Bricked DS218

[Helicopter_red]

Hi everyone, I am after some help on how to repair my DS218 NAS which was running DSM 7.2 this failed mid 2022 if I remember correctly. I purchased in 2018 and it seems I have a later version with no DOM board or expandable memory, Bios chip is a MXIC MX25L6433F M2I-08G

Woke up one morning to a flashing blue light a few years ago now and just never gotten around to seriously trying to fix this, it may be a lost cause but I want to try anyway.
I have tried all the standard remedies with no success, such as a different power supply new CMOS battery etc. so I find my self looking at trying to re-flash the Bios as that seems to be the most likely suspect.

I have now downloaded DSM_DS218_25556.pat as to look at as my DS is not a + model thanks for pointing out @DSfuchs

That is where I am stuck I have read somewhere about extracting the data for the Bios and packing it out with 0's to make upto 8kb but not sure what i'm looking at in HEX code to be honest, so would really appreciate some help with this.

I have ordered a chip reader from Amazon which is due today so hoping to have a play about and see if this little project is a goer or not.

Cheers

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[DSfuchs]

Hi, it seems that "with no DOM board or expandable memory" it is not a plus model.
Is it a DS218 and not a DS218+?

 

[Helicopter_red]

Hi, it seems that "with no DOM board or expandable memory" it is not a plus model.
Is it a DS218 and not a DS218+?

Yeah you are correct I just went back through my Amazon orders and indeed it is not a + model no Idea why I thought it was. I will try to amend the title

Cheers

 

[DSfuchs]

Have you tried starting it without the hard drive(s)? Does a display perhaps appear in the assistant then?

 

[Helicopter_red]

Have you tried starting it without the hard drive(s)? Does a display perhaps appear in the assistant then?

I have tried with no drives, removed the CMOS for an hour or so put a new Battery in, used a different power supply, nothing changes, that Blue light just keeps flashing

 

[DSfuchs]

To me, that looks like a failed update or a hardware defect.
That’s the point with ARM CPUs where I’d hand the device over to my buddy in Karlsruhe; he has a programmer and can even repair components on the motherboard.
In the end, it’ll usually be easier and cheaper to just snag a used DS218 for 120 bucks.

 

[Helicopter_red]

Yes I agree, but where's the fun in not trying! the chip reader, chip, and UART serial reader are all cheap so worth a go.

 

[DSfuchs]

Yes I agree, but where's the fun in not trying! the chip reader, chip, and UART serial reader are all cheap so worth a go.

Okay, but you will need a BIOS dump of another DS218, too. A BIOS file alone does not contain your device-specific characteristics.
First, you need a suitable USB-to-UART adapter to find out whether it is sufficient to exchange boot files via a serial console session.

Good speed!

 

[Helicopter_red]

Would be great if somebody has a bios dump from a DS218 to hand and some help with it too.

 

[DSfuchs]

It needs to be determined whether exchanging boot files via this serial console session is sufficient.

 

[Helicopter_red]

It needs to be determined whether exchanging boot files via this serial console session is sufficient.

Is there somewhere with a step by step guide for this sort of thing? as the Blue light of death seems quite common, so thought this would be a very well trodden path

 

[DSfuchs]

Normally yes, but you have an ARM CPU!

 

[ragnarok]

Is there somewhere with a step by step guide for this sort of thing? as the Blue light of death seems quite common, so thought this would be a very well trodden path

Can you establish a serial connection and a terminal session to the disk station?

 

[DSfuchs]

Can you establish a serial connection and a terminal session to the disk station?

Cobra, take over.

 

[ragnarok]

Cobra, take over.

Nah, you are doing fine ;-). Just trying to assess the connectivity…

 

[Helicopter_red]

Can you establish a serial connection and a terminal session to the disk station?

Hi I am waiting for the serial/USB UART reader to arrive so as soon as it does I will attempt to get some info from it and then update on here.
Thanks for any help