I have a ReadyNAS Ultra 6 running 4.2.25 with all 6 disks loaded and I cannot get into the boot menu. I followed the instructions here http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/20898#ultra_6_ultra_6_plus_pro_6:Ultra 6 / Ultra 6 Plus / Pro 6To access the boot menu:Power off your unit.Using a straightened paper clip, press and hold the Reset button.Press the Power button to power on the unit.Continue to press the Reset button until the status display screen shows an boot menu message.Press the Backup button to scroll through the boot mode options.Press and release Reset button to confirm your boot menu selection.The system boots in the selected boot mode.But it just doesn't work and boots up normally. Is there a trick to this? I depress the button before I even power it back on and keep it depressed the entire time. When should I see the boot menu? Before the drive [] squares show up?Any help is appreciated!

Well it turns out the unit is fine. The firmware was missing on the internal flash. I fixed that and the system was able to boot up. Hopefully the boot menu works fine now, but if not the workaround I provided should work to use the boot menu should you ever need it.

Are you sure the paper clip is actually depressing the reset switch - it's not really a button.There should be a perceptible movement of the switch when it's pressed.

Yes, I am pressing item bullet point #4 on page 26 of this manual: http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/RNDU2000/ReadyNAS_Ultra_UltraPlus_NVX_Pro_HW_en_8July11.pdfI can hear it 'clicking' as I press and release it--I can feel the movement--it's very small, but I know what you mean.When does the boot menu appear normally? Is it the first thing displayed, before the drive boxes show up?I saw this same problem described here: https://www.readynas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=61915&p=347599Should I try rolling back to an earlier firmware and see if it works? If so, which one?The whole reason I am trying to do this is for an OS reinstall. My config UI is really screwy after a drive failed and had to be replaced. I am trying to reinstall the OS as instructed by support.Thanks for the assist!

You should see a boot menu message appear on the display. I can't remember whether this is before the drive boxes show up. I think it might be, but I'm not sure and I'm not near my Ultra 6 right now.Do you have a spare USB key?

I think I might be able to find a spare USB key. What do you have in mind?

Cannot access boot menu on ReadyNAS Ultra 6

26 Replies

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mdgm-ntgr
NETGEAR Employee Retired
Jan 24, 2014
I suggested the USB Boot Recovery in case the problem was an issue with the bootloader on the internal flash.

But if the external USB key is bootable it sounds like the issue might be a hardware issue with the reset button.

Have you tried a different USB key?

Do you have any other ReadyNAS units?

I can PM you instructions on how to use the undocumented alternative method to use the boot menu if you like.
- ndcc
  Aspirant
  Aug 11, 2015
  mdgm,
  
  I too am having issues with an Ultra 6. At this time it will no longer boot. You turn it on and it just sits on the ReadyNAS logo screen and nothing. The Button in the back no longer gets me the boot menu. The last thing I did was a 1 day memory check from menu which it passed. Shutdown and bang nothing. Prior the unit started hard locking occasionally and then became greater and greater. Tried copying the data off but with 10tb it takes longer than the crash interval. So now I have 6 good drives with data and no nas! Any help on how to get it going to recover my data off the drives? Maybe the boot menu workaround would get me going?
  - vandermerwe
    Master
    Aug 11, 2015
    
    I realise you you wrote specifically to mdgm, but perhaps I can preempt some questions he may have.
    
    Did you do anything with the memory modules? Did you check the seating or anything else?
    
    Can you power down, remove all the drives and label them according to slot number; then If you boot without disks what happens and what does raidar show?
    
    If you have a spare disk, can you then try to access the boot menu with the spare disk in?
    
    When did you purchase the Ultra 6?
mdgm-ntgr
NETGEAR Employee Retired
Jan 24, 2014
Hmmm something else you could try first.

If you power down and remove all disks (label order) and then try booting the NAS is the NAS seen in RAIDar with the error "No Disks Detected" in the Info (far right) column?

If so can you PM me a screenshot of RAIDar?
mdgm-ntgr
NETGEAR Employee Retired
Jan 27, 2014
Well you might have a hardware issue and have to use a workaround in future. Can help if that's needed.

Turns out the UPNP lines in /etc/default/services are missing on some systems for some reason. Putting them back fixed the problem where the ReadyDLNA stuff didn't show up in Frontview.
vandermerwe
Master
Jan 27, 2014
mdgm, I think you've copied in some text you posted in another thread??
mdgm-ntgr
NETGEAR Employee Retired
Jan 27, 2014
Yes, I did. This thread was specific to mage's problem. The other thread was specific to the DLNA not showing up and started by a different user. Posted here so that users following the thread could see that it is resolved.

I manually triggered an OS Re-install on mage's system but that of course didn't add the lines he needed back into /etc/default/services so I checked that file and added them manually.
AJD1
Tutor
Jun 03, 2015
Sorry if I am bumping up an old thread, but I am having the same exact issue as the original person who posted.

I want to do a disk test on my ReadyNAS Ultra 6 and cannot access the boot menu per the instructions online (hold reset button while powering on, etc.)
Any guidance on how to access the boot menu alternatively would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Andy

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Cannot access boot menu on ReadyNAS Ultra 6

26 Replies

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