AC1900 Firmware Issues

[JoeTheAverage]

I went to update the firmware on the router, but it failed. The router will no longer work. I have tried to connect directly to the router, but I could not gain access. The power light is blinking and the Wi-Fi radios are not broadcasting. I assume the update got corrupted. How do I install firmware on the router, if it is not responding?

Thank you,

Joe

[Razor512]

During the update was the router evermanually power cyclled?

If not, and the issue still remains with manual power cycling, what happens if you press the and hold the reset button while power cycling the router?

(if none of that works there are other steps that can be taken for recovery).

[JoeTheAverage]

Yes, it was powered off manually. I also tried the reset switch, but it did not do anything.

[JoeTheAverage]

I’m sorry, I misread your message. I have not tried manually powering cycling the router with the reset button pressed. I will do that and see if it does anything.

[JoeTheAverage]

I tried the powering the router off and on with the reset button pressed. Nothing changed. When the router powers up, the power light is blinking.

[Razor512]

In this case, if the router is no longer under warranty, do you have a USB to serial adapter?

https://www.myopenrouter.com/article/how-debrick-or-recover-netgear-r7000-r6300v2-or-r6250-wi-fi-rou... This link will give you the pinout for the serial header of the R7000.

https://www.myopenrouter.com/article/how-debrick-your-netgear-wnr3500l-using-usb-ttl-cable-windows This link will then show you how to use putty portable and tftp to manually flash the firmware.

PS on windows 10, you need to enable the tftp function

To do that,  simply do the following.

1. Press the Windows + R key
2. Type in (without the quote marks) "appwiz.cpl"
3. Click on "Turn windows features on and off"
4. Ckeck the box next to "TFTP Client"
5. Click on OK.

[antinode]

> [...] do you have a USB to serial adapter?

   Before exercising the nuclear option, you might first try
conventional heavy bombing.  See, for example:

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1622096#M102004

> PS on windows 10, you need to enable the tftp function

   To use the built-in TFTP client program, you do.  Or Windows 7, I
believe.  Does the serial-port scheme use TFTP?

[Razor512]

When it comes to the serial method, it is used to put the router in a mode that will accept the firmware being uploaded via TFTP. The TFTP transfer will be subsequently transferred over Ethernet.

Sometimes the router can automatically go into a TFTP mode after a failed update, in many cases it will not. If it went there automatically then it can be rather simple to fix as 90% of the work would already have been done for you.

[antinode]

> When it comes to the serial method, it is used to put the router in a
> mode that will accept the firmware being uploaded via TFTP. [...]

   Ok.  So, if the router might already be receptive to a TFTP
connection, as suggested by "The power light is blinking", then it makes
some sense (to me, at least) to try TFTP first, and then, if that fails,
think about dragging in the additional hardware and complexity of the
serial-port scheme as a last resort, not the first.

[michaelkenward]

---

@Razor512 wrote:

Sometimes the router can automatically go into a TFTP mode after a failed update, in many cases it will not. If it went there automatically then it can be rather simple to fix as 90% of the work would already have been done for you.

---

You can sometimes achieve this "recovery mode" with a more thorough reset:

• Press reset for 30 seconds
• Keep pressing reset while removing power
• Keep pressing reset for another 30 seconds while apply power

Then see if a standard firmware upload works. If not, maybe you can get straight in with TFTP. You never know. No harm in trying.

[JoeTheAverage]

I tried conventional bombing, but the router stubbornly did not surrender. It looks like I will have to try the nuclear option…

Thank you for your help and advice.

Joe

[antinode]

> I tried conventional bombing, but the router stubbornly did not
> surrender. [...]

   The TFTP recovery scheme is a multi-step procedure which offers
multiple opportunities for user input, hence user error.  By itself,
saying that you "tried" it doesn't say much.  Especially when using a
command-line program, copy+paste is your friend.

[JoeTheAverage]

My try was about 10 times on one day and additional 8 to 10 times on another day. I followed the instructions very closely.

I have not tried the other option yet, because I do not have the adaptor that I need. Because I have bought another router, I am not in a big hurry to get this one going again.

Once again, I thank you for your help and advice.

Joe