Nucleus Rev A stuck on 'Welcome to GRUB!' after NVMe drive failure (ref#JQV0P3)

Support
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Hi! What’s not quite right with Roon?

· None of the above quite fits

None of the above quite fits

· None of these quite match

Tell us what's going on

· Roon Nucleus Rev A, unable to restore using ROCK after NVMe drive failure, "Welcome to GRUB!"

Tell us about your home network

· Vodafone Powerhub Router, Netgear WiFi Extender, tp-Link switch (Nucleus wired to switch)

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Hi, I’ve been following the Rock Install guide, have set up BIOS as recommended (have also tried disabling Intel features as recommended elsewhere). Have tried all of the USB ports for the install drive, have tried 3 different USB sticks, prepared using BalenaEtcher and RUFUS on both Windows and Linux Mint. Everything results in getting stuck on the GRUB message. I am completely out of ideas! Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks, Neil (a Roon newbie)

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Should also have added, the Nucleus now has a brand new 256GB Patriot NVMe drive installed. No SATA drive. I am able to install and run Windows and Linux Mint on the hardware, just not ROCK

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Hello @Neil_McKirdy,

Thank you for reaching out to Roon Support.

We would like to clarify an important technical point regarding Nucleus devices: you should not install a standard ROCK image on Nucleus hardware.

Because Nucleus devices are fanless, they require a specialized OS image designed for thermal management and a few other things.

Installing the regular ROCK image can lead to hardware issues.

To ensure your device is set up correctly, please follow these steps:

  1. Open a new ticket with Roon Support.
  2. Select the option: "I have a problem with Nucleus Hardware."
  3. In your message, specify that you have replaced the SSD and require the Nucleus OS flashing.
Thank you for your cooperation!
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Hi. I followed the instructions above. They take me to a page with a PDF advising I install ROCK; when I say I can’t it then takes me to a “Contact your dealer” message (I’m in the UK). Is that the outcome you were expecting?

Thanks

Neil

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I see that you have not yet had a reply from @alex_h, so pardon me for jumping in. Perhaps I can answer your question.

I think that @alex_h in his reply telling you not to install a standard ROCK image on your Nucleus Rev A was meaning that it is not intended as a permanent solution.

It is, however, a necessary step in the procedure for getting the Nucleus version of RoonOS flashed onto the new SSD. See this help article for details:

And as far as I am aware, the “contact your dealer” message you saw no longer applies for the Nucleus Rev A model - the dealer network for the original Nucleus models was dismantled some time ago, around the time that Harman International acquired Roon Labs.

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Hello @Neil_McKirdy ,

@Geoff_Coupe is correct here. While you can install ROCK on your Nucleus as an interim step to getting NucleusOS back up-and-running, it is not meant as a permanent solution due to the thermal management capabilities. You mentioned you made BIOS changes as well, have you disabled Secure Boot? Is the new SSD showing up at all in the BIOS settings? If there are any screenshots you can share of the BIOS settings, please provide those, as they may help.

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Hi @noris . Seems my problem was more severe than I thought. The NUC board itself will no longer POST. I’ve tried all the usual solutions - battery out, BIOS jumper, etc. - but it’s simply dead. A question, though: if I replace the board would it still qualify as a Roon Server, or would I be stuck at ROCK (assumiung I can get it to install :-D)?

Thanks, Neil

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While you are waiting an official position, fellow user commenting here, you shouldn’t use ROCK with that case because the ROCK OS relies on the Bios and fan to regulate temperature. The Nucleus version of the OS contains code to throttle processing to keep the system in the appropriate temp range; ROCK does not have this code.

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Thanks for that. I was wondering if putting the BIOS on it’s ‘Fanless’ setting would be sufficient, but I guess not :confused:

Regards, Neil

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Hey @Neil_McKirdy,

@Rugby is 100% correct in their above response. :folded_hands:

Certainly, let us know if you have any additional questions.

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Hi @benjamin, yes I did have an additional question - it was in my previous comment :slight_smile:

If I replace the failed motherboard and install ROCK, is the repaired computer still eligible as a ‘real’ Roon Server?

Thanks, Neil

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If I replace the failed motherboard and install ROCK, is the repaired computer still eligible as a ‘real’ Roon Server?

Hey @Neil_McKirdy,

The answer is yes (through the “flashing” process mentioned above), but you would need this process to be pre-approved by our RMA team. Would you please submit a request here?

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I’ll do that right now, thanks

Neil

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Done, and I’ll update this ticket when the Flash has happened. Thanks!

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That’s amazing, @Neil_McKirdy. Thank you for the submission. I can confirm it was successfully submitted and currently in review. Please, keep an eye on your inbox for a response :relieved_face: