I had previously posted this thread Remove inactive volumes to use the disk. Disk #1,2,3,4. troubleshooting | NETGEAR Communities but I had to wait for replacement disks that i bought during the summer. Now I started the ReadyNas 104 and I see error"Remove inactive volumes to use the disk. Disk #1,2."In the previous post it looked like disks 3 and 4 were ok but now i dont see them in the volumes section Given the different status I have not tried yet to enter in support mode and do any other steps. I looked at logs and given there might be some personal info i am not sharing them all but smart, kernel and some other that look relevant but I dont really see any new logs.Logs https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/y9g7g67rjjvhr7bktb3n8/System_log-nas-bizmate-20250925-093830_reduced.zip?rlkey=rogb99pwsqp9r2143vtovqwmr&dl=0 Should I go ahead with the previous instructions given that only the 1st and 2nd drive actually look alive?

bizmate wrote: In the previous post it looked like disks 3 and 4 were ok but now i dont see them in the volumes sectio Are all the original disks installed? The NAS isn't detecting the last two (dmesg, disk-info, etc aren't showing them). If they are installed, then try powering down the NAS and removing all the trays. Then re-insert them and power up. bizmate wrote: Should I go ahead with the previous instructions given that only the 1st and 2nd drive actually look alive? The only way that would work is if the NAS detects all the drives in tech support mode. Possible, but not likely.

I tried a few times and now it detects 1,2 and 4. When switched on it sees 3 too but then it is not "loaded" if this is the right term. I think the initial set up was RAID 5, now I am not sure why 3 and 4 (now 4 is detected) are causing these problems when initially in the logs the drives with faults were 1 and 2. But ideally I would like to try toload 1,2 and 4 in read only if possibledo some sort of back up, ie best effort based on what i can load replace with new drives and restore what saved in previous point. I have bought 5 drives, 1 i was planning to use as a single external write only backup, ie to restore whatever i can get from this setupThen use the new drive and restore to current status. Is it possible and what other alternatives could you suggest?Current alert now states "Remove inactive volumes to use the disk. Disk #1,2,4."

bizmate wrote: load 1,2 and 4 in read only if possibledo some sort of back up, ie best effort based on what i can load replace with new drives and restore what saved in previous poin You probably need to use tech support mode and then try to forcibly assemble the volume.

I entered with telnet and i see $ telnet 192.168.100.222Trying 192.168.100.222...Connected to 192.168.100.222.Escape character is '^]'.3EP941EU004B9 login: root# rnutil chrootroot@3EP941EU004B9:/# lsblkNAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINTsda 8:0 0 3.7T 0 disk |-sda1 8:1 0 4G 0 part | `-md0 9:0 0 4G 0 raid1 /|-sda2 8:2 0 512M 0 part | `-md1 9:1 0 511M 0 raid1 `-sda3 8:3 0 3.6T 0 part `-md127 9:127 0 10.9T 0 raid5 sdb 8:16 0 3.7T 0 disk |-sdb1 8:17 0 4G 0 part | `-md0 9:0 0 4G 0 raid1 /|-sdb2 8:18 0 512M 0 part | `-md1 9:1 0 511M 0 raid1 `-sdb3 8:19 0 3.6T 0 part `-md127 9:127 0 10.9T 0 raid5 sdc 8:32 0 3.7T 0 disk |-sdc1 8:33 0 4G 0 part | `-md0 9:0 0 4G 0 raid1 /|-sdc2 8:34 0 512M 0 part | `-md1 9:1 0 511M 0 raid1 `-sdc3 8:35 0 3.6T 0 part `-md127 9:127 0 10.9T 0 raid5 mtdblock0 31:0 0 1.5M 1 disk mtdblock1 31:1 0 512K 1 disk mtdblock2 31:2 0 6M 1 disk mtdblock3 31:3 0 4M 1 disk mtdblock4 31:4 0 116M 1 disk root@3EP941EU004B9:/# mdadm --assemble --really-force /dev/md127 /dev/sda3 /dev/sdb3 /dev/sdc3mdadm: /dev/sda3 is busy - skippingmdadm: /dev/sdb3 is busy - skippingmdadm: /dev/sdc3 is busy - skippingroot@3EP941EU004B9:/# btrfs device scanScanning for Btrfs filesystemsroot@3EP941EU004B9:/# mount /dev/md127 /dataroot@3EP941EU004B9:/# ls -la /ddata/ dev/ root@3EP941EU004B9:/# ls -la /data/total 24drwxr-xr-x 1 root root 358 Dec 22 2018 .drwxr-xr-x 25 root root 4096 Dec 13 2024 ......drwxrwxrwx+ 1 admin admin 312 Oct 7 2022 GrowthHackingdrwxrwx---+ 1 guest guest 496 Feb 5 2024 ManualBackupdrwxrwxr-x+ 1 admin admin 39498 Feb 16 2024 Musicdrwxrwxr-x+ 1 bizmate users 26466 Dec 7 2024 MusicVideosdrwxrwx---+ 1 admin admin 18992 Dec 7 2024 Picturesdrwxrwxrwx+ 1 guest guest 48 Mar 6 2020 Transmissiondrwxrwxr-x+ 1 admin admin 756 Dec 8 2024 Videos...These are my files and folders so it seems it is fine at the moment to be backed up but i dont see a web interface or not sure how to mount them remotely so difficult to say. 1 - how can i remotely connect and save/inspect the files?2 - is there a way to mount it remotely?3 - from the lsblk command i dont know which disk is which. Can i hot swap new disks now and how do i know which one to replace and when the new disk is added to the array and the full array is operational?4 - also how to proceed with the other new disks and remove the old ones? Do i still need to do it in support mode? Any guidance here would be welcome as i have never done this stuff

