For the 2nd time I cannot access external storage from Windows network, after the latest firmware update

English Storage
1

Many Community members forget to include important information when asking questions here in the forums.

If it’s a technical question of any kind, please remember * to include:

  • Your Operating System you are using to access your NAS.
  • NAS model: TS-251D
  • Firmware Version/Build numbers QTS 5.2.6.3195
  • Network Setup (ie Single Port or Port Trunking): Single Port
  • If Disk related please also specify:
  • Drive Configuration: (ie SingleDrive, RAID0, JBOD, RAID1, RAID5, RAID6, RAID10) Single
  • Number of drives: 5 ( 3 external )
  • For each drive please provide:
  • Drive Manufacturer (ie Seagate, WD, Hitachi, etc) Seagate

I have 3 external storage devices which have been connected to my QNAP since I have the product. After the latest firmware update, I suddenly lost access to them via Windows 11. I had to reformat all of them and resync, which worked for 2-3 days and now all of a sudden I have lost access to the via windows. Its just the external drives, rest of the internal are fine

When I access them, it says you dont have permission. The same permisson for the same user are for other internal drives and no issue

I even tried to find via QFINDERPRO > Network Drives and same thing

2

Could you access the files through NAS web GUI? If yes you may need to file a ticket to let QNAP guys have a check.

3

Thanks, this is unrelated to Windows but more of a QNAP software thing, as it worked when I reverted back to the previous firmware

4

Uh, there’s no reason why you have to reformat your disks. I agree with @taoyouh12138 - Can you access the NAS through the Web GUI?

5

Its not accessing NAS via Web or seeing the files via File Mgr, issue is the shared folders of the external drive cannot be seen in Windows ( on the latest QNAP f.w ) but no issues with the older one.
Windows can see all shared folders of internal drives

6

If other methods work but Windows doesn’t, it looks like a QTS issue on SMB or permission issue.

If everything doesn’t work, maybe something caused a data corruption.

7

Data was same, permissons the same - only happened after update to newest /w, that too after few days and same after reformatting the drive.
Now on older f/w, will monitor if it stops again after few days or not

8

Could you please tell us what format you are using?

9

The format is EXT4

10

I am having the same issue after installing the latest firmware v5.2.6.3195 on my QNAP TS-451D. I have two external drives one formatted as EXT4 and the other NTFS and neither work. I have the same error in Windows 11 saying that I don’t have permission. Nothing has changed, the permissions are still the same. The only way I can access files on these drives at the moment is to copy file to/from the drives to a folder on the drives that I have setup within the QNAP. Its very frustrating.

11

I was thinking of downgrading to 5.2.5.3145 but concerned this may cause more issues and potential data loss? Anyone tried this between these two versions without any problems?

12

I was thinking of downgrading to 5.2.5.3145 but concerned this may cause more issues and potential data loss?

You should always have an active backup strategy so you do not have to worry.

13

I did that and no issues, I have backup too. Open a ticket and let them know another user has same issue

Ticket Number - Q-202508-33813

This was their last response
Thank you for clarifying. If you are suspecting that it is an issue with the firmware, please wait until the next firmware version is released. There was a rollback of QTS 5.2.6.3195 due to performance issues, but this unit should not have been on the list of affected models.

Are you using Seagate expansion units or Seagate drives? I am not seeing any other RAID except for the one on your main unit. If it is a Seagate expansion, please provide the exact model.

14

I logged an issue with QNAP support and eventually got it resolved after they remotely accessed by NAS twice. This is the solution that worked for me to resolve USB External drives. I had two drives one formatted as EXT4 and the other as NTFS and it worked for both as it relates to SMB permissions getting screwed up.

Telnet into your QNAP NAS using Putty or something similar - make sure you allow Telnet connections in Control Panel. Once logged in as a user in your admin group type the following:

Note: DRIVENAME is the name of your drive without quotes. eg. usbdrive

Sudo sh

/sbin/setcfg DRIVENAME "vfs objects" fruit -f /etc/config/smb.conf

sed -i 's/external\/\.nd\//external\//g' /etc/init.d/smb.sh

/etc/init.d/smb.sh restart

After running this command, Check “vfs objects” under DRIVENAME and it should be “fruit” only.

/sbin/getcfg DRIVENAME "vfs objects" -f /etc/config/smb.conf

Once that has been done you should be able to access the external drive now with no issues.

It worked for me, no issues

15

I spoke to soon. After a reboot today the permissions were lost again.
I had to repeat the steps to regain access.
If I unplug or lost power to a drive and then reconnected it was fine.
The permissions seem to be lost once the NAS was restarted.
I have now gone back to QNAP support to investigate further.
For the time being at least the steps above get it to work again (until the next restart)

16

Thanks for this, I followed your original post and fixed it and as u said, goes back to the same after reboot.

I actually found something similar on old QNAP forum about this same issue, so I went back to older f.w

I also opened a ticket with them so unsure why they are not taking this seriously.

Will wait for ur reply

17

Patience is a virtue.
I messaged QNAP support yesterday about an update to my case and today I was advised that QNAP have planned to fix this issue in their next firmware release v5.2.8 with an ETA for release on or around 11th November 25.
So keep an eye out for the release and release notes to confirm that it has been resolved.
Fingers crossed :slight_smile: