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Pawprintonheart's avatar
Dec 30, 2020

Nighthawk app will not recognize router after firmware update. Which failed?

Hello,
I received an email stating my router had a firmware update.
I signed into my Nighthawk app and began the firmware update. I assumed it was successful (?), but now my router will not show up.
I've tried rebooting it numerous times without success.
The power light slowly blinks and doesn't consistently stay on. I've tried every suggestion through the app and nothing!!
I was going to try and update the firmware again from my desktop (https://kb.netgear.com/000059633/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-TFTP-client), but I only have one spot to either connect to the Internet or use an ethernet.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thank you.

2 Replies

  • > I signed into my Nighthawk app and began the firmware update. [...]

     

       Using a wired connection from a computer with a web browser might be
    less failure-prone.

     

    > [...] I assumed it was successful (?), but now my router will not show
    > up. [...]

     

       "will not show up" _where_?  (This must be some new meaning for
    "successful".)

     

    > The power light slowly blinks and doesn't consistently stay on.

     

       That usually means that you need to use something like TFTP to load
    the firmware.

     

    > [...] I've tried every suggestion through the app and nothing!!

     

       That tells me nothing about what you did, or what happened when you
    did it.


    > [...] but I only have one spot to either connect to the Internet or
    > use an ethernet.

     

       Huh?  "one spot" _where_?  You lost me.  You need to connect a
    computer to a LAN Ethernet port on the mostly-dead router.  According to
    its User Manual, it has four of those.

     

       Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your model number, and look
    for Documentation.  Get the User Manual (at least).  Read.  Look for
    "Ethernet LAN ports"?

    • Pawprintonheart's avatar
      Pawprintonheart
      Aspirant

      1. "will not show up" _where_? (This must be some new meaning for
      "successful".)

      Answer: I assumed the update of my firmware was successful, but my router would not show up on the Nighthawk app (which is where I tried to do the firmware update) or under my wifi list of devices to connect to.

       

      2. > [...] I've tried every suggestion through the app and nothing!!

       

      That tells me nothing about what you did, or what happened when you
      did it.

      Answer: When using the Nighhawk app if it cannot find your router, it gives you suggestions to do to try and fix it.

      A.You can try setting up a "new system", which didn't work. Even after multiple times.

      B. Disconnect your VPN on your mobile device. That didn't work

      C. Turn off cellular date. That didn't work.

      D. You may be on the "guest network", but I am not.

      E. Device Connectivity. I was not connected to another router.

      F. Bridge Mode. I was never in "bridge mode" before .

      G. WiFi off. It is on.

      I tried all of the above suggestions and none of them worked.

       

      3.

      > [...] but I only have one spot to either connect to the Internet or
      > use an ethernet.

       

      Huh? "one spot" _where_? You lost me. You need to connect a
      computer to a LAN Ethernet port on the mostly-dead router. According to
      its User Manual, it has four of those.

       

      Answer: I'm sorry, I was refering to the back of my computer tower. I found a "Netgear Plus switch" and was able to hook it all together (computer, router and Internet).

       

      I have now tried this: https://kb.netgear.com/000059633/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-TFTP-client and I still couldn't get the update to load to the router correctly. I was successful at downloading the file to my computer and changing everything it told me to, settings, etc. ( what a job!!). Or, so at least I thought.

       

      I'm not sure what I should do next. I just really wish I never chose to update the firmware for my router!!! If I ever get this working again, I will not do it again.