Revert Buffalo Linkstation Mini To Stock Firmware

From NAS-Central Buffalo - The Linkstation Wiki

WARNING! There is a possibility that you could brick your NAS with these instructions. Please make sure that you read the entire page carefully. These instructions are intended for Linkstation Mini models LS-WSxxxxGL/R1. Other models may work as well; however, users should download the correct TFTP and Updater software from Buffalo. Proceed at your own risk.

Contents 1 Prerequisites 2 Overview 3 Procedure 3.1 Erase Both Hard Drives 3.2 Install and Configure Software 3.3 Boot Device 3.4 Rebuild Device 3.5 Configure Device Language 4 References

Prerequisites

1. Buffalo Linkstation Mini
   • These instructions were tested successfully with Linkstation Mini model LS-WS1.0TGL/R1
   • Other models may work as well; however, users should download the correct TFTP and Updater software from Buffalo.
2. A computer which can mount SATA hard drives (required to erase drives)
3. A computer running the Microsoft Windows operating system (required to rebuild device)

Overview

1. Erase both hard drives
2. Use TFTP Boot software to boot device
3. Use LSUpdater software to rebuild entire device

Procedure

Erase Both Hard Drives

1. Disassemble device and remove both hard drives (per these instructions)
2. Attach both drives to the SATA ports on your computer
3. Boot your preferred operating system
4. Delete all partitions from both hard drives (TFTP Boot only works when drive partitions are missing)
5. Reassemble device, but do not power it on yet

   Install and Configure Software

6. Use a computer with the Microsoft Windows operating system (the LSUpdater software requires it)
7. Download and extract TFTP boot recovery software ( ftp://24.153.165.234/array1/share/nas-recovery//TFTP%20Boot%20Recovery%20LS-WSGL%201.05.exe )
8. Download and extract LSUpdater software ( http://www.buffalotech.com/support/getfile/lswsgl-106.zip )
9. Adjust [Flags] section in LSUpdater.ini

    [Flags]
    VersionCheck = 0
   

10. Add section to LSUpdater.ini

     [SpecialFlags]
     Debug = 1
    

11. Disable firewall software (firewalls can interfere with network traffic)
12. Change computer IP address to 192.168.11.1 (subnet 255.255.0.0). The device expects to find the TFTP server at this address
13. Run "TFTP Boot.exe"

    Boot Device

14. Attach device to network (or directly to computer using standard ethernet cable)
15. Boot device in EM mode using TFTP
    1. Move device power switch to "off" position
    2. Remove power cable from device
    3. Attach power cable to device
    4. Wait several seconds for lights to turn off
    5. Hold function button while moving power switch to "on" position
    6. Release function button when single blue light starts flashing
    7. Press and release function button again
    8. Press function button when red light starts flashing (repeat until red light stops flashing)
    9. Wait for TFTP server to send images to device (initrd.buffalo and uImage.buffalo)

    Do not proceed unless the TFTP server indicates successful transfer of initrd.buffalo and uImage.buffalo

16. Wait 30 seconds for device to complete boot process
17. Close TFTP Boot window

    Rebuild Device

    WARNING! The following commands will completely erase and rebuild the Linkstation Mini. ABSOLUTELY ALL DATA ON THE DEVICE WILL BE LOST. Make sure that you are using the the correct firmware for the intended device (i.e. LS-WSxxxxGL/R1). If you have selected the wrong firmware and/or device, THEN THIS PROCEDURE WILL BRICK YOUR DEVICE. Proceed at your own risk.

    
    

18. Disable firewall software (otherwise the update will likely fail and might brick the device)
19. Run LSUpdater.exe
20. Configure updater software
    1. Right-click on title bar of the window (on the word "Updater")
    2. Select "Debug(D)..." from the context menu
    3. Select all checkboxes in both "Update" and "Config" frames (Update BOOT, Update KERNEL, Update initrd, Update rootfs, Do not check version, Rebuild partition table, Delete user-config, Force update)
    4. Select "Execute the change as following" checkbox in the "Changing of IP Address" frame
    5. Change the IP address to 192.168.11.150 (subnet 255.255.0.0)
    6. Click on the OK button to save choices
    7. Confirm the change of IP address (ignore any DHCP error messages)
21. Make sure that you have selected the correct device, then click on the "Update" button to rebuild the device
22. Confirm that you want to format and update the target device
23. Wait for update process to complete
24. Check the IP Address and write it down if it has changed (via DHCP)
25. Close LSUpdater utility
26. Enable firewall software
27. Restore the IP address on your computer (undo prior change to 192.168.11.1)

This will restore the device to factory settings; however, the web interface will be in Japanese language. The next section explains how to change the language and character set as desired:

Configure Device Language

28. Open the device web interface in your browser (should be http://192.168.11.150... or use the new IP address assigned by DHCP)
29. Login to device (user = admin, password = password)
30. Click on second menu item (the icon looks like folded paper)
31. Change the language and character set (the last two dropdown lists) as desired (English and ISO8859_1)
32. Click on the button at the bottom of the page
33. Click on the TOP menu and verify that the language settings took effect

Congratulations! You should now have a Linkstation Mini reverted to factory settings.

References

• Buffalo Forum Article about TFTP Boot Procedure
• Buffalo Forum Article about Forcing Firmware Update
• TFTP Boot software for various Buffalo Linkstation models
• Buffalo downloads area (for downloading Updater software)