Orbi WiFi 7 RBE973
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Re: Firmware is invalid.

stefaanbolle
Guide

Firmware is invalid.

I cannot upload a new firmware or perform a web update.

I always receive Firmware is invalid (update via Genie) or This firmware file is incorrect! Please get the firmware file again and make sure it is the correct firmware for this product. (using FW upload). Anyone who can help me update my router. by the way I tried this using IE en Edgen on Win10 PC, Safari on Mac and Firefox and Chrome on Mac.

All resulting in the same issue.

I also performed several factory resets already.

very frustrating and very anoying.

Thanks for your help!

Model: R7000|Nighthawk AC1900 Dual Band WiFi Router
Message 1 of 8

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stefaanbolle
Guide

Re: Firmware is invalid.

Hi,

A TFTP firmware upgrade did the trick. I did not succeed with the instructions posted in your link to the Netgear kb, however I googled somewhat and found below tool which did the trick.

Thanks!

 

Netgerar firware recovery tool (all credits go to the creator!): https://github.com/jclehner/nmrpflash/releases

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Message 8 of 8

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antinode
Guru

Re: Firmware is invalid.

> I cannot upload a new firmware or perform a web update.

   "I cannot" is not a useful useful problem description.  It does not
say what you did.  As usual, showing actual actions with their actual
results (error messages, ...) can be more helpful than vague
descriptions or interpretations.

> [...] This firmware file is incorrect! [...]

   What, exactly, did you download?  Which "This firmware file" are you
specifying?  Did you read the "Release Notes" which are provided with
the firmware kit?

Message 2 of 8
stefaanbolle
Guide

Re: Firmware is invalid.

I just want to update my running firmware (V1.0.9.12_1.2.23) to the latest version (1.0.9.18_1.2.27) on my R7000. Quite a simple process normally and I have a lot of experience with routers and networks.

However when updating by downloading the file from netgear and uploading it via the router update firmware screen I always receive the error This firmware file is incorrect! Please get the firmware file again and make sure it is the correct firmware for this product. Also with any other firmware version for the R7000.

When trying to update via the link "A router firmware upgrade is available" I always get Firmware is Invalid

I tried updating the router via Win10 and MAcbook systems with all available browsers on the market. I also performed factory restes before trying the update, but all resulting in above errors.

So why is the router refusing the firmware that it self downloads or that you upload via a downloaded version from Netgear servers.

My first thought was browser incompatibility, but I tried them all (all latest versions of the browsers mentioned above)

 

Message 3 of 8
antinode
Guru

Re: Firmware is invalid.

>    What, exactly, did you download?  Which "This firmware file" are you
> specifying?  Did you read the "Release Notes" which are provided with
> the firmware kit?

   All still mysteries.  These files have names, and "the file from
netgear" conveys no useful information.

> [...] why is the router refusing the firmware that it self downloads
> or that you upload via a downloaded version from Netgear servers.

   Also still a mystery, but that may be because I still have no idea
what you downloaded, or what you're trying to load into the router, or
whether you're following the instructions which come in the firmware
kit.

> My first thought was browser incompatibility, [...]

   Browser incompatibility is unlikely to be the problem.

Message 4 of 8
stefaanbolle
Guide

Re: Firmware is invalid.

I downoaded http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/R7000/R7000-V1.0.9.18_1.2.27.zip and also some versions before.

Unzipped the file and uploaded the chk file from the zip. Not much rocket science in here.

Read the release notes, pretty simple and easy read.

 

Really, I know how to download firmwares, unzip them, update routers (even many other brands than Netgear),...

Please skip these steps in the troubleshooting.

I am looking for someone who can give a clue why every firmware chk file from the Netgerar R7000 downloads gives above errors. I yesterday also tried with a factory-to-dd-wrt image, resulting in the same problem. The Genie web page accepts no firmware file, not even the one it downloads itself.

 

 

Message 5 of 8
antinode
Guru

Re: Firmware is invalid.

> [...] Unzipped the file and uploaded the chk file from the zip. [...]

   It's normally hard to get a corrupt file (without a complaint) from a
zip archive, and even harder from multiple zip archives.  If the router
rejects Netgear firmware files and third-party firmware files, then it
seems more likely that the router's little brain has been scrambled than
that all the firmware files in the world are corrupt.

   If the web-interface load procedure fails, then you might try using
the (last-ditch) TFTP scheme, which might take a different enough path
through the software to give a different result.  It's also possible
that the router has a hardware problem (bad NVRAM).  I've never tried

it, so I know nothing, but:

      https://kb.netgear.com/22688/

> Really, I know how to [...]

   Apparently so.  Now.

   Few people who post questions here begin with anything like, "I made
the following errors..."  Assuming (without evidence) that anyone
actually knows anything usually leads to much wasted time.  In contrast,
providing accurate, detailed information normally saves everyone's time
and effort.

   Why did you decide to do this update?  Actual problem, general
principle, ...?

Message 6 of 8
stefaanbolle
Guide

Re: Firmware is invalid.

Thanks!

I always update to the latest ersion, especially if mentioned security fixes.

I will try the tftp path tonight

Message 7 of 8
stefaanbolle
Guide

Re: Firmware is invalid.

Hi,

A TFTP firmware upgrade did the trick. I did not succeed with the instructions posted in your link to the Netgear kb, however I googled somewhat and found below tool which did the trick.

Thanks!

 

Netgerar firware recovery tool (all credits go to the creator!): https://github.com/jclehner/nmrpflash/releases

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