Trying to upgrade from OS 3 to OS 5

My Cloud OS 5 My Cloud Single Bay
1

Hi, i’m not very technical, but i’ve tried to look into this for a bit.

I have a WDBCTL0040HWT (4TB my cloud i picked up a few years ago) and according to the WD site and the images seen on the WD My Cloud site, it’s compatible with OS 5.

But when i download it, it says that i’ve downloaded a .Bin file and when i try to update manually through the dashboard it tells me that i need a .deb file.

Is there any other download link?

2

What is the current firmware version your My Cloud is running? One can access the My Cloud Dashboard to see the current firmware version.

How to access the Dashboard on a My Cloud device
https://support.wdc.com/knowledgebase/answer.aspx?ID=13965

First generation single bay My Cloud units running firmware v4.x are not supported by OS5 and cannot be upgraded/updated to OS5. First gen single bay My Cloud’s use “.deb” firmware files. Only the second generation v2.x firmware single bay My Cloud can be upgraded/updated to OS5. Second generation single bay My Cloud units use “.bin” firmware files.

For additional support for first gen single bay My Cloud units, see the OS3 My Cloud subforum.

OS3 My Cloud
http://community.wd.com/c/personal-cloud-storage/wd-my-cloud/105

3

the current firmware is WDMyCloud v04.05.00-342 and hasnt been updated since Tuesday, September 24, 2019 5:06:26 AM. (it says im the on the latest firmware).

How do i know if i have first or 2nd generation?

4

As my post indicated, first generation single bay My Cloud uses v4.x firmware. Because you are using firmware 04.05.00-342 that means you have a first generation single bay My Cloud. Your unit cannot be updated to use OS5 v5.x firmware. And the first gen single bay My Cloud unit cannot be updated to use the OS3 v2.x firmware used by the second generation single bay My Cloud.

Another way to check generation version for single bay My Cloud units is to look for the P/N number on the bottom of the unit. If that P/N number ends with “-00” then it is first gen. If that P/N ends in “-10” then it is second gen.

Specific questions or issues on your first gen v4.x firmware single bay My Cloud should be directed to the OS3 My Cloud subforum where v4.x firmware issues are discussed and where one can use the forum search feature (magnifying glass icon upper right) to find past discusstions related to any issues one may have with the first gen single bay My Cloud unit(s).

OS3 My Cloud
http://community.wd.com/c/personal-cloud-storage/wd-my-cloud/105

5

dont upgrade just yet. there’s tons of problems with os5.

6

They can’t upgrade anyway even if they wanted to. They are using a first gen v4.x single bay My Cloud which is not supported by OS5. The first gen single bay My Cloud is End of Support.

WD Product Software Support Status
https://support-en.wd.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/28740

So they are lucky they get to miss all the issues with OS5, but are saddled with all the issues that still exist with the OS3 v4.x firmware.

7

there is no way to upgrade to OS5 from OS3 ??
I have version : WDMyCloud v04.05.00-342 : Core F/W

8

No. The first gen v4.x single bay My Cloud does not support being updated to either v2.x firmware or the v5.x firmware. Why would one want to upgrade to OS5 with all its issues is the question. Take some time to read through all the various issues (mostly with indexing) the second gen single bay My Cloud users are having and reporting here and you’ll see why its wise to give pause to updating a second gen v2.x (OS3) single bay My Cloud to OS5 v5.x firmware. The first gen v4.x single bay My Cloud is End of Updates for some time now and will not be receiving any further firmware updates.

WD Product Software Support Status
https://support-en.wd.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/28740

My Cloud OS 5: Firmware Availability and Supported Devices
https://support-en.wd.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/29230

9

ok. I’m also interested in whether it will be possible to upgrade from old OS3 to OS5 at all? Are WD working on it? My Cloud
(fw 04.xx.xx-xxx) Can it be found here? I’d like to wait for the update … :smiley:

10

Let me be frank: the single bay my cloud hardware is inadequate for OS5.

They made it work for the gen2 units; but there have been many, many reported problems. (The indexing task basically bricks the unit)

Frankly; the current recommendation from me (for all WD units; not just my cloud)

  • stay on os3
  • disable cloud services
  • do not expose unit to internet (block access FROM THE ROUTER)
11

Did you not read the post directly above yours? The first gen v.4x single bay My Cloud will not be updated to OS5. The first gen cannot even be updated to the v2.x firmware which is a requriement to update to OS5 v5.x firmware. WD has stated the first gen v4.x single bay My Cloud is End of Updates. What does that mean? From the previously posted link it means this:

  • End of Updates - For product out of warranty and no longer manufactured in the last 4 years: end of software and technical support.

