Has anyone succeeded to downgrade from OS 5 to OS 3 ?
I found some downgrade thru SSH but not for My Cloud 1st gen Single bay.
Thanks
Huh? The first gen v3.x/v4.x single bay My Cloud IS NOT supported by OS5. Only the second gen v2.x single bay My Cloud is supported by OS5.
OS5 My Cloud
https://community.wd.com/c/os5/my-cloud-os5/257
Search through the OS5 subforums, there are several discussions on downgrading. Or if one has a second gen single bay My Cloud they can use any one of the unbrick methods to restore the OS3 v2.x firmware to their My Cloud. For example one could use user Fox_Exe’s method for recovering the OS3 firmware to a second gen My Cloud. One could bypass the initial section of the directions where one partitions and formats the hard drive and see if the rest of the directions will work.
https://fox-exe.ru/WDMyCloud/WDMyCloud-Gen2/_Unbricking_en.txt
It seems to be a gen 1 (CTL) and I get a OS 5 update.
The 1st step ask us to download the original firmware but I can’t remember if it was 2.xx or 4.xx .
Thanks Bennor. Really appreciate.
Not first gen. You have a second gen single bay My Cloud. A first gen has a P/N that ends with “-00”. The second gen, like yours, has a P/N that ends with “-10”.
1 Like
Hello Bennor,
I can see you are an expert on this topic. I did exactly the same issue what all the other guys did. I upgrade my firmware to OS5. Also I forget to check my firmware version before I upgrade. I installed this Twonky app and It does the same job on my old plasma tv " DLNA " but as I can see my CPU usage is 100%. I am not really happy with this.becasue I think this will kill my device. I tryed to talk to WD support and sorry to say but they are not the sharpest knife in the cupboard. So my question is: How can I identify what type of firmware I had earlier? Also How can I downgarde my device back to original? Also could you please write it down step by step? " I would not prefer to made a hard reset. I store a lot of data on my device "
Thank you for your support.
As the post immediately preceding yours indicates. A first gen single bay My Cloud has a P/N that ends with “-00”. The second Gen single bay My Cloud has a P/N that ends with “-10”. The first Gen single bay My Cloud does not support OS5. The second Gen single bay My Cloud either uses OS3 v2.x firmware or the OS5 v5.x firmware.
Downgrading is done at your own risk!!!
I do not have a second gen single bay My Cloud. If you have any further questions on the OS5 firmware see the dedicated OS5 My Cloud subforum. User Fox_exe has a set of directions, previously posted a few posts above, for unbricking a second gen. One can try to adapt those directions, for example skipping the sections on partitioning and formatting the hard drive (step 5), to restore the OS3 v2. X firmware. But again, proceed at you’re own risk. One can potentially loose user data or brick their My Cloud. Backup any user data before attempting to run any unbrick directions.
https://fox-exe.ru/WDMyCloud/WDMyCloud-Gen2/_Unbricking_en.txt
https://fox-exe.ru/WDMyCloud/WDMyCloud-Gen2/
https://fox-exe.ru/WDMyCloud/WDMyCloud-Gen2/usbrecovery.tar.gz
https://fox-exe.ru/WDMyCloud/WDMyCloud-Gen2/Developing/uImage-wdrecovery
https://fox-exe.ru/WDMyCloud/WDMyCloud-Gen2/Developing/uRamdisk-wdrecovery
The latest OS3 v2.x firmware can be downloaded from the WD Support link at top of page
If I do a hard reset it is restore the old OS?
No. A “hard reset” does not change the firmware version. It only resets the existing firmware settings to default values.
EDIT: Every time I reboot it. It’s like a first time boot… I have to figure out.
Hi guys !
Downgrade successful from OS 5 to OS 3 for My Cloud Gen2 4TB WDBCTL0040HWT - 10!
The first step that I recommend. BACKUP your DATA! I didn’t lost my files but it’s better to be safe.
I Used Fox_exe Steps with few modifications :
Step 1 :
- Download Firmware file from Fox_exe Archives
- Download WD recovery from Fox_exe Archives
Step 2 : - Use any USB Flash drive, format it to FAT32 (Important!)
Step 3 :
Unpack usbrecovery.tar.gz to this drive (You will get “boot” folder and 4 files inside)
Step 4:
Plug this USB drive to WD MyCloud, turn on power. Wait yellow-red (blinking) light. If it’s not blinking, Change the USB drive! My samsung flash drive won’t work! I used a generic 16gb 3.0 and it’s worked!
Step 5 :
Connect via Telnet (Search IP in your router, under DHCP section or Wired devices) exemple : connect 192.168.X.X
Step 6 :
Format HDD if need (I didn’t format my HDD)
Step 7 : write and confirm line by line :
parted /dev/sda
mklabel gpt
mkpart primary 1049kB 2149MB
mkpart primary 8591MB -1MB
mkpart primary 7517MB 8591MB
mkpart primary 2149MB 3222MB
mkpart primary 3222MB 4296MB
mkpart primary 4296MB 6443MB
mkpart primary 6443MB 7517MB
q
mkswap /dev/sda1
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda3
Step 8 : Install original WD recovery and reboot (Important!!! After the last Command reboot - f. Remove the Flash drive quickly or you will stuck on the recovery boot loop) :
mkdir -p /mnt/usb /mnt/root
mount /dev/sda3 /mnt/root
mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/usb
cp -r /mnt/usb/boot /mnt/root/
cd /mnt/root/boot
rm uImage uRamdisk
mv uImage-wdrecovery uImage
mv uRamdisk-wdrecovery uRamdisk
cd /
umount /mnt/root /mnt/usb
sync
reboot -f
Step 9 :
After reboot. Use your old IP address to access to WD Cloud. You will be prompted by Safe mode screen. Onw Use downloaded firmware (.bin file).
