7 replies to this topic

[tasman27]

Hi,

 

Making a long story short here but I had to 'rebuild' my PC from hackers and decided to upgrade to Win 8.1 Pro. In doing so, I lost my Linksys AC 1900 router and my My Book Live NAS connections. A lot of this started 2 days ago when we had a few power surges that just tipped my PC to reboot. Of course, all the electrical side are on SP's but the system isn't the same.

 

I was able to restore the router connections, however the NAS is a very different story. For whatever reasons, the network isn't seeing the NAS. I have tried re-installing it, changing cables, rebooting, and trying to connect directly. I did manage to get it connected once but it was extremely slow, almost 45 mins just to bring up the first page of the boot.

 

I have also turned off the Norton firewall, thinking that maybe that was the issue but it didn't seem to have any effect. The drive is 3TB and is about 1/2 full. I can hear the disks spinning and the green light is blinking so I know it's working. I just don't know why it's intermittent in its connection and slow when it does connect. I had downloaded the updated software a few months ago and it was working fine.

 

Any thoughts on what could be making the NAS act this way? Is there a way to check the strength of the connection?

 

Frustrated....

 

Taz

[Digerati]

So your computer connects fine, just not the NAS?

Is there a way to check the strength of the connection?

 

Strength? How does this device connect? I thought it was Ethernet only.

 

Log into your router's admin menu and look at the "Connected devices" (or similar name) and you should see all the devices connected to your network. Is the NAS there? If not, I would replace the Ethernet cable and attach it to a different Ethernet port on your router (assuming Ethernet and not wireless).

[tasman27]

You are correct, the NAS connects with an Ethernet cable into the router. I have gone to the router's admin menu and it doesn't show the NAS, nor does it show on the Networking Devices in My PC. I have replaced the cable 2x with cables that were checked,

 

I have also reset the NAS using a paperclip to depress the button for 20 seconds. I have power cycled the NAS, unplugged everything (PC, Router, NAS, Modem) and brought them back online in order - Modem, router, PC, NAS. I can't get to the NAS menu except for one time and it took so long to come up it was ridiculous. Anything I selected said that there was a connection issue....at present I am looking at the NAS with a blinking green light yet it is disconnected from the router.

 

I think I have a conundrum here...I know that the NAS has a password and needs the PC username to connect however....when the tech restored my PC, Win8.1 pulled a username from an MS 'account" and renamed the PC. I have since changed it back to what it was. I also read that when you reset the NAS, it erases the passwords. So, any idea how to get in given those conditions? With what I've done, it should have re-installed like it was new, but it didn't obviously. At one time I had even paused my firewall and anti-virus program and it had no effect.

[Digerati]

If you don't see the NAS device as one of the connected devices in your router's admin menu, then there is something wrong with the NAS that has nothing to do with your computer (or NAS password).  You said you tried different Ethernet cables, did you try a different Ethernet port on the router? They can go bad too.
 
Without a user guide to reference, I would think the green light, when all is good, should be solid. A "blinking" green light, to me, would indicate a problem. You say it blinks when disconnected from the router, what happens when you connect it?
 

A lot of this started 2 days ago when we had a few power surges that just tipped my PC to reboot.

They may have done more than "just" cause the PC to reboot! I would urge you to "invest" in a "good" UPS with AVR (automatic voltage regulation) to protect not just the computer, but your router, modem, NAS and monitor(s) too. Note that backup power during a full power outage is just an added bonus. The AVR is what protects your hardware from excessive surges and spikes, as well as sags (opposite of surges) and dips (opposite of spikes) and brownouts (long duration sags).
 
A surge and spike protector is little more than a fancy and expensive extension cord. For extreme high voltage events (extreme surges and spikes), they do nothing but kill power (if lucky) which is NOT good for computers or your data. For low voltage events (dips, sags, and brownouts), a surge and spike protector does nothing at all. Living in a region or country with a stable power grid does NOT preclude the need for a "good" UPS with AVR. And note destructive power anomalies can also originate from within the home from a faulty high wattage appliance, for example.
 
The Terms of Use we all agreed to abide by when we joined this site prohibit any help in recovering or by-passing passwords. You might best be served by contacting WD if this is not addressed in your user guide.

