Orbi WiFi 7 RBE973
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R7960P firmware not upgrading

tano26
Tutor

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 straight from Netgear sight. Any reason why my firmware won't upgrade?

Thanks

 

Model: A7000|Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi USB Adapter - USB 3.0
Message 1 of 288
antinode
Guru

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

> I have attempted multiple times [...]

 

   "attempted" _how_, exactly?

 

> [...] and it fails.

 

   Any actual error messages?

 

> [...] downloading upgrade zip file straight from Netgear [site]. [...]

 

   _Which_ "zip file"?  "R7960P-V1.4.1.50_1.3.10.zip"?  And then you did
what with it?  Did you extract the firmware image file
("R7960P-V1.4.1.50_1.3.10.chk") from this "zip file"?

 

   Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your model number, and look
for Documentation.  Get the User Manual.  Read.  Look for
"Manually Upload Firmware to the Router".

 


> Model: A7000|Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi USB Adapter - USB 3.0

 

   And this has nothing to do with anything?

Message 2 of 288
Goliath60
Guide

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

Having same problem.  I've allowed the auto update to download and upgrade firmware, goes through the motion and reboots router, but no change in firmware.  Then downloaded the file and manually tried to update with same results. The logs are not showing any errors nor are there any messages showing an error.  Just continues to have  "A router firmware upgrade is available."  at top of router admin page.

 

Message 3 of 288
Goliath60
Guide

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

Going from 

Firmware Version
V1.4.1.44_1.3.5 to 

1.4.1.50_1.3.10

Forgot to add that tidbit.

Thanks for any help.

Message 4 of 288
antinode
Guru

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

> Having same problem. [...]

 

   And you seem to be having the same difficulty in supplying a useful
problem description.

 

> [...] Then downloaded the file [...]

 

   _Which_ "the file"?

 

> [...] and manually tried to update [...]

 

   "tried" _how_ exactly?

 

> [...] with same results. [...]

 

   The same as "it fails" is not an improvement over "it fails", which
is not a useful description.

Message 5 of 288
Goliath60
Guide

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

Wow, making people feel little because thay asked a question is not helpful

 

And you seem to be having the same difficulty in supplying a useful
problem description."

Kind of crass, and out of line for someone asking for help.  My opinion

 

 _Which_ "the file"? 

 

I guess the firemware update file, hence the subject heading (Thought it was self explanatory)

 

"tried" _how_ exactly? 

 

I've allowed the auto update to download and upgrade firmware, goes through the motion and reboots router, but no change in firmware.  Then downloaded the file and manually tried to update with same results.

Again I thought this was self explanatory

 

The same as "it fails" is not an improvement over "it fails", which
is not a useful description.

 

I presumed that failing was understood from the subject heading to mean it wasn't upgrading the firmware.

 

 

Message 6 of 288
antinode
Guru

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

> I guess the firemware update file, hence the subject heading (Thought
> it was self explanatory)

 

   You're wrong, hence the question: _Which_ "the file"?  What, exactly,
does "the firmware update file" mean to you?

 

   These files have identifying names.  With my weak psychic powers, I
can't tell if you mean the zip archive which you downloaded, or the
firmware image which you (should have) extracted from it, or what.

Hence:

 

> _Which_ "zip file"? "R7960P-V1.4.1.50_1.3.10.zip"?  And then you did
> what with it?  Did you extract the firmware image file
> ("R7960P-V1.4.1.50_1.3.10.chk") from this "zip file"?

 

   Which questions were posted before you joined the discussion.  Did
you read the discussion before joining it?

 

> [...] Then downloaded the file and manually tried to update with same
> results.
> Again I thought this was self explanatory


   Again, "the file".  The file which you download (the zip archive) is
_not_ the file which you need to send to the router (the extracted
firmware image file).  Similarly, "tried" does not reveal which files
you might have specified where, or which button(s) you might have
pushed, or what happened when you did any of those things.

 

   There may some fatal flaw in the R7960P or its firmware, but without
some actual information about what you did or what happened when you did
it, it's very tough to tell.


> Wow, making people feel little because thay asked a question is not
> helpful

 

   Neither is failing to answer questions which have already been asked.

 
   Are you personally offended by all criticism?  Must make learning
difficult.  The problem is not asking, it's not answering when asked.

 

   "My car stopped running.  I repaired the engine, but it didn't help."

 

   What do you expect anyone to do with such an information-free problem
description?

 

   "What kind of 'repair'?"

 

   "I repaired it.  I thought this was self explanatory."

 

   Guess again.  It's not.

Message 7 of 288
Goliath60
Guide

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

I give, maybe I was being thin skinned, maybe I assumed people are smart enough to do things in the correct way.

Being a Senior Systems Analyst for 20 years makes me assume people are trying everything before coming to a forum to ask for help.
My bad.

My Impasse:


Checking my router I observed:
A router firmware upgrade is available.

I used the Netgear Firmware Update Assistant to try and upload the firmware form Netgears server,
Current Firmware Version 1.4.1.44
New Firmware Version 1.4.1.50_1.3.10

It went through the motions of downloading and 'updating', rebooting the router, but without a change to the current version (Firmware Version V1.4.1.44_1.3.5)
This was tried 2 times without any change to firmware.

I then used the manual process to update through downloading zip file to a directory.
Going to NetGears site and downloading the R7960P-V1.4.1.50_1.3.10.zip, unzipped it and I used the R7960P-V1.4.1.50_1.3.10.chk file.
Using the manual process within the Routers Updater, I tried to update firmware again, again went through the motions and router rebooted.
This was tried twice without any changes in the firmware.