If the old IP won’t work. Check in your routeur if the IP changed again.
Voila!
Source : https://fox-exe.ru/WDMyCloud/WDMyCloud-Gen2/_Unbricking_en.txt
Thanks to Fox_exe and Big up to Bennor!
Hi There…
I once downgraded from an automated update. For some reason (most probably form original online tool) got the firmware updated again. I am trying to download a previous firmware but excluding the original I just could not download a previous firmware. How is it possible to downgrade it. As the latest firmware in place the mycloud is in nuts and coming in and going out again from network every 5-10 minutes by itself.
Help please…
If your My Cloud updated to the OS5 firmware then search through (using the forum search feature, magnifying glass icon upper right) the OS5 subforum (https://community.wd.com/c/os5/252) for various methods of how to downgrade an OS5 My Cloud back to an earlier v2.x firmware version.
The first thing to do after downgrading back to the v2.x firmware is to access the My Cloud Dashboard > Settings and disable the automatic firmware update option. By disabling that option it should prevent the My Cloud from auto updating to newer firmware.
How to upgrade this device by “bin” file?
Every place wants .deb file.
Try install this .bin file from ssh and have this error:
WDMyCloud:/DataVolume# /usr/local/sbin/updateFirmwareFromFile.sh WDMyCloud_5.13.115_prod.bin
updateFirmwareFromFile.sh:05/25/21 16:12:00:: ( WDMyCloud_5.13.115_prod.bin )
updateFirmwareFromFile.sh:05/25/21 16:12:00:upgrade start: WDMyCloud_5.13.115_prod.bin
updateFirmwareFromFile.sh:05/25/21 16:12:00:check_size=
dpkg-deb: error:WDMyCloud_5.13.115_prod.bin' is not a debian format archive dpkg-deb: error:WDMyCloud_5.13.115_prod.bin’ is not a debian format archive
updateFirmwareFromFile.sh:05/25/21 16:12:01:version_current=030401230
updateFirmwareFromFile.sh:05/25/21 16:12:01:version_newfile=
updateFirmwareFromFile.sh:05/25/21 16:12:01:package_newfile=
updateFirmwareFromFile.sh:05/25/21 16:12:01:master_package_name=sq
updateFirmwareFromFile.sh:05/25/21 16:12:01:master_package_new=
updateFirmwareFromFile.sh:05/25/21 16:12:01:update_container=
Error fw_update_status: failed 200 “invalid firmware package”
updateFirmwareFromFile.sh:05/25/21 16:12:01:failed 200 “invalid firmware package”
You cannot update a P/N: WDBCTLxxxxxxx- 00 v4.x single bay My Cloud (which uses .deb firmware) to use the v2.x or v5.x firmware (.bin firmware). The first generation single bay My Cloud is not supported by OS5. The first generation P/N: WDBCTLxxxxxxx- 00 v4.x firmware single bay My Cloud is End of Update.
WD Product Software Support Status
https://support-en.wd.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/28740
hmm. But if try this method?
https://fox-exe.ru/WDMyCloud/WDMyCloud-Gen2/_Unbricking_en.txt
Then I can install other firmware 
Good think?
Generally no. The second gen My Cloud uses different hardware which is one reason why the firmware is different.
Edit to add: Further anyone who wants to run OS5 on a second gen single bay My Cloud should spend some time reading the various complaints and issues many are having in the OS5 subforum. Some have downgraded back to OS3 v.2x firmware on their second gen single bay My Cloud.
Hi there again…
Actually the problem I am having is downoading the deb file of an earlier firmware.I just simply can not do that. The links in the forum only allow for the latest… earlier ones have no access error on them.
i.e: When I click to donwload the deb file in the first post of this thread
http://download.wdc.com/nas/sq-040500-320-20171027.deb
Then the page comes up with the following error
Error>
AccessDenied
Access Denied
1VREYST0XBJ7NHHE
eGCgWHn4bV3KB30aNuGPU7gR5ABTep1D7X2eTPCa0nu/eJU+6SkrFHkBuds+PhfwrsI82+p2FLc=
How can I download an earlier firmware deb file?
Thank you
Contact WD Support directly and ask them if they can send you the file. It appears WD is now blocking users from being able to download older versions of all the v3.x, v4.x and v2.x firmware files for the single bay/single drive My Cloud.
I’m considering downgrading my 1st gen my cloud nas from firmware 4 back to 3.
Would I be right in assuming that after downgrading I would be able to use any armhf binaries from the standard Debian repo?
It’s the only reason I would want to downgrade, for apps like openvpn.
Currently using a chrooted environment on firmware 4, the custom repo (anionix.ddns.net) doesn’t have all the software I would like.
Thanks for all the info in these threads guys.
Cheers:)) Thank you for the reply…
Hi again,
Just to let you guys know, I found a v4 firmware image on sourceforge.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/mbwescripts/files/MyCloud/
