NV+ won't boot - firmware error - USB recovery not working

[fima]

What HAPPENED BEFORE:
ReadyNAS NV+ system would intermittently reset (once every 5 to 15 minutes). To try to correct the issue it was updated to RAIDiator-V4.1.10. System continued the reset issue after the update. All hard drives were replaced with new drives.

What is HAPPENING NOW:
After welcome, system says Booting, Please wait... (no drive LEDs are on) stays in this mode for about 90 sec.
Then the fan quiets down and the LCD screen says:
Booting... (for about 10 seconds), then on the second line it says:
ERR: Bad firmwar
then,
LED 1 and 2 blink, then all four LEDs blink, then the sequence repeats.

I downloaded the image file: ReadyNAS_USB_Flash_Recovery-4.1.10.img
I wrote it to three different USB sticks using NTRawrite in Windows CMD mode
All writes were successfully verified.
I inserted each USB stick into the NV+ front USB slot (rear slots are empty) and tried the following boot procedures.

Powered on NV+ while holding the Backup button. The LCD showed:
Boot Diag
Please wait...
then,
Booting... (fan slowed) for a few seconds, then back to:
ERR: Bad firmwar

When I hold the Backup button a while longer during power up, NV+ displays:
User Diag
Please wait... (for about 60 secs)
then, back to Booting..., ERR: Bad firmwar

When I just use the Power button and hold it for 20 secs for USB boot, the screen displays
Bios info
USB Init (I can see the USB key flashing indicating the NV+ is accessing it)
then,
Welcome, then,
Booting
Please wait... (for 90 secs)
then,
Booting...
ERR: Bad firmwar (alternating 1&2 and all four LEDs)

I'm totally lost as to how to proceed...

>>>>> PLEASE HELP ! <<<<<<< 😞

[mdgm-ntgr]

What happens if you power down, remove disks (label order), insert a spare disk (must not be fom your array) and do a factory default?

[zenandjuice]

I'm having the same issue.

An NV+ with the latest firmware. I shutdown the unit, and when it booted, it returned the Bad Firmware error.

Using the latest USB Flash Recovery Image (ReadyNAS_USB_Flash_Recovery-4.1.12.img), I made a USB drive, booted to it, but still received the same error.

You had suggested removing and numbering the drives, inserting a new drive, and do a factory reset.

If I do that and the system functions, would I still have access to my data (4 disks), if I re-inserted them (with the NAS off, of course) ?

[mdgm-ntgr]

Yes. This suggestion was to confirm where the problem is.

If you still get the error then perhaps try the 4.1.8 USB Flash Recovery image. 4.1.8 is a bit smaller. If there is a problem with e.g. lots of bad blocks on your internal flash, 4.1.8 may fit where newer firmware won't.

[zenandjuice]

I've tried both the 4.1.12 and 4.1.8 USB recovery boots, and I get the 'Bad firmware' error after each one.

[zenandjuice]

I am able to enter TechSupport mode, and telnet to the device.

Is it possible to mount the drives in this mode and copy off the data before doing a reset?

I couldn't find information on how one would do that.

Thanks!

[mdgm-ntgr]

Have you checked doing a factory reset with a spare disk (must not be from your array) like I asked?

[zenandjuice]

I'm about to do that.

I was able to put in a spare disk, do an OS re-install, and that worked. I updated the firmware to the latest 4.1.13, and restarted.
I shut it down, put in the original disks, and got the Bad Firmware error.

I'll do a full factory reset now.

[mdgm-ntgr]

Is your data backed up? I didn't think it was.

[zenandjuice]

I had been in the process of backing up my data but only have about half of it.

[zenandjuice]

And a complete factory reset returns the 'Bad firmware' error after re-inserting the original disks. Any other options?

[mdgm-ntgr]

Could be a bad disk or a bad slot.

Check the disks e.g. using SeaTools if SeaGate disks.

[zenandjuice]

I ran SeaTools on each of the 4 drives (Basic Test) and everything checked out.

I tried booting the ReadyNAS with one drive removed, once per slot, and still the same error.

[mdgm-ntgr]

Perhaps run the memory test boot menu option a few times and longer SeaTools tests.

[zenandjuice]

Sorry, I have been out of town for the last week, but I will try those things today. Thank you!

[zenandjuice]

Memory test checks out OK.

[mdgm-ntgr]

Sounds like maybe a bad disk or a hardware issue with the NAS.

[zenandjuice]

It's curious. If I put in a different drive, and do a factory reset, everything works.

Inserting the old RAID causes the error. Even if I boot it with only one drive, I get that error. I've even tried booting it with only one drive at a time... the likelyhood of all 4 drives going bad at once is very low, and the NAS does work with another single drive in the same slots.

Any other ideas? Would there be any chance of data recovery via tech mode, or via TFTP?

Thanks again,
Chris

[mdgm-ntgr]

Have you contacted support?

[zenandjuice]

Not yet, but I will.

[arjoseph1]

Yes I also recommend that you contact support because the problem could be related to corrupted raid superblocks. Make sure that you always keep a backup of your data.

[zenandjuice]

mdgm, i want to thank you for your help. support was able to connect remotely via Tech mode and do an OS re-install.
I"m backing up all my data now. 🙂

Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

-chris

[mdgm-ntgr]

Glad they solved the problem.

Thanks for letting me know

[nasdaq_tech]

I won't create another posting as this is exactly my issue.

I have a NV+ RND4000.

Upon power:
Welcome...
Booting Please wait...

When I tried to OS reinstall:
Welcome...
Reinstalling FW Please wait...

When I tried to USB Boot:
Welcome...
(4 lights at each transition to...)
USB Boot
BIOS Info: USB Init.
The activity on the USB Stick goes out.

I'm at a loss.

[zenandjuice]

Go ahead and open a ticket. They were very very helpful.