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zatogo's avatar
zatogo
Aspirant
Oct 08, 2022

CAX 80... won't factory reset

Couple nights ago in the middle of the night, router/modem quit working.  I know this because I was streaming a white noise app via Alexa and it suddenly shut off.

 

I have tried factory resetting -- both via official documented way as well as some of the recommended ways on google (all involving the reset button) -- but it's not working.

 

At this time, I cannot access it via ethernet; it no longer gives out DHCP addresses; it still shows my original SSID name, but doesn't allow me to connect using my Wireless password nor via the factory default password.

 

 

5 Replies

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  • michaelkenward's avatar
    michaelkenward
    Guru - Experienced User

    zatogo wrote:

     

    I have tried factory resetting -- both via official documented way as well as some of the recommended ways on google (all involving the reset button) -- but it's not working.

     


    What happens when you press the reset button? Npp sign of action on the LEDs? How long did you press the button? Advice on that varies.

     

    Did the options you tried include this:

    • Press reset for 30 seconds
    • Keep pressing reset while removing power
    • Keep pressing reset for another 30 seconds while apply power

     



    At this time, I cannot access it via ethernet; it no longer gives out DHCP addresses; it still shows my original SSID name, but doesn't allow me to connect using my Wireless password nor via the factory default password.

     



    I assume that "it" is the router, but how are you trying to access it? The browser graphical user interface (GUI)?

     

    What do the LEDs on the CAX80 look like?

     

    While many questions about routers are generic and could be answered anywhere, some things need specialist knowledge.

    You might get more help, and find earlier questions and answers specific to your device, in the appropriate section for your hardware. That's probably here:

    Cable Modems & Routers

    You might like to search there for messages related to your problem.

    I will ask the Netgear moderator to move your message.

    In the meantime you could visit the support pages:

    Support | NETGEAR

    Feed in your model number and check the documentation for your hardware. Look at the label on the device for the model number.

    Check for various troubleshooting tips.

    You may have done this already. I can't tell from your message.

    I mention it because Netgear stopped supplying printed manuals and CD versions some years ago and people sometimes miss the downloads.

    • zatogo's avatar
      zatogo
      Aspirant

      Thank you all for your responses...

       

      To answer the questions:

      -  I did find an online manual and worked through the troubleshooting steps...to no success.

      -  I just tried again the process...hold reset for 30 seconds; pull power; wait 30 seconds; hold reset for 30 seconds and plug back in.  At the 7 second mark (even though I continued to hold down the reset button, it began the startup sequence).

      -  Whenever I hold the reset button down, at the 7 second mark, it always starts it's boot up (I know I'm still holding the reset button when boot up starts).  I've tired both releasing reset at restart and holding for the full 30 seconds but neither sets it back to factory default.

      -  Once boot up completes after holding the factory reset button, all the lights come on and my old SSID is still there.  

      -   I've gone through the reset process a number of times and oddly, sometimes the password for the wireless network stays the same and sometimes it changes to something that I can't figure out (not mine and not the factory default).

      -  At times when I am able to join the wireless network with my password, I don't seem to get full "communication" with router as it doesn't give my laptop an IP and if I hard set it to something like 192.168.1.10, with gateway of .1, I still can't get the browser gui to come up.

      - I plugged ethernet in to router and in to a desktop, it couldn't get an IP and when I hard set it, I still couldn't get the GUI to work.

       

      To me, it seems like the software/firmware is corrupted.

    • zatogo's avatar
      zatogo
      Aspirant

      Thanks for response...I was noticing when googling, that 7-8 seconds was sometimes the norm for holding reset button and was beginning to think that was the case for my modem since it seemed to start reboot in that time frame.

       

      Unfortunately, I'm coming up on 18 months for age of this unit so it's out of warranty...which makes this device even more expensive if that is all the life I get out of it.