So you can wait as long as you want, unless something drastically changes at WD; the first gen single bay My Cloud won’t be receiving any future firmware update at all. Last firmware update was late 2019 for that device.

Further, why anyone would want to voluntarily update to OS5 on a single bay My Cloud unit is a mystery to some of us. One only has to spend just a few brief minutes reading the many posts made in a number of subforums by people having problems or losing features/apps after updating to OS5 to understand that its a mixed bag (at best) when updating to OS5 on those units with limited hardware (RAM/processor). Even on the more capable My Cloud units it’s a coin toss on having OS5 run issue free.

12

My apologies for a “WTF”/“i d i*o-t” question on here… can’t seem to find the answer anywhere on the web…

I bought a WD 3TB My Cloud Personal NAS back in 2016 and as much as I’m a novice with things like this, it worked fine. But for quite some time, I’ve not used it - building works in the house etc. Gone to use it today and it looks like I’m locked out due to it not having the OS updated to OS5. And it is a “-10” so should, I think, have been possible for it to be updated.

Does anyone know if there is any way to either:

a) update the OS to the correct level?

or

b) connect it up to something (newer my cloud?) to get the files off it?

Many thanks

13

If you have a single bay/single drive My Cloud who’s P/N number (on bottom of unit) ends with “-10” then it can be updated to OS5 firmware. You will need to access the My Cloud Dashboard then perform a firmware update. If you cannot access the My Cloud Dashboard due to forgotten login information, one can perform a 4 second reset to reset the administrator username and password. See the following WD Knowledgebase articles for more information.

Single-Bay My Cloud OS 3 Dashboard Access
Steps to Manually Update My Cloud OS 3 to My Cloud OS 5
My Cloud OS 3 Pin Reset and System Only Restore a Single Bay My Cloud Device

14

Hi Bennor

Thanks for the reply.

Can’t access it from the dashboard - tried the app and on a PC. Says “offline” and think this is because the OS isn’t updated. It is a single drive with a “-10”. Did try the 4 sec reset as I saw something that suggested that it would download the OS automatically (or did I misread that somewhere?).

I believe I’ve tried the links you’re suggesting already, but I’ll try again in case I’ve missed something obvious!

15

You use a web browser to access the My Cloud Dashboard from a computer or mobile device on the same local network as the My Cloud. For the single bay My Cloud you use either:
http://wdmycloud
Or
http://wdmycloud.local
Or the IP address of the My Cloud device.

Make sure the My Cloud is directly connected to the local network router.

Single-Bay My Cloud OS 3 Dashboard Access
Steps to Access My Cloud OS 5 Administrator Dashboard

In certain cases one may have to do a 40 second pin reset to clear certain settings.

16

Thanks for the follow up.

Do you know if the 40 sec reset wipes the data - obviously what I’m trying to avoid at all costs!

As the device was switched off for quite some time, it’s not showing on the local network - even though (I think) it’s plugged directly into a switch connected to the mesh I’ve got in place. Tried searching for the MAC but it’s not showing up - even tried an arp to set an IP address against the MAC but that didn’t seem to work.

Aarrgghh!!!

17

The link previously provided that details how to do a 4 second or 40 second reset explains which settings get reset. Both methods are not supposed to erase user data.

40 Second Reset (with Power Off)

A 40 second pin press will reset the:

  • Admin User Name (default = “admin”)
  • Admin Password (no default password)
  • Device Name (default = “WDMyCloud”)
  • SSH (Secure Shell) on Firmware 04.xx.xx-xxx, User Name and Password (default = “root” and “welc0me”)
  • SSH (Secure Shell) on Firmware 2.xx.xxx, User Name and Password (default = “root” no default password, new password enforced)
  • Remove all Users except Admin
  • All Share permissions (default = Public)
  • Automatic Firmware Update (default = off)
  • Network Mode (default = DHCP)
  • Remove all Alerts
  • mycloud.com account association (default = not configured)
  • Mobile app account association (default = not configured)
  • WD Sync association (default = not configured)
  • Backup jobs (default = not configured)
  • Safepoint jobs (default = not configured)

Connect the My Cloud directly to the router using Ethernet wire. Don’t connect it to mesh nodes, power line adapters, wifi extenders, etc. to start with.

What color is the front LED of the single bay My Cloud? Is it blue or some other color?

18

Miraculously… I’ve just had an email through to say that the OS has been updated!

I’ve now got access to my files again!!