[tasman27]

 

If you don't see the NAS device as one of the connected devices in your router's admin menu, then there is something wrong with the NAS that has nothing to do with your computer (or NAS password).  You said you tried different Ethernet cables, did you try a different Ethernet port on the router? They can go bad too.

I happened to mess with it last night and lo and behold it actually connected to the NAS! But yes, I had tried both, cable and router port. I was able to get to the menu page (it took over 5 mins) and reviewed my settings and firmware version. Wasn't able to do anything else. All other menus told me that there was a "connection issue".

 

Without a user guide to reference, I would think the green light, when all is good, should be solid. A "blinking" green light, to me, would indicate a problem. You say it blinks when disconnected from the router, what happens when you connect it?

Constant green light means the drive is idle. Blinking green light means it's "in use". When I reconnect it to the router, it continues to blink.

 

I called WD and spoke with a Level 1 tech. Outside of checking the 'obvious', he wasn't much help. He has referred the case to a Level 2 remote tech to see if they can do a fix. They were supposed to contact me within 24 hrs, it's been 40 and counting. I'll call them in the a.m. and see what they can do, if anything. I have done a bit of research on this drive and it appears this issue is quite common. It also appears that WD doesn't have a fix and tends not to get back with users having the issue. We'll see. 

 

I was able to see the drive on Windows Explorer and can access it from there, but it's sporadic at best. The drive is about 40% full, but SmartWare indicates that it has no more writable sectors. My guess is either the drive is now bad, or something is keeping it from accessing the rest of the drive.

 

In any event, I'll let you know what, if anything, the propose or do to fix this issue.

 

They may have done more than "just" cause the PC to reboot! I would urge you to "invest" in a "good" UPS with AVR (automatic voltage regulation) to protect not just the computer, but your router, modem, NAS and monitor(s) too. Note that backup power during a full power outage is just an added bonus. The AVR is what protects your hardware from excessive surges and spikes, as well as sags (opposite of surges) and dips (opposite of spikes) and brownouts (long duration sags).
 
A surge and spike protector is little more than a fancy and expensive extension cord. For extreme high voltage events (extreme surges and spikes), they do nothing but kill power (if lucky) which is NOT good for computers or your data. For low voltage events (dips, sags, and brownouts), a surge and spike protector does nothing at all. Living in a region or country with a stable power grid does NOT preclude the need for a "good" UPS with AVR. And note destructive power anomalies can also originate from within the home from a faulty high wattage appliance, for example.
 

I know, I know! I should probably look into it as I have 2 desktops subject to the electrical grid. However, convincing 'the boss' of that expenditure is another subject for another time! It's like telling her I need another guitar when I already have more than I can play at one time.....hehe.

 

Hopefully I'll know something more on Wednesday.

 

Thanks,

 

Taz

[Digerati]

I know, I know! I should probably look into it as I have 2 desktops subject to the electrical grid. However, convincing 'the boss' of that expenditure is another subject for another time!

Darn purse strings!
 
The trick is to point out a "good" UPS with AVR will protect her computer and data (and the family photos) too. If in the same room, one large (~1200 to ~1500VA) UPS can easily protect two computers, and all your network gear, and NAS too).
 
I prefer the APC 1500VA, though APCs tend to be pricey. Newegg right now has some really good prices on a Tripp Lite 1500 and CyberPower 1500 which are also good. It seems right now Newegg is offering free shipping on either of these and considering they weigh a ton, those are good deals.

One word of caution, if you need to run an extension cord to a distant computer, make sure it is just a plain (but heavy duty) extension cord. You should never plug a surge and spike protector into a UPS. The UPS may see it as an unstable load and shutdown to protect the connected computers. Nor should you ever plug a UPS into a surge and spike protector as it can see the input as "dirty" and constantly switch to battery.

[tasman27]

As promised, I found out what was causing the issues with the NAS.

 

If the enclosed HDD doesn't work, well then the whole thing is just a paperweight! A short test and it was determined by WD that the drive was dead. However......I purchased a WD My Book to replace it and to make the LONG story short? It's NOT compatible with my router, even tho Linksys doesn't have a publicized list of compatible NAS drives. Tech support gave me one after I called them.

 

Word to the wise....do your due diligence when buying an NAS for a network router to be SURE they're compatible!

 

Lesson learned....

[Digerati]

Let's stick to one thread. See https://forums.whatt...024#entry880862