ReadyNV: Can´t get out the Tray...

Isn't it a coincidence that I would get your reply here within a minute or two after getting the "official" F off reply to my ticket? My ticket said:

"I apologize for the inconvenience, however, since the trays can be opened with the release latch, we do not replace the drives for this issue."

In other words, if you contact Netgear to complain, you will get forwarded to this string so you can be shown how to by pass the defective release button. Further instructing you to disassemble the tray, lubricate, etc.

Dictionary definition of defective:

"having a defect or flaw; faulty; imperfect: a defective machine."

These trays are clearly flawed, faulty, imperfect, i.e. defective.

Alongside the definition in the dictionary was a picture of a ReadyNAS... interesting...

Had exactly the same problem on all drives of my NV+. The paper clip trick worked fine but none of the buttons will operate properly anymore. I agree, it looks like a definite design defect. It's a shame for a product that is otherwise excellent.... :rofl:

eudora wrote:
Had exactly the same problem on all drives of my NV+. The paper clip trick worked fine but none of the buttons will operate properly anymore. I agree, it looks like a definite design defect. It's a shame for a product that is otherwise excellent.... :rofl:

I never tried to get out a drive before. I discovered the problem trying to open the latch on my 6th tray I had just bought a drive for. I was very dissapointed to hear they just don't care and as long as it takes something less than a stick of dynamite to get the drives out, they don't take responsibility for their error. I noticed this message string goes back to 2006, which means when I bought my system a year ago, it was already a 3-year old problem they didn't do anything about in all that time. What is the chance they pre-bought that many trays, such that there wasn't a chance in there to come up with a new design, so that by the time I bought my system 3 years later I would have gotten the substitute tray which I hear they have finally produced.

It took three messages to them just to get them to understand it wasn't a stuck tray, it was a stuck button. They said I could complain to customer care. I told them I was going to write a negative review on every site selling their products that allow customers to comment. Seems Netgear would rather lose a customer and get ripped all over the net than deal with their known problem.

Had this issue also - i opened the drawer using the holes in the front, then removed the drive, dismanteld all (including frontpanel of the drawer)
so that i had only the plactic part in my hands. then fired in a good portion of silicone-spray and started pressing the button. After some moving,
so the silicone could run everywhere the mechanism is perfectly working again. i dried out all remaining silicone and cleaned with a paper tissue.
put all toghether then. now drawers run like a charm.

Using this all the time for computer stuff:
http://www.sonax.com/Car-Care/Products/Technical-and-Workshop/(so)/4/(node)/12986/348200-SONAX-Silicone-spray

regards

The trays have plastic on plastic and some stick initially. Once released, simply excercise the release several times and that should polish to release to where it will not stick again. These are the older design trays that are in the system, and brute force will only serve to damage them. I had two of mine on my NV+ stick when the unit sat quietly operating 24/365 for several years, but simply exercising the release has meant mine no longer stick. The key is to break them in, not to break them.

The newer units, NVX, Ultra and new Pro series have the new style tray. Somewhere along the line, I believe the later Pro's were shipping with the new design as well. One can purchase the new style trays, but to me it was a momentary aggrivation, not a serious problem. And not all the trays stick, either.

couldn't agree more with the consensus here - definitely a design flaw & not fit for purpose - (I've never had a problem with my NVX, with the newer catch design)

as the last time I needed to swap a disk out on my Duo, I thought I’d never get my disk out :(
Whilst the tray was out I spent ages, opening & closing the lock to convince myself the problem would never repeat itself (although it previously happened before!)
So what happened IMMEDIATELY after I inserted the cage into the Duo - I could not remove it AGAIN :(
That's a design flaw if I've ever seen one, as spending a considerable amount of time over a series of consecutive days to prevent an issue WOULD HAVE cured this if Netgear was correct and there was "not" an issue?

Simple question's....

i) Why do my cages keep sticking?

ii) If a problem keeps repeating itself, what can I do to prevent it? - I've tried the available fixes, loosen it by continually activating the lock when it's out... As the evidence here supported by multiple people - it does not work in all cases.

EDIT - I am aware of the silicone lubrication that people have suggested, if this is the fix, will Netgear post the stuff free of charge to me, as seems a little harsh to suggest i should procure a substance to fix an known issue. What if "I" do anything, is my warranty then stuffed, what if I knacker the connector in the Duo trying to get the jammed tray out? Hmmm?

It is one thing to have a problem with a cheap piece of Chinese junk you pay a buck for, but paying over $1000 for a basic server box is ludicrous, and then have to deal with this idiotic problem.. Worse yet, a known problem for four years before I bought my unit. Of course the ultimate insult is after spending over $1000 for the server, the manufacture won't honor their warranty. It is the last piece of Netgear garbage I will buy and will continue to take every opportunity to slam the company when I can. Netgear doesn't seem to care one way or the other which is apparent when shipping a known defective product all those years, and then not offering FREE under warranty replacement trays. I will keep pounding my drum and eventually Netgear might own up to their defective product and will honor their guarantee, but I am not holding my breath.

My NV+ purchased end May 2010 apparently has the newer design trays (with the rectangular latch), and the latches are still working well on the pre-installed discs' cages, which, I figure have now been installed for about a year. I think I'll still unlock them and pop the latches every once in a while just to keep them "primed" for a future disc upgrade, though!
Glad to see the ReadyNAS team is listening and continuing to make improvements to the very cool ReadyNAS solutions. Thanks.

I don't think you will have any problems. Part of the problem in the older design was the horizontal motion of the push button had to be turned into vertical motion to release the latch. With the new design, all motion is vertical so you don't have that change in direction of the force.

When I got my new NVX with the newer trays, I considered upgrading my NV+ that had the older trays (4 year old Infrant NV+), but decided the $100 was better served elsewhere. Interestingly, I have not had any of my older trays hang up in the last two years, I guess because I have opened them more often with disk upgrades.

PapaBear wrote:
I don't think you will have any problems. Part of the problem in the older design was the horizontal motion of the push button had to be turned into vertical motion to release the latch. With the new design, all motion is vertical so you don't have that change in direction of the force.

This bit tells me i don't have to worry about this issue, my cages open on a downward push, so they should be the new and "improved" design. Thank you for that.

PapaBear wrote:
When I got my new NVX with the newer trays, I considered upgrading my NV+ that had the older trays (4 year old Infrant NV+), but decided the $100 was better served elsewhere. Interestingly, I have not had any of my older trays hang up in the last two years, I guess because I have opened them more often with disk upgrades.

From working with "pro" equipment i can tell you this is exactly the reason your not having problems. Al along, the trouble was dust-buildup, and as long as you open and close the latch fairly regular it's not going to be an issue. However, i see in the thread that earlier suggestions to "fix" the issue has been to add some lubricant. Sure, this will fix the issue right there and then, just as cleaning the latch alone would have. but a lubricated surface is a wet surface, and dust sticks faster to a wet surface... Short story, i wouldn't lube a latch, even if i was a candidate to have this issue. I'd rather bring some compressed air on a can and blow it clean when the time comes to open a (stuck) latch.

Anyway, it's good to know there was a solution with new drive cages, eliminating the issue.
B!