Went through logs Administration logs (with every option checked previously) and no errors concerning the update were found.
Hence my problem.

Message 8 of 288
aknorth
Initiate

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

The V1.4.1.50-1.3.10 file is corrupted and will not work through either the auto update or manual update. the .chk file type is Windows way of trying to recover a corrupted or damaged file. Until Netgear issues a fix, nothing can be done. @antinode there is no need for additional comments from you as they are unneccaasry and are not helpful to this thread.

Message 9 of 288
Goliath60
Guide

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

Thank you for a helpful answer to the problem. You are a gem!
Message 10 of 288
antinode
Guru

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

> The V1.4.1.50-1.3.10 file is corrupted [...]

 

   You determined this how, exactly?

 

> [...] the .chk file type is Windows way of trying to recover a
> corrupted or damaged file. [...]

 

   No, it's not. At least not in this context.  Netgear router firmware
image files come in (at least) two varieties: ".chk" or ".img",
depending on the device model.

   If you ask a Windows or Mac system to open a Netgear firmware image
file (double-click, say) with either of those name extensions, then you
can expect to get some spurious/misleading error message, because the
actual file contents are not what the Windows or Mac program expects to
find in a file with such name extensions. This is not evidence that the
file is corrupt, only that the user is not following the instructions
for a firmware load on the device in question.

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1721037#M124018


> [...] there is no need for additional comments from you as they
> are unneccaasry and are not helpful to this thread.

 

   It's certainly true that some of the "additional comments" here are
not helpful.


> [...] You are a gem!

 

   Does iron pyrite qualify as "a gem"?

Message 11 of 288
tano26
Tutor

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

Geez, I didn't think I'd get a grammar lesson when posting a question. @Anti  I was hoping to cut the little parts and put up the meat for discussion. I downloaded the 1.4.1.50_1.3.10 update zip file from Netgear site, unpacked it and uploaded the .CHK file to my router and it tries to install. The router reboots to the same old firmware and no errors in the log. I have also tried allowing the router to auto-upgrade itself with same issues. Router reboots with no log entries and the same old firmware 1.4.1.44. That is the issue. The router will not allow the upgrade to finish. Did that make sense now?

Model: A7000|Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi USB Adapter - USB 3.0
Message 12 of 288
antinode
Guru

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

> Geez, I didn't think I'd get a grammar lesson when posting a question.

 

   It's a free bonus.  You're welcome.

 

> [...] I was hoping to cut the little parts and put up the meat for
> discussion. [...]

 

   Sadly, many visitors here can't tell the difference, and so assuming
that the invisible parts were correct can waste much time and effort.

 

> [...] no errors in the log [...]

 

   I wouldn't expect to find any after the router restarts.

 

> [...] Did that make sense now?

 

   It removes many potential user errors from consideration.


   Considering how many flashing power indicators get reported here, I
hesitate to advise loading different firmware for no good reason, but it
might be educational to see what happens with a different version (even
reloading the current one).  One question would be whether the problem
lies with this particular new firmware image, or can the router (with
its current firmware) not load anything properly?

   If it were vital to get the new firmware loaded into the thing, then
one might try the TFTP recovery scheme to cram the desired ".chk" file
down its throat, but, again, the potential to disable the router exists
that way.

 

   If your warranty hasn't expired, then you might try an official
complaint to Netgear.

Message 13 of 288
Zero_c00l
Star

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

Yeah I have the same problem. it tries to upgrade and after reboot it's still on the previous firmware (V1.4.1.44_1.3.5). You wouldthink Netgear test the upgrade file before publishing it, but I guess not!!!

Message 14 of 288
DarrenM
Sr. NETGEAR Moderator

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

I have escalated this issue to engineering to investigate.

 

DarrenM

Message 15 of 288
labatt
Mentor

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading


@Zero_c00l wrote:

Yeah I have the same problem. it tries to upgrade and after reboot it's still on the previous firmware (V1.4.1.44_1.3.5). You wouldthink Netgear test the upgrade file before publishing it, but I guess not!!!


You would hope the firmware was tested before posting. For the time I had a r8000 and r8000p I never got firmware that was bug free. In fact the same bugs existed firmware version after firmware version. Some say the firmware is farmed out to a 3rd party off shore. In any case there does not seem to be any testing or QA of the firmware before ship other then to see that it will load onto the router. There are bugs that are a year old and still are not fixed. I, personally, gave up on Netgear and went else where. More toward the commercial side. Lose things like parental controls when you do that, but I do not have any kids here to worry about. 

Message 16 of 288
Zero_c00l
Star

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

 
Message 17 of 288
Zero_c00l
Star

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

this is my first time trying Netgear router, and I just realized the free support ends three month after you register the product and there is no email or any kind of support to report the firmware bug. You have to come to their forum and beg for attention. what brand are you using now?

Message 18 of 288
RobertD6
Initiate

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

R7960P user here also.

I've downloaded and tried pushing R7960P-V1.4.1.50_1.3.10.chk directly on an ethernet connection.

No error during the firmware upgrade process but after a reboot the R7960P shows

Firmware Version
V1.4.1.44_1.3.5

and prompts:

   A router firmware upgrade is available. 

Model: R7900P|Nighthawk X6S AC3000 Tri Band WiFi Router
Message 19 of 288
senadang
Initiate

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

Any "updates" on this issue? I'm really close to returning the router and getting a different brand.

Message 20 of 288
andynbaker
Guide

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

Mine is doing the same thing. Can't upgrade to the newest firware no matter