have to select "rebuild Partition table" also.

 

If the unit does not boots properly after the firmware update, you will have to perform a TFTP boot, FAQ (3 of 5).

 

The current firmware has a bug which seems to interfere with the creation of RAID 1.

Hopefully Buffalo will release a firmware update soon.

[walkedl]

Thanks for the help.  Yea, no problem on the data..  I've got everything backed up on another NAS. 

 

As for the option you suggested, unfortunately, I had tried that option unsuccessfully as well... same response.   I've actually tried several variations and it simply will not take anything. 

 

I then decided to try the TFTP process...  No luck there either...  The unit doesn't appear to request the download... just eventually boots to the solid red light.  Tried multiple times.  Verified I had eveything setup correctly.   What's wierd is the device appears to work somewhat... it's able to get a IP address from DHCP when I put it back on the network.  (according to NasNav).

 

I think this thing is really toast!  Bummer - it was working fine this morning.. just tried to 'reset' it.    Anyone else have some ideas?

 



[ESCHER]

You should delete all partitions.

Try this, using the latests firmware:

 

http://forums.buffalotech.com/t5/Storage/help-please/td-p/69446/page/2



[walkedl]

Can you verify the link?   Comes up not found when I try it...

[ESCHER]

 

The link is OK.

I also had the 404 error but now it works.

http://forums.buffalotech.com/t5/Storage/help-please/td-p/69446/page/2">http://forums.buffalotech.com/t5/Storage/help-please/td-p/69446/page/2

[walkedl]

Ok-  thanks... the url is working now.    

 

I was able to pull that set of TFTP files and followed the instructions.  Same result...  it doesn't seem to be making the request the from the TFTP listener.  Is there a way to force that?  I've read a few other posts about pressing function for 5 seconds, but didn't have an impact.  Also, one thing I wasn't clear on was how to "delete all partitions" in step 1..... not sure how to do that when the device is essentially dead in the water.

 

So just to be clear, my symptoms are: upon power up, the blue Power light just flashes fast for a minute or so then the red Function turns on solid.  No flashing or anything.  But one thing that I find interesting is that NasNavi keeps showing a new IP on the until as I move it around on/off my network....so it seems it's doing something! :)

 

Any other thoughts?  I really appreciate your help here!

[ESCHER]

The disks have to be blank in order to get E6 (corrupted firmware) error.

 

But, I now remember, there is maybe an easier way:

If your unit is really en EM mode and you can see the unit with the updater, try this:

Edit the LSupdater.ini file.

Change

NoFormatting = 1 to 

NoFormatting = 0

 

Leave
[specialflags]
debug = 1

untouched

 

Try to force a normal firmware update.

 

If not successful:

To delete the partitions:

One way to do it is to attach the disks (one by one) to a computer and using "Disk Management" in Windows, delete the partitions (you will see 6), until you end wit raw free space.

 

Regarding RAID1:

I have tested FW 1.54 with a couple of Samsung disks and to my surprise, I had no trouble in switching from RAID0 to RAID1.

Maybe there is a bug but it depends on the disks you have.  Another possible cause is that if your disks were formatted a year ago with an older firmware, then the partition table is slightly different and it causes this troubles.

 

 

[walkedl]

Ok... now we are making progress!

 

Applying a firmware update with that "format" option finally did something!!!    Looked like it formatted the drives, then pushed a new firmware and then rebooted.  When it came back up, the red light was finally gone!  Now I have a amber info light - 2 long flashes, 5 quick ones.  

 

If I'm reading the manual correctly, it  suggests that its writing firmware... but I believe it finished that already when it rebooted.    

 

I power cycled it and now everything appears to come up clean!   SWEET!   Of course it's all in Japanese, but I think I can work my way back to English.  Otherwise, I'll start brushing up on my foreign languages.   Thanks so much for the help!!!

[ESCHER]

Happy to hear the great news.

 

Read FAQ (5 of 5).

 

 

[aut0scan]

hi,

 

 

my LS-WXL series nas is in EM Mode. I do have many files that are still there in the storage.

is it possible to update the firmware without data loss? or recover some of the files?

 

thanks!

 

 

[davo]

aut0scan wrote:

hi,

 

 

my LS-WXL series nas is in EM Mode. I do have many files that are still there in the storage.

is it possible to update the firmware without data loss? or recover some of the files?

 

thanks!

 

 

Updating the firmware 99.9% of the time does not results in data loss.