NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
Can't restore router firmware after update failure
I tried updating my R6700v3 via the Nighthawk app, and the app displayed an update failed message. I walked over to the router and all the LED lights were on. I have a computer that has a wired conne...
Not sure I can offer much help other than..remove all cables from it, and power it up, after 5 minutes what do you see in terms of lights? Still just the Power LED flashing?
If so, sounds like the flash memory could be the culprit...not much that could be done if it's failing other than RMA ...
Router purchased in April 2020
Worked for 3 or 4 months.
Netgear alerted me via email that i needed to do a firmware upgrade. Included instructions on doing so via Nighthawk App.
I ran the suggested upgrade three times and got three failures.
Router went kaput - only power light showing. Evidently the Firmware is corrupted.
After several hours trying to fix by downloading firmware to computer and trying a TFP transfer. No luck. It's toast.
4 month old router is toast. Service ended at 3 months.
jallington59 wrote:Router purchased in April 2020
Worked for 3 or 4 months.
Netgear alerted me via email that i needed to do a firmware upgrade. Included instructions on doing so via Nighthawk App.
I ran the suggested upgrade three times and got three failures.
Router went kaput - only power light showing. Evidently the Firmware is corrupted.
After several hours trying to fix by downloading firmware to computer and trying a TFP transfer. No luck. It's toast.
4 month old router is toast. Service ended at 3 months.
Perhaps a glimmer of hope, but assuming you've exhausted all options, if you purchased it brand new from a authorized/legit retailer, you have a 1 year warranty (90 day tech support), so you should be able to get an RMA/replacement under warranty if it's failed.
Great advice. I will give it a shot.
jallington59 wrote:
Router went kaput - only power light showing.
Showing what?
Colour? (White/Green/Orange?)
State? (Steady/Flashing?)
These things matter.
jallington59 This was the first and last time that I use the Nighthawk app to update firmware on a router. After this experience, I am sticking with manual firmware loads from a PC. I own all three versions of the R6700. (I use the v2 as a wireless bridge and keep the v1 as a cold backup. It is what I am using now that the v3 is a brick.) I never had an issue with Netgear's firmware upgrades until I tried it through the app. The v2 has been going strong for 3 years and the v1 worked great for four years before it started requiring weekly reboots. (Though this may be due to a sudden growth in wireless devices in my house putting a bigger strain on the network.) This is why I replaced it with the v3. Hopefully, this issue with the v3 is one-time, and isn't indicative of quality issues with this version of the unit.
RocketDesigner wrote:
jallington59 This was the first and last time that I use the Nighthawk app to update firmware on a router.
Wise move.
While you are at it, disable any attempts to automatically update the firmware behind your back.
Netgear, and probably others, try to make life easier for users. In the process, they actually introduce what can be pitfalls when things do not go to plan.
Thank you for the advice and for the assurance that this is a known problem.
