Qnap TS-253A

[Enquiries]

Dear NAS Compares
I am experiencing random power off/on cycles and I initially thought it was the power supply so I purchased a new (same model as that came with the NAS when new). The power off/on cycle was so short at times that it even did a power off/on cycle before it had correctly booted up. I tried to run a memtest and it did about 2 passes but then it did a power off/on cycle and since then I cannot get memtest to work. I have since left the NAS for a week and then rebooted and did a factory reset (pressing the small button on the rear of the NAS) and then I did a complete re-installation and created new storage pools and volume. I am still experiencing power off/on cycles. The last time it did a power off/on I had to force a shutdown as NAS did not complete the boot before it did the power off/on. NAS will now come on and work, so I use it to update records and shut it down immediately but since the last power off/on cycle I now have bad blocks on a more or less brand new HDD

[ed]

Hi, and thanks for getting in touch. Given the symptoms you describe, this is almost certainly a hardware-level fault on the TS-253A rather than drives, RAM, PSU, or software. Repeated rapid power cycling that happens before the system finishes POST and continues even after replacing the external PSU usually points to one of three things:
1. A failing internal power regulation stage on the motherboard
2. A failing capacitor or VRM component
3. Corruption or instability in the onboard embedded controller

Once a QNAP begins power-cycling mid-boot like this, no amount of resets, reinstalls, or drive changes will stabilise it. The fact that memtest ran briefly and then crashed during the reboot loop is another strong indicator that the problem is occurring at a board or controller level.

The bad blocks on your new HDD are likely the result of repeated sudden power losses. They do not necessarily mean the drive is physically failing, but they will continue to accumulate if the NAS keeps shutting off unexpectedly.

Qnap support will give you the best guidance.