I am sending a text reply but the forum software is eventually discarding it, i think. See the screenshot of what I managed to do by looking at the screenshot attached if you see this message or i will open a new tickethttps://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pwhswt80cnghqg5z2osft/screencapture-community-netgear-discussions-readynas-use-remove-inactive-volumes-to-use-the-disk-disk-12-troubleshooting-2466592-replies-2466632-2025-09-30-12_02_15.pdf?rlkey=8gk2ir8cy4f14d12fna5fmmum&dl=0

Remove inactive volumes to use the disk. Disk #1,2. troubleshooting

20 Replies

Sandshark
Sensei - Experienced User
Oct 06, 2025
Don't do anything more until you have your data backed up. Since drive 3 isn't part of the active volume at this point, you could pull it and test it in a PC while the backup completes. But do not try to put it back in until the backup is complete, even if it tests good. You don't want the NAS starting to re-sync it to the volume.

bizmate

Tutor

Oct 06, 2025

Hi StephenB

Posting here to share the experience with others. As discussed 3 out of 4 disks are now running in degraded mode. I have run Disk Test from the UI -> System -> Volumes section and it is finished but not sure where to read the results.

Here is the last few logs from this section

```

Oct 06, 2025 01:00:21 AM	Volume: Volume data is Degraded.
Oct 06, 2025 12:00:24 AM	Snapshot: Snapshot c_1759708811 was successfully created for share or LUN endy.
Oct 06, 2025 12:00:23 AM	Snapshot: Snapshot c_1759708811 was successfully created for share or LUN Videos.
Oct 06, 2025 12:00:21 AM	Snapshot: Snapshot c_1759708811 was successfully created for share or LUN Pictures.
Oct 06, 2025 12:00:19 AM	Snapshot: Snapshot c_1759708811 was successfully created for share or LUN Music.
Oct 06, 2025 12:00:18 AM	Snapshot: Snapshot c_1759708811 was successfully created for share or LUN ManualBackup.
Oct 06, 2025 12:00:17 AM	Snapshot: Snapshot c_1759708811 was successfully created for share or LUN Documents.
Oct 06, 2025 12:00:13 AM	Snapshot: Snapshot c_1759708811 was successfully created for share or LUN bizmate.
Oct 05, 2025 10:02:18 PM	Volume: Disk test completed for volume data.
Oct 05, 2025 12:27:11 PM	Volume: Disk test started for volume data.

```
Given the 3rd disk does not show any signs of errors and is still not mounting (even if currently removed) should i try to swap/mode disk 4 to slot 3 to see if the problem is actually the slot?

If so and based on this message :

are the Defrag, Scrub, Balance, Disk Test etc options for the volumes documented somewhere?
where can i see the Disk Tests results?
About next steps if i move the disk are there any specific steps to look for?
Given the test has run can I also consider adding another new disk if the old one still does not work despite being still fully functioning based on SMART test results?

I hope this does not get caught by a filter

StephenB
Guru - Experienced User
Oct 06, 2025
bizmate wrote:
Given the 3rd disk does not show any signs of errors and is still not mounting (even if currently removed) should i try to swap/mode disk 4 to slot 3 to see if the problem is actually the slot?

Disk 3 has to be out-of-sync at this point, so you can just use it as a test disk.

