ReadyNas Ultra 6 No Boot Menu

[TusseyJ]

I followed the instructions for my ReadyNas Ultra 6 to reset the firmware: Power down the unit, hold the reset button and power it up, when the boot menu comes up continue to hold the reset button and scroll down the menu to reset firmware. However, I don't think I am seeing the boot menu or don't recognize it as a boot menu. I can never scroll down the list to reset the firmware. Any hints or suggestions?

[mdgm]

Your doing it wrong. See http://www.readynas.com/kb/faq/boot/how_do_i_use_the_boot_menu#ultra_6_ultra_6_plus_pro_6

After the boot menu message comes up you release the reset button (which you've been holding since before you pressed the power button) then press the backup button to scroll through the boot menu options. After you've come to "OS Re-install" you then press the reset button once more to confirm your choice.

[TusseyJ]

Thanks for pointing that out. I was not doing it right.

But still cannot get the boot menu. Here is the sequence I am seeing and doing:
1. Unit is powered down
2. Hold reset button in the back
3. Power up unit, ReadyNas displayed
4. ReadyNas disappears, count down of drives starts
5. After count down, 'Booting...' displayed... Release reset, Press 'Backup' button on front
6. Unit continues to show 'Booting...' Followed by 'Checking FS'... then 'Done'
7. Then it displays the ip address.

I have tried it several times in different orders releasing the Reset button but same thing.

Weird. What is worse is that I go to /password_recovery, enter my required information, it tells me it has reset the password and sent me an email. Which I never receive. Now I know for a fact that I set the thing up correctly because I have the setup instructions with my responses.

[mdgm]

Try holding the reset button for longer.

"Booting..." is not a Boot Menu message.

[TusseyJ]

Ok. Just tried it. I held the reset button through the ip address display, through the ReadNas Ultra 6, followed by the amount of free space/available space, then a blank display.

Probably need to call support, but not looking forward to it.

[mdgm]

Sounds like it.

When the NAS is booted normally what do you see in the Info (far right) column in RAIDar (http://www.readynas.com/downloads)?

Are you able to try powering down, remove disks (label order), then insert a disk (must not be from your array) and see if the NAS boots? If it does re-install the firmware over the top of itself. Reboot when prompted to install the update then verify that the firmware update took place. Then power down, remove the disk, put your disks back in (same order as before) and see if you can access the boot menu.

[TusseyJ]

I got the newer version of RAIDar. Its showing 4.2.15 in the far right corner.

[mdgm]

Right.

Do you have a spare disk you can try with? If so, if you can get the NAS to boot, login to Frontview (see http://www.readynas.com/kb/faq/boot/what_is_the_frontview_default_login_and_password_after_a_factory_default). Also download 4.2.15 (http://www.readynas.com/download/RAIDiator-x86/archive/4.2.15/RAIDiator-x86-4.2.15) if you don't have a copy of it stored somewhere and install it via System > Update > Local in Frontview. Installing this might just bring the boot menu back. Be sure to reboot when prompted to complete the update and verify that the update occurred.

[TusseyJ]

I will have to try the disk swap. I'll need to get a blank disk first but that should not be a problem.

[mdgm]

You can hook a spare disk up to your PC and delete the partitions on it. That will make it a blank disk.

[KillerBob]

Hi,

I am absolutely not intending any offense, but are you sure you are pressing the reset button? I myself made the mistake a few times, putting a iPhone SIM extractor into the Kensington lock hole, and not actually the reset button.

Bo

[mdgm]

Good point. Take a look at the layout of the NAS as found in the Hardware Manual. See http://www.readynas.com/docs

It is possible that the boot menu isn't working but normally it does work.

[TusseyJ]

No offense taken.

I checked the hardware manual to make sure I was pressing the reset button. I noted one mention of the Kensington lock but no mention of its use in the manual on resettng the menu.

Matter of fact I have searched both the hardware and software manuals and found only one mention in the hardware manual of it, and that was where it was. No mention of what the heck it does.

What is it? Is it like a physical dongle that some process control stations have to ensure the correct operator is at the station?

[mdgm]

A Kensington lock is used to lock a device e.g. to a table. It's often used in stores so customers don't go and pickup a demo unit and walk off with it.

[TusseyJ]

Ok. There is nothing in the Kensington Lock Port. So I think that is ruled out.

I believe the only two options at this point is contact support or swap out the disks and try and reset it. I am leaning toward swapping out the disks right now.

I will let you know how that turns out.

Thanks again for the help.