No serial number (sticker gone) can't access admin to change wifi password from default

[rsum]

Have 2-year old Netgear C3700 (works great). Incoming cable got cut during yardwork (buried non-standard 1.5" below grass). Didn't realize cable was cut and decided to reset modem, which powered but couldn't communicate. Doing so allowed me to change the admin password, but did not allow me to change wifi name and password from default.

Later when cable service was restored, tried to access modem to change wifi name & password; got past user and password but it requested serial number. Turning unit over, the sticker was gone and it seems I didn't register it even though I have a netgear account and a support claim from 2019.

I don't want to leave the wifi name & password the default—everyone in the world will have that.

Is there any way to access the serial number from the router or am I S.O.L.?

Thanks.

[schumaku]

AFAIK each Netgear WiFi device like a router is preprogrammed with a dedicated SSID and wireless passphrase, this is retained following a factory reset ... it's all nicely documented and worth reading. 

"WiFi network key or password. Your modem router is preset with a unique WiFi
network name (SSID) and password for WiFi access. This information is on the modem
router label."

Defaults:

"SSID name: As shown on the modem router label
Security WPA/WPA2.
The default WPA/WPA2 passphrase is on the modem router label."

The C3700v1 does not require the input of questions and asnwers for the case of a forgotten password. The v2 variant does - if you fail to enter the password, you are asked to inut the recovery questions - if you fail, the serial number is asked.

I would simply factory reset the device again, wait for the sync with up- and downstream, and start with the default admin password for the login again ... on the initial login, you will be forced to change the password anyway. And then you can certainly continue cnd change the WiFi name/SSID and passphrase gain.

[rsum]

This worked! 

I had tried this 3 times before but it would seem I didn't wait long enough for the up and downstream sync, which must be why it wanted the serial number—it couldn't verify that I wasn't on the outside looking in.

Thank you!