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R7000 can't downgrade / upgrade firmware
I've recently purchased a new R7000 which came with firmware V1.0.9.64_10.2.64 installed. When trying to update my router with any .chk file ( previous minor for example ), through the web interface,...
I have a new R8000 and was getting the same error message when trying to flash other non-Netgear firmware. It seems that Netgear has put in some protection to keep people from downgrading to older firmware. The first chunk of the fireware file contains a header with the version number. When flashing, the version of the file you're trying to flash is compared with what is already running on the router. If the version number is lower than what is running you get the errror.
There are work arounds but you need to search the forums of the various open source firmware groups and be comfortable either using a serial cable hooked to the system board, or building a custom version of the firmware. It's easy to brick your router if you're wrong. Happy hunting.
If you really have an R7000, and you're really trying correctly to
load some proper R7000 ".chk" file, and the router rejects it, then I'd
guess that the firmware is corrupt, and can't distinguish good from bad.
I'd try the TFTP recovery scheme. See, for example:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1622096
Complaints about the ".64" and ".60" versions seem to have been
pretty common. Try ".42" (once you get anything to load)?
> [...] What does this error signify ?
I don't know. "-1" is a pretty generic failure indication.
Does it actually say "compatiable", or was that your enhancement?
I have a new R8000 and was getting the same error message when trying to flash other non-Netgear firmware. It seems that Netgear has put in some protection to keep people from downgrading to older firmware. The first chunk of the fireware file contains a header with the version number. When flashing, the version of the file you're trying to flash is compared with what is already running on the router. If the version number is lower than what is running you get the errror.
There are work arounds but you need to search the forums of the various open source firmware groups and be comfortable either using a serial cable hooked to the system board, or building a custom version of the firmware. It's easy to brick your router if you're wrong. Happy hunting.
What rwrjr said did come to mind, but unless the router was purchased previously, upgraded and returned, I still find it unlikely you could get a new router with 1.0.9.64. Again, it's possible.
What antinode said is also a possibility, but getting this type of error from a brand new router would make me question its long term reliability in the first place. So if it were me, I'd exchange it on principle. If I couldn't fix it in 5 min, I'd grab another one. Don't care why, don't need to know. Just want a working product.
As I said, brand new router, purchased last week.
The bootloader does seem to check the version number of the image is less than the current image, and rejects the image as rwrjr mentioned.
For those who in have this problem, I was able to find a working customized image online
Following that, you can move to whichever version works best for you.
