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Forum Discussion
R7800 Non-Responsive
I am having trouble accessing my R7000 Router.
We experienced a power failure and I turned off our DSL Modem/Router and R7000 Router and disconnected power. When the electricity came back on, ...
Thanks for the prompt reply FURRYe38.
First, I should note that we actually have a R7800, not a R7000.
The Firmware version was 1.0.2.90.
I have a suspicion as to what happened, but it doesn't explain why the 2.2 and 5 GHz signals were not broadcasting (and still do not).
The problem may have been a bad sequence of events that ultimately left the router with partial/corrupted firmware.
When the AT&T Modem/Router came back online, it misconfigured and yet would still access the internet. Unfortunately, when I factory reset the R7800, it defaulted to automatically update the firmware. The router was configured to not do this, as I prefer to check the firmware manually and if need be, download and upload. I was unaware that new firmware (v1.0.2.92) was posted, recently. So the unit started to update the firmware through the misconfigured AT&T Modem/Router. Unfortunately, it was only after I reset the R7800 and sat down with my tablet, that I received a prompt that something was wrong with the AT&T Modem/Router. By then, the damage was done.
Since the firmware was corrupted, I cannot access the R7800 menu via a browser. That an incomplete firmware update has "bricked" the router. Now it is lost in some incomplete process and will not stop.
This leads me to believe the only hope is to try and upload clean firmware via TFTP and a command line. My concern is that since the router is active the minute it is connected to a WAN port, will this approach work?
Regarding DMZ, this was second approach recommended by AT&T. There was no instructions regarding my specific Modem/Router. Found instructions for another model and assume the approach would basically be the same. Our AT&T Modem Router doesn't do "Bridge Mode" in the purest sense. Because I am not the best versed in Networking, I was hesitant to use this approach. Feared it would expose our Network to vulnerabilities beyond my comprehension or visibility. I just started using this approach with the AT&T Modem/Router, recently. Prior, I was using an old Netgear Modem/Router in Bridge Mode, but that model hadn't seen a firmware update in years (DM111PSPv2). I figured it as alright, because it was just acting as a Modem and the R7800 managed the rest.
Even connecting the R7800 to my old old Modem/Router in Bridge Mode doesn't help. Thought being that there should be no conflict that might be part of essentially running two two routers. I cannot access the Internet nor access the R7800 menu. As soon as I connect to a WAN port, the unit starts sending/receiving packets at about 1 per second. The Router will not stop communicating, which prevents accessing the menu. That or that the firmware is too corrupted to function, properly.
Once again, thanks for your assistance in the matter. If I can get the R7800 to work again, I will consider using the ISP provided equipment and the R7800 in DMZ. Not sure if I should just stick with the less complex approach of using the old Netgear Modem/Router in Bridge Mode and the R7800, combination?
Brownk wrote:
The problem may have been a bad sequence of events that ultimately left the router with partial/corrupted firmware.
This can happen, but rarely. When it does, people usually manage to manually update the firmware.
If the power LED is as expected, solid white, that would be a first move.
When the AT&T Modem/Router came back online, it misconfigured and yet would still access the internet. Unfortunately, when I factory reset the R7800, it defaulted to automatically update the firmware. ?
You can prevent that from happening by resetting the R7800 and keeping it of line as it goes through its wizardry. (You should also be able to stop that from happening in the first place.)
You can then manually update the firmware and set it up to prevent automated updates. (I also disable password recovery, which has its own "closed loop" gotcha.)
There are various other tricks, some of which I had to get into when testing the R7800 hardware for another purpose. But the first move should be to try the simplest and safest,
How do I manually upgrade firmware to my NETGEAR router? | Answer | NETGEAR Support
I cannot get the unit to do a complete factory reset. It clearly is partially resetting, because the unit has defaulted to the IP of 192.168.1.1, but the 2.2 And 5 GHz status lights remain dim even though the Wi-Fi light is on. A browser will not access the units menu. It immediately errors with cannot find the server or that the unit is busy. Whatever WAN port I use exhibits activity, immediately, without even opening a browser. Once I open a browser and try to access the units menu, to activity gets worse. Cannot get the unit to stop communicating; like it is stuck in a transmission loop, or something. That is why I felt the only hope was to try and access the unit via a command line (sans using a browser, altogether).
