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Forum Discussion

stefaanbolle's avatar
stefaanbolle
Guide
Dec 19, 2017
Solved

Firmware is invalid.

I cannot upload a new firmware or perform a web update. I always receive Firmware is invalid (update via Genie) or This firmware file is incorrect! Please get the firmware file again and make sure i...
Firmware
Troubleshooting
  • stefaanbolle's avatar
    stefaanbolle
    Dec 24, 2017

    Hi,

    A TFTP firmware upgrade did the trick. I did not succeed with the instructions posted in your link to the Netgear kb, however I googled somewhat and found below tool which did the trick.

    Thanks!

     

    Netgerar firware recovery tool (all credits go to the creator!): https://github.com/jclehner/nmrpflash/releases

stefaanbolle's avatar
stefaanbolle
Guide
Dec 20, 2017

I just want to update my running firmware (V1.0.9.12_1.2.23) to the latest version (1.0.9.18_1.2.27) on my R7000. Quite a simple process normally and I have a lot of experience with routers and networks.

However when updating by downloading the file from netgear and uploading it via the router update firmware screen I always receive the error This firmware file is incorrect! Please get the firmware file again and make sure it is the correct firmware for this product. Also with any other firmware version for the R7000.

When trying to update via the link "A router firmware upgrade is available" I always get Firmware is Invalid

I tried updating the router via Win10 and MAcbook systems with all available browsers on the market. I also performed factory restes before trying the update, but all resulting in above errors.

So why is the router refusing the firmware that it self downloads or that you upload via a downloaded version from Netgear servers.

My first thought was browser incompatibility, but I tried them all (all latest versions of the browsers mentioned above)

 

antinode's avatar
antinode
Guru
Dec 20, 2017

>    What, exactly, did you download?  Which "This firmware file" are you
> specifying?  Did you read the "Release Notes" which are provided with
> the firmware kit?

   All still mysteries.  These files have names, and "the file from
netgear" conveys no useful information.

> [...] why is the router refusing the firmware that it self downloads
> or that you upload via a downloaded version from Netgear servers.

   Also still a mystery, but that may be because I still have no idea
what you downloaded, or what you're trying to load into the router, or
whether you're following the instructions which come in the firmware
kit.

> My first thought was browser incompatibility, [...]

   Browser incompatibility is unlikely to be the problem.

  • stefaanbolle's avatar
    stefaanbolle
    Guide
    Dec 20, 2017

    I downoaded http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/R7000/R7000-V1.0.9.18_1.2.27.zip and also some versions before.

    Unzipped the file and uploaded the chk file from the zip. Not much rocket science in here.

    Read the release notes, pretty simple and easy read.

     

    Really, I know how to download firmwares, unzip them, update routers (even many other brands than Netgear),...

    Please skip these steps in the troubleshooting.

    I am looking for someone who can give a clue why every firmware chk file from the Netgerar R7000 downloads gives above errors. I yesterday also tried with a factory-to-dd-wrt image, resulting in the same problem. The Genie web page accepts no firmware file, not even the one it downloads itself.

     

     

    • antinode's avatar
      antinode
      Guru
      Dec 20, 2017

      > [...] Unzipped the file and uploaded the chk file from the zip. [...]

         It's normally hard to get a corrupt file (without a complaint) from a
      zip archive, and even harder from multiple zip archives.  If the router
      rejects Netgear firmware files and third-party firmware files, then it
      seems more likely that the router's little brain has been scrambled than
      that all the firmware files in the world are corrupt.

         If the web-interface load procedure fails, then you might try using
      the (last-ditch) TFTP scheme, which might take a different enough path
      through the software to give a different result.  It's also possible
      that the router has a hardware problem (bad NVRAM).  I've never tried

      it, so I know nothing, but:

            https://kb.netgear.com/22688/

      > Really, I know how to [...]

         Apparently so.  Now.

         Few people who post questions here begin with anything like, "I made
      the following errors..."  Assuming (without evidence) that anyone
      actually knows anything usually leads to much wasted time.  In contrast,
      providing accurate, detailed information normally saves everyone's time
      and effort.

         Why did you decide to do this update?  Actual problem, general
      principle, ...?

      • stefaanbolle's avatar
        stefaanbolle
        Guide
        Dec 21, 2017

        Thanks!

        I always update to the latest ersion, especially if mentioned security fixes.

        I will try the tftp path tonight