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Forum Discussion
R7960P firmware not upgrading
I have attempted multiple times to upgrade my current firmware, V1.4.1.44_1.3.5, to V1.4.1.50_1.3.10 and it fails. I have tried letting the router update itself and also downloading upgrade zip file ...
We are working on a fix for this issue but a workaround is trying to load the new firmware via TFTP I linked how to do this below.
https://kb.netgear.com/000059633/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-TFTP-client
DarrenM
DarrenM wrote:
We are working on a fix for this issue but a workaround is trying to load the new firmware via TFTP I linked how to do this below.https://kb.netgear.com/000059633/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-TFTP-client
DarrenM
Darren,
I see the hot fix available on your support web site:
"https://www.netgear.com/support/download/"
Firmware Version 1.4.1.56 - Hot Fix
Is there a reason that this won't upload using the Netgear Admin "Router Update - Browse" function (using a wired connection, of course)?
Does this hot fix need to be applied ONLY via your Tftpd64 software? The release notes don't indicate that Tftpd64 is required, and Tftpd64 is a whole lot more complicated, with many steps for regular users to navigate. Tftpd64 seems like an unnecessary stumblinig block.
DarrenMBest way to update is manual. PC/MAC Ethernet connected to the router. Download the firmware. You can get the firmware and user manual from this site.
https://www.netgear.com/support/
Normally there is a howto included in the downloaded firmware zip file. The zip file needs to be expanded to use.
Hot fixes are not normally available from the router update process.
- You didn’t read my entire post. I did try to “manually” update the firmware, still didn’t work
- I tried the TFTP method. It wouldn't work for me, even after I factory reset the router and a clean install of windows.
The router never initiates the upgrade. It's almost like the user does not have access to write in that partition. Hard denial and reboot so you cant access the logs or any elevated privilege. DarrenM
Have YOU actually tested this firmware hot patch on an R7960P router? Has anyone at Netgear ACTUALLY tested this firmware patch on a R7900 or R7960P router?
If your techs are experiencing inconsistent test results, i.e. it works for some R7960P routers, but not others, or not every time, I'd like to offer my router as a sample of one that DOES NOT accept Netgear's firmware patches. I am a technical professional, and can work with your tech's to execute tests. We can either set up a second, parrellel router and configure my problem R7960P in a separate subnet, to conduct repetitive tests. Once we have a solution, I'll even write the tech note to document the solution for users.
This has gone on for over four months, and it's well past time for Netgear to solve this problem.
My contact information is available in my profile.
DarrenM wrote:We are working on a fix for this issue but a workaround is trying to load the new firmware via TFTP I linked how to do this below.
https://kb.netgear.com/000059633/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-TFTP-client
DarrenM
Sure would have been nice if this had been thoroughly tested before putting a bunch of people through the pain of taking everything off the network and going through the motions because everything STOPPED working at the point where you said Un-Plug the router. When I unplugged the router my tftp Server Interface immediately changed to Loopback Local host so when I clicked on PUT, it was PUTTING to the Local Host address. Then the Orange light that supposed to come on solid then start flashing, NEVER started flashing, it went straight to bringing the whole router up. So there was never a time when I could get the TFTP even act like it was working. How can Netgear have a problem firmware for several months and NEVER even ackowledge that it has a problem, and NEVER takes the time to inform their customer's of ANYTHING. I believe that DarrenM was suckered into posting this crap online just to stop the complaints. The last Netgear Router I will ever purchase. The range on this router was only slightly better than a 7 year old router I was using before this one.
Yeah, it toggles to the loopback and you have to force it back quickly.
All efforts are worthless though... I tried it like a dozen times at various times with a continous ping going and know connection between tftp and router were fine. I had the same issue with the power light. Super annoying we are following a doc that isn't accurate for our model.
Did you buy from Costco? Just take it back.. which is super annoying, having the whole household down while you have to deal with it at the store.
For how much time we are spending on this, I think Netgear should be giving us a $50 or $100 credit or something.
Well, we may all be talking about different routers with similar problems (i.e. not upgrading to the "latest" March 2020 firmware version). I've seen references to the R8000, and others.
Taking this back to Costco is not that simple. I purchased this unit on sale (R7960R/Nighthawk® X6S AC3600 Tri-Band WiFi Router) last January for about $150.00. I can't replace it with anything nearly as fast, or with the same range, unless I go to a $250 to $400 unit. Costco is out of anything comparable, but is currently selling Netgear's their DUAL band AC1900 router for $179, and most other units are out of stock (e.g. TP-Link). Amazon's prices aren't much different ($230.00 for this unit).
Bottom line, my unit works fine, as long as no one hacks it because it lacks security patches, and I'm not willing to ante up $100-$150 more to get the same performance. I too, am probably using my last Netgear product of any kind, but for now, returning it is out of the question.
(My guess is that supply chain disruptions between China and the USA are causing router shortages, and scarcity is raising prices. This may also be why we're receiving no support for Netgear's products, if most of their higher level of technical support is China based, or if the China-US corporate support links are "damaged".)
For now, I'm holding pat, and keeping the firewalls on my individual network devices tight. (If all else fails, I could hook up an old server configured as a primary firewall, but I don't really want to go through the setup and maintenance hassle. That's why I buy a router like the R7960p.)
