Model: ReadyNAS Duo RND2000 v2. 2 x Samsung HD103SJ (1000GB/7200rpm/32M) in mirror running without problem for 2-3yrs.I normally receive email notifications for weekly backups to an attached USB drive, but hadn't received any emails about any problems, so the first I noticed was that my drive wasn't available this evening, so I checked and it had powered down. I tried to start it up again and all I got was around 12 short bursts of fan activity then it just stopped.I tried starting up with one drive at a time removed, and still all I got was approx 12 bursts of fan activity.I then tried removing both drives and starting it up. This time it started ok and was available in RAIDar. I tried booting again with one drive at a time, but it was just back to the 12 burtst of fan activity.Any and all help/advice would be very much appreciated.Ken

Can you check this guide, and confirm your model? http://www.rnasguide.com/2012/01/09/how ... -or-nv-v2/The warranty is 3 years - if you are still covered you should contact support (support.netgear.com).

It would appear from the physical descriptions, that I have a ReadyNAS Duo V1I cannot find out when I bought it, as my email archive is actually stored on the NAS :( . I don't remember exactly how long I've had the unit. It's very possibly over 3 years.

Ok. If you registered it, you can also check the warranty status at support.netgear.com.The NAS won't fully boot without disks, as the operating system is installed onto the disks during the initial setup process.When was the last backup done? If there is data you need to get off, you can connect disk drive 1 to a Windows PC (with a USB adapter or SATA), you might be able to get the data off with linux reader (http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/). This will NOT work with disk 2, only disk 1. That is probably the thing to try next.If you have a SATA drive you aren't using, you can try inserting that drive in the NAS by itself (NAS powered down), and see if the factory install procedure executes. That would let you know if the NAS hardware is still functioning normally. You can alternatively do a factory reset with the current drives, but that will destroy your data.The hardware manual for the v1 is here: http://www.readynas.com/download/docume ... 6Dec11.pdf The boot menu options are described starting on page 15.

Ah! I've had it longer than I thought. My hardware warranty ran out in 2013.I have been running weekly backups every Sunday for as long as I can remember direct to a USB Drive. I always get an email on Sunday morning to say it completed successfully, so I assume I can attach that drive to any USB port on my PC and use the linux reader you linked to? I will try that when I get home tonight.If I can recover the data from the USB drive then I'll factory reset the Duo with the current drives and see what happens.If the Duo hardware turns out to be OK, then why do I have this problem in the first place? I set it up with drive 2 as a mirror just in case I had a drive failure, thinking I would avoid this exact situation in the first place.Thanks for your help. I'll post update later.

One scenario is a full OS partition - generally due to very large log files, though some add-ons also create databases in the OS partition that can grow over time. ReadyDLNA is one.Though as the partition gets full it usually gives other warning signs - usually the system starts dropping off the network.Some disk failures also can lock up the SATA interface. And it is possible that both drives failed in rapid succession - they are identical, and have the same amount of use. So testing the drives with vendor tools is recommended. I'm not sure what the right tool is for Samsung since Seagate acquired their disk business some years ago. Seatools might include it - though if not, it still has generalized disk diags that will work with any drive.Of course the NAS hardware could also have failed - hopefully not though.If you do need to replace the drive(s), I'd suggest a NAS drive. The WDC Red and the Seagate "VN" series (ST2000vn000, etc) are about the same price as consumer drives, but have longer warranties and are intended for home NAS. Your system can use 2 TB drives, but nothing larger. 2 TB drives are pretty close in price to 1 TB models, and even if you replace only one disk you can use a 2 TB drive (though the NAS won't give you more space until you upgrade the second). The Seagate NAS drives don't include a 1 TB model, the WDC Red line does.

ReadyNAS Duo only boots with no drives

17 Replies

Replies have been turned off for this discussion

StephenB
Guru - Experienced User
Apr 26, 2014
Does the system still boot?
checkm8
Aspirant
Apr 26, 2014
No. It did boot after an OS re-install first thing this morning, but only stayed running for a short while before it shut itself down again. That's when I went on to (unsucessfully) try the full reset.
StephenB
Guru - Experienced User
Apr 26, 2014
Ok. So it is continually shutting down, and that might not be related to the reset at all?

Maybe try a reset with only one drive in place.
checkm8
Aspirant
Apr 26, 2014
Latest testing:

Took the 2 drives and installed each in turn internally in my PC. Checked with the Linux reader:

Drive 1 shows the following:

Hard Disk Drives
'Linux Ext Volume 1' 1.95Gb
'Linux Ext Volume 2 (c)' 929.11Gb (All my files are visible in here)
Unallocated Space
'HD103SJ, at end' 211.39Gb with a big question mark on the icon
Physical drives
'HD103SJ' 931.51Gb
Containers
'c_LVM' 929.11Gb

Drive 2 shows ONLY the physical drive as above and the unallocated space: 'HD103SJ, at end' 931.51Gb

While each drive was installed in the PC, I tested using Seagate SeaTools (tried Samsung HUtils first but had a message saying drive model not supported).

Both drives passed the SeaTools (DOS) short test. Drive 2 also passed a long test (I haven't had time to do a long test on disk 1).

I tried booting the ReadyNAS with each of the drives in place one at a time in their correct bay, but just get the flashing power led and fast fan, then eventual self- power down after 5 minutes or so.

Started the unit with NO drives inserted, and the unit 'boots' and is visible in RAIDar with 'No disks detected' (also physically flashing the LEDs (3+2)).

I shut the unit down and inserted disk 2. Tried both normal boot and a system reset, but each time the unit gives 3-4 short bursts of fan activity then powers off. Exactly the same story for disk 1.

I don't know what to do next. Do I just have a new book end?
StephenB
Guru - Experienced User
Apr 26, 2014
the 1.95 GB partition on disk 1 is the OS partition. The 929.11 GB partition is the data partition. All appears normal there.
The format of disk 2 is also normal. The v1 duo uses hardware parity, and doesn't format the data partition.

You could have a failing power brick, or it could be a a failure in the chassis somewhere. Inadequate power could explain why the system can't stay booted though.
checkm8
Aspirant
Apr 26, 2014
Thanks for giving me so much of your time Stephen. I've ordered a replacement brick; not expensive so certainly worth trying. Will update in a few days when it arrives.
checkm8
Aspirant
May 01, 2014
I received my replacement power brick today. I've just plugged it in and the unit has powered up with both drives in place. All data is intact and visible through the normal shares. The unit is currently going through a Sync.

Fingers crossed that it keeps working.

Thanks again for your help StephenB. On my own, I would likely never have got it going again.

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ReadyNAS Duo only boots with no drives

17 Replies

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