Once again for clarification. Unit will not do a complete factory reset and a browser will not access the units menu, because the unit is busy. Busy doing what? I have no idea. At least 1 packet a second and will not cease communicating.
I will try another “hard” reset. That being hold the reset for 30 seconds, unplug unit while still pressing reset for 30 seconds and while still continuing to hold the reset - reattach the
for power and wait for 30 seconds.
Brownk wrote:I will try another “hard” reset. That being hold the reset for 30 seconds, unplug unit while still pressing reset for 30 seconds and while still continuing to hold the reset - reattach the
for power and wait for 30 seconds.
That's worth trying.
It is not advised for newer routers. Doesn't work either.
Have you tried aiming TFTP at the thing?
How to upload firmware to a NETGEAR router using Windows TFTP | Answer | NETGEAR Support
You mention it earlier and are wise to look for simpler methods first. But there comes a time when you have to bit the bullet.
You are on your own when it comes to TFTP on Macs. They do seem to be more protective of users – blocking things that come naturally to Windows users – but I'm sure someone has worked out what to do.
DrayTek Firmware Recovery using Mac OS X TFTP Utility
Different kit, same approach.
If the R7800 isn't completely dead – no amber power LED – you may not need to jump through hoops to get TFTP to work.
...but the 2.2 And 5 GHz status lights remain dim even though the Wi-Fi light is on.
I assume that the SSID is not being broadcast.
Have you tried a different power adapter? Dim LEDs could be down to that.
Does the thing respond to the wifi on/off switch?
Some of your earlier comments don't make sense to me. Probably because I don't know enough to understand them. This bit for example:
The minute I connect an Ethernet cable, the port becomes active (flashing light) and data is being sent and received, immediately. I believe this is why I cannot access the router, because it is transmitting data.
I can't see how "transmitting date" would deny you access. That's how routers work.
If transmitting data was an issue, you would never be able to access the router or get it to update the firmware automatically. These are "synchronous" operations. The router happily does its thing and doesn't get in your way until the firmware is written and the router decides to reboot itself. Until then it is business as usual.
My R7800 updated itself yesterday (to R7800-V1.0.2.92). I decided to allow the on-board update for fun's sake. No problem.
Alright, I performed another “hard” reset.
After the reset, the unit only would produce one white power light.
I hooked up WAN1 on the R7800 to WAN1 on the AT&T Modem/Router and this produced an orange light on the R7800 WAN1. The AT&T Modem/Router showed a connection on WAN1 and slight activity, but when accessing its menu, the unit wasn’t represented.
I then connected the Computer to the R7800 WAN2 and received a white flashing light. Activity had slowed on this port, but I still not access the menu, because the unit was busy. The unit was clearly connected to the AT&T Modem/Router, because I could see its IP via Network settings.
I then hooked the Computer up to the AT&T Modem/Router at WAN2 and could see that the the Computer was attached via the menu, but that R7800 was not, even though unit was clearly attached to WAN1 via the activity lights?
I then, again, attached the R7800 to the old Netgear Modem/Router in Bridge Mode and still could not access the R7800 menu. Naturally, I couldn’t get online, because the R7800 has no login data.
So again, the R7800 has been reset and has no configuration data and I cannot access the menu.
Truly confused by the situation. I figure the only hope is to try TFTP, but wanted to try all other solutions, prior.
I found the following and figured I would do as it instructed
I have not seen the 2.2 and 5 GHz lights illuminate since the power outage. The Wi-Fi light would illuminate, but since the last hard reset, It has not. Although, I didn’t try holding the button down to invoke it.