NAS inaccessible

My NAS has been running continuously for about 10 years but yesterday it became inaccessible from either File Explorer or a browser, yet the router is still seeing it fine with its usual IP. I've set up a temporary workaround using a spare HDD plugged into the router but really need some way to access the NAS and recover stuff. I've read that you can connect an NAS directly to a computer by giving both computer and NAS an IP in the same subnet range but as I can't access the NAS at all I can't see any way of doing so. It wouldn't be the first time I've missed something obvious, so hopefully I have this time too?

I have both Win 11 Pro and Win 10 Pro computers available to try any fixes.

Are you per chance running an insider build? This was announced recently but it 's supposed to apply only to Home version. SMB1 now disabled by default for Windows 11 Home Insiders builds

Also, here is another thread of a user reporting a similar problem a few days ago. You might read through it to see if it applies to you.

There is a possibility the drive has failed.

fixer said:

My NAS has been running continuously for about 10 years but yesterday it became inaccessible from either File Explorer or a browser,

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After 10 years are you sure there's no hardware issues. Have you checked? Just something to think about considering it was working fine and all of a sudden quit.

It might well be a hardware failure but how would I check? The NAS is an old Buffalo Linkstation with it's own operating system, Linux based I guess. I have tried it on different computers, both 10 and 11, but none can connect to it but the router still sees it.

fixer said:

It might well be a hardware failure but how would I check? The NAS is an old Buffalo Linkstation with it's own operating system, Linux based I guess. I have tried it on different computers, both 10 and 11, but none can connect to it but the router still sees it.

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"If" you can access it from the net (doubtful), perhaps the OS may have some diagnostic tools to run?

Also, Is it possible to remove the drive(s) and plug them into a PC? If the drive9s) can be seen then, you know it isn't the drive.

And though the router may see it, it's probably because of the NAS' OS and hardware; the drive(s) on the other hand may be bad or dead, and why Windows can't see them. But that's just a guess.

Also, have you checked online to see if the vendor is still around? Perhaps they have some diagnostic tools?

I have completely removed it and am able to continue maintaining its basic functions using a network attached HDD. Not too happy about it being on 24/7 but that's all I can do at present. With the pressure off I can now look into taking the hardware apart to see what may be possible and checking what Buffalo may be able to provide. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll update you if anything of wider interest comes up.