Try powering down, and removing disks 1,2, and 4. Then put disk 3 in slot 1, and power up the NAS. If the NAS LCD panel indicates "no disks", then that points to the drive.

Then power down and move the disk back to slot 3 and try powering up again. If the disk shows up in slot 3 when it is the only drive, then that points to the power adapter.

Sandshark wrote:
Don't do anything more until you have your data backed up.

bizmate has backed up the data.

bizmate wrote:
are the Defrag, Scrub, Balance, Disk Test etc options for the volumes documented somewhere?

See pages 52-57 in the software manual:

https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/READYNAS-100/READYNAS_OS_6_SM_EN.pdf

The disk test just runs the long smartctl test on all detected drives.

Balance does a BTRFS balance - hard to describe exactly what that means unless you have some understanding of the file system. But among other things, it will reclaim free space.

Scrub does both a BTRFS scrub and a RAID scrub. Again, hard to describe exactly unless you delve into BTRFS and RAID. But it does access every sector in the data volume (on all disks) so it kind of doubles as a disk test.

Defrag defrags files - not clear if this is necessary on linux file systems. Still, it does no harm.

Personally I schedule one of these tests each month (disk test, balance, scrub, then defrag). We should probably also talk about snapshot settings and getting your email alerts working at some point (after we get the main problem resolved).

bizmate wrote:
where can i see the Disk Tests results?

The web ui just shows a pass/fail. If it does fail, there will be more details in the logs. Though sometimes running smartctl from ssh is useful, especially when there are UNC (uncorrectable) errors reported by the drives.
- bizmate
  Tutor
  Oct 06, 2025
  So the problem is not the disks, Disk 3 in slot one was detected so the disk is fine. Moved to slot 3 it is not detected and the system boots in safe mode on an ip different from the one i usually give. SSH not available and even if the Web Interface is displayed i cannot login with my credentials, nor with the root one you gave me for safe mode.
  
  I find it crazy that the problem is the actual slot n3 and not sure what to do next at this point. Is there a secret safe mode password i can use to do more tests?
bizmate
Tutor
Oct 06, 2025
Thje volume.log shows the test passed and all the details at dropbox link because attachments dont work on the forum https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ge75kkjlsrt95t85de7yi/volume_202510061155.log?rlkey=9uscilb9j37v00iqz8xk5drkv&dl=0

bizmate
Tutor
Sep 25, 2025
I tried a few times and now it detects 1,2 and 4. When switched on it sees 3 too but then it is not "loaded" if this is the right term. I think the initial set up was RAID 5, now I am not sure why 3 and 4 (now 4 is detected) are causing these problems when initially in the logs the drives with faults were 1 and 2. But ideally I would like to try to
load 1,2 and 4 in read only if possible
do some sort of back up, ie best effort based on what i can load
replace with new drives and restore what saved in previous point.

I have bought 5 drives, 1 i was planning to use as a single external write only backup, ie to restore whatever i can get from this setup
Then use the new drive and restore to current status.

Is it possible and what other alternatives could you suggest?

Current alert now states "Remove inactive volumes to use the disk. Disk #1,2,4."
- StephenB
  Guru - Experienced User
  Sep 26, 2025
  bizmate wrote:
  load 1,2 and 4 in read only if possible
  do some sort of back up, ie best effort based on what i can load
  replace with new drives and restore what saved in previous poin
  
  You probably need to use tech support mode and then try to forcibly assemble the volume.
  - bizmate
    Tutor
    Sep 30, 2025
    I am sending a text reply but the forum software is eventually discarding it, i think. See the screenshot of what I managed to do by looking at the screenshot attached if you see this message or i will open a new ticket
    
    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pwhswt80cnghqg5z2osft/screencapture-community-netgear-discussions-readynas-use-remove-inactive-volumes-to-use-the-disk-disk-12-troubleshooting-2466592-replies-2466632-2025-09-30-12_02_15.pdf?rlkey=8gk2ir8cy4f14d12fna5fmmum&dl=0
StephenB
Guru - Experienced User
Sep 25, 2025
bizmate wrote:
In the previous post it looked like disks 3 and 4 were ok but now i dont see them in the volumes sectio

Are all the original disks installed? The NAS isn't detecting the last two (dmesg, disk-info, etc aren't showing them).

If they are installed, then try powering down the NAS and removing all the trays. Then re-insert them and power up.

bizmate wrote:
Should I go ahead with the previous instructions given that only the 1st and 2nd drive actually look alive?

The only way that would work is if the NAS detects all the drives in tech support mode. Possible, but not likely.