Cannot delete vlan.dat or any other files in the flash directory 3650

[brianw360]

I'm thinking that I have a corrupt IOS.  But if I can't copy an new IOS from USB to flash, I probably will not have any better luck with hyperterm.  Is the switch just worthless??

switch:

switch: dir flash:
Directory of flash:/

2 -rwx 2002 <date> config.text
3 -rwx 2356 <date> vlan.dat
4 -rwx 8188 <date> config.old
5 -rwx 10353 <date> config.od
6 -rwx 1938 <date> private-config.text
7 drwx 512 <date> c3560c405ex-universalk9-mz.122-55.EX 2
450 -rwx 3096 <date> multiple-fs

40358400 bytes available (17573376 bytes used)

switch: del vlan.dat
Are you sure you want to delete "vlan.dat" (y/n)?y
File "vlan.dat" not deleted -- no such device

switch: del config.old
Are you sure you want to delete "config.old" (y/n)?y
File "config.old" not deleted -- no such device

switch: load_helper
Unknown cmd: load_helper

switch: dir

usbflash0: contains unexpected values in partition table or boot sector.
Device needs formatting before use!

****formatted a USB drive using the Cisco switch*****

switch: format usbflash0:
Are you sure you want to format "usbflash0:" (all data will be lost) (y/n)?y

Primary Partition created...Size ? MB

Drive communication & 1st Sector Write OK...

Signature not found in boot sector
Invalid number of data sectors: 30719937
Format: All system sectors written. OK...

Format: Total sectors in formatted partition: 5554144
Format: Total bytes in formatted partition: -1451245568
Format: Operation completed successfully.
Filesystem "usbflash0:" formatted

switch:

switch: dir

List of filesystems currently registered:

bs[0]: (read-only)
flash[6]: (read-write)
xmodem[7]: (read-only)
null[8]: (read-write)
usbflash0[9]: (read-write)

switch: copy usbflash0:c3560cx-universalk9-mz.152-7.E1.bin flash:
flash:: no such file or directory

List of filesystems currently registered:

bs[0]: (read-only)
flash[6]: (read-write)
xmodem[7]: (read-only)
null[8]: (read-write)
usbflash0[9]: (read-write)

switch: dir usbflash0
unable to stat usbflash0/: no such device

switch: dir flash0:
unable to stat flash0:/: no such device

switch: dir usbflash0:
unable to stat usbflash0:/: unknown error

switch: copy usbflash0:c3560cx-universalk9-mz.152-7.E1.bin flash:
usbflash0:c3560cx-universalk9-mz.152-7.E1.bin: unknown error

switch: dir

[marce1000]

  - Try fsck flash0:

 M.

[brianw360]

Thanks for replying Marce1000, the fsck didn't really state anything useful. I posted the results below.

switch: dir flash:
Directory of flash:/

2 -rwx 14043264 <date> c3560c405ex-universalk9-mz.122-55.EX 2.bin
3 -rwx 4122 <date> private-config.text
4 -rwx 796 <date> vlan.dat
5 -rwx 7193 <date> config.text
6 -rwx 2072 <date> multiple-fs
7 drwx 512 <date> c3560c405ex-universalk9-mz.122-55.EX 2

40374272 bytes available (17557504 bytes used)

switch: dir flash:
Unknown cmd: dir

switch: dir flash:
Directory of flash:/

2 -rwx 14043264 <date> c3560c405ex-universalk9-mz.122-55.EX2.bin
3 -rwx 4122 <date> private-config.text
4 -rwx 796 <date> vlan.dat
5 -rwx 7193 <date> config.text
6 -rwx 2072 <date> multiple-fs
7 drwx 512 <date> c3560c405ex-universalk9-mz.122-55.EX2

40374272 bytes available (17557504 bytes used)

switch: del c3560c405ex-universalk9-mz.122-55.EX2
Are you sure you want to delete "c3560c405ex-universalk9-mz.122-55.EX2" (y/n)?y
File "c3560c405ex-universalk9-mz.122-55.EX2" not deleted -- no such device

switch: fsck flash:
Are you sure you want to fsck "flash:" (could take some time) (y/n)?y
mifs[6]: 439 files, 8 directories
mifs[6]: Total bytes : 57931776
mifs[6]: Bytes used : 17557504
mifs[6]: Bytes available : 40374272
mifs[6]: mifs fsck took 1 seconds.

switch: del vlan.dat
Are you sure you want to delete "vlan.dat" (y/n)?y
File "vlan.dat" not deleted -- no such device

switch: erase startup-config
Unknown cmd: erase

switch: del confit.text
Are you sure you want to delete "confit.text" (y/n)?y
File "confit.text" not deleted -- no such device

switch: del private-config.text
Are you sure you want to delete "private-config.text" (y/n)?y
File "private-config.text" not deleted -- no such device

switch:

[pman]

Hi,

erase startup-config
delete flash:vlan.dat
Reload

[brianw360]

You were assuming that I could log in to the switch.  None of the data in the query reflected that I was in the priv exec mode.

[brianw360]

So I learned through trial and error that if you are in the SWITCH: mode, to delete files the statement must be written like this:

switch:  del flash: vlan.dat 

DUH moment.

[Siren]

3850 switch does not use the delete flash:config.text or delete flash:vlan.dat like the earlier/simpler IOS does to erase the switch configuration and password. Instead the configuration and password are bypassed in switch: mode with the command SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG=1

switch:SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG=1

switch:reset

As Leo Laohoo points out in other posts

1. Power down the switch. 
2. Hold the Mode button. 
3. Keep holding the button and apply power. 
4. Keep holding down the Mode button for another 45 seconds and then release
5. See if the console goes to ROMMON or not. 
6. If in console, enter this command:  SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG=1
7. Reload the switch (use the power cable). 
8. Go to enable mode and enter the following command:  factory-reset all

WARNING:  This command will delete everything in the flash, including the IOS.