Posted   by 

Linkstation Firmware Flasher



Linkstation firmware update failed

Firmware
I have had my LS2 HD250 for about ages - easily longer than the 12 month guarantee. I have never had a problem with it until one day when I noticed that the “DIAG” LED was blinking and the box was not accessible from the network.

The first thing I did was to reboot the LinkStation. I then discovered that on reboot it sat with the “POWER” LED blinking for about 5 minutes, then it seemed to powered down the Hard-Drive and the fan, whereafter the “DIAG” LED started blinking. I also noticed that the fan seemed very noisy, especially if I tilted the LinkStation a little.

Using the LinkStation Wiki, I discovered that the number of times the “DIAG” LED blinks indicates what the problem might be. My “DIAG” LED was blinking 6 times between pauses, and according to this page on the Wiki the Hard Drive may be faulty. No matter what I tried I was unable to access the LS2 GUI via the network. Despite the fact that the LS2 LAN LED indicated that the LS2 was detecting LAN activity, the LS2 was not accessible on its proper IP address or on the EM Mode address of 192.168.11.150. It did not respond to Ping, and neither the Web Browser nor the Firmware Flashing utility could access it. So I decided nothing could be lost if I cracked it open to see what I could do.

With the Hard Drive probably damaged, I suspect that I 'earned' my 6 flashes as a result of a few power interruptions - storms in the area had caused several power power cuts and brown-outs prior to the LS2 having a problem.

Before doing anything I researched using the LinkStation Wiki and the Internet and found a number of useful articles:

 - Disassembling the LinkStation to get to the Hard Drive within: How to Disassemble the LinkStation

This article based on work by DC and frontalot. Originally by frontalot at Linkstationwiki.org
Some of this information courtesy of

Flashing blue lights on Linkstation Quad 4TB (LS-QL/R5) « on: February 07, 2009, 02:01:18 pm » After a power outage the other day, when I started up the Linkstation it startup up w/ the blue light flashing.

Methods - There are two ways to go about this:

You will have to backup the data, if you want to save it in /mnt on your own with either method. Disassemble the LinkStation and disconnect the hard drive.
  1. Extract the downloaded file and run 'LSUpdater.exe'. When a LinkStation is detected, an update window will open. Select the LinkStation to update if multiple LinkStation are connected. Click 'Update' and enter the LinkStation's admin password. Transferring and updating.
  2. Says I need to flash the firmware. Okay, so I head to Buffalo's website and download a copy of the firmware updater. I run that, it finds my NAS, I click update and it wants the password.
  3. If there is a new firmware available, the power LED blinks amber. 2 Function LED This LED glows while the LinkStation is being initialized and while dismounting USB devices. 3 Function Button Use this button for Direct Copy, dismounting USB devices, and initializing settings. 4 Power Switch Move the switch up and down to power on and off.
  1. This is generally accepted as the easier method to upgrade your Linkstation's hard drive, if you run the firmware updater it will automatically create the necessary partitions. When you boot the LS up for the first time, the disk full LED will flash, this is the LS creating the partitions, wait until the flashing stops, then run the firmware updater (you may need to run it twice as the first may fail).
  2. These instructions are intended for people who wish to preserve their existing /hda1. First you will need to Create a perfect backup of the LinkStation filesystem then partition a new hard drive on a Knoppix workstation. Finally you will have to restore the backup you created and create a swap partition.

Backup Data

Backup the data in /mnt that you want to save either by copying it off of your LinkStation using Samba, FTP or a USB drive. You could create a Tarball of this data if you wanted to.

Then take the old drive out of the LinkStation and put the new drive in. Make sure, it the jumper is set to 'Master'.

Linkstation Firmware Flasher

Connect disk to LS and flash firmware

  • power on LS (Reset button not pressed)
  • Using The LinkStation firmware flasher, you could flash OpenLink, FreeLink or the Stock Firmware.
  • Open the archive and carefully read the included README file for any specific instructions.
  • Disable any firewall(s), including any built-in Windows firewall
  • If you are running some virus checker or worm detection software, disable this also
  • Make sure the LinkStation and your PC are on the same sub-network. This likely requires that you change the IP address (and probably the subnet-mask) of your PC and router to a different IP address in EM Mode it will have a static IP address of 192.168.11.150 or to connect your PC and LinkStation directly with a crossover cable.
  • unpack HD-H*.zip (use the proper firmware for your LS)
  • start HD-H*FWUpdate.exe (use the proper updater for your LS)
  • After finding your LinkStation, press the 'Renew Firmware' button, and wait. Have patience, and keep your calm. If you think the Firmware updater is acting strange, do not try to disconnect the LinkStation or abort the update in another way.
  • start update, following messages appear:

Settings are being saved Firmware is being transmitted LinkStation Firmware has been renewed Settings are being restored

Linkstation Firmware Flashers

  • if You get the following message You are done.

Linkstation Firmware Update Failed

The firmware has been renewed

Linkstation Firmware Update

  • But because the reformatting and partitioning takes too long, the Diskfull LED may blink or you can hear the disk being active (withoug LED indication).