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Forum Discussion
uniquetukie
Jan 18, 2020Aspirant
RBR20 Solid Magenta LED, no help!
Hi all, I recently ran into a situation where my Orbi RBR20 will not connect. Since about November, I've been chatting on and off with Support and this is what's happened: First the problem was b...
uniquetukie
Jan 18, 2020Aspirant
Thank you for your reply. For some reason I can't do a factory reset that is really a factory reset. The name of the network stays the same. I tried the extreme hard reset, of pressing the reset button while I plugged and unplugged the modem and router, then plugging them back in while still pressing reset. The power button turned red, so I pressed it on. It turned green and the LED cycle went blinking white to solid white and then to solid magenta. The name of the old internet connection showed up, along with Netgear64 and Netgear44 (neither of which I can access with any combination of old password or original factory creds. It's baffling. 😣🤬
CrimpOn
Jan 18, 2020Guru - Experienced User
An Orbi that will not "factory reset" would seem to be defective and eligible for replacement by Netgear.
Just to make sure, sticking (the end of) a paperclip into the tiny reset hole next to the power plug and holding it in until the power LED turns amber, and then begins to blink (can take a lot longer than expected). (1) doesn't happen. it never turns amber, or never begins to blink, or (2) goes through this sequence, but the router does does not come up with the WiFi name printed on the label on the bottom? (Everyone who has posted has mentioned a WiFi name that starts with "ORBI", then two digits.)
There are Netgear routers with the default WiFi name "Netgearxx". Those two may be neighbors of yours who have never bothered to change their network name. Many customers just plug something in and use the credentials printed on the bottom and never realize that they are able to change them.
Depending on how desparate you are, you could try flashing the software using TFTP, which requires a computer wired to the Orbi ethernet port: https://kb.netgear.com/000059634/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-Windows-TFTP
- uniquetukieJan 18, 2020AspirantI'm so grateful for the help I'm reviewing here. I've tried connecting directly to the router, but the screen says No Internet and that's as far as I can get. That solid magenta light will NOT go away. Do you know how I could get someone from Netgear to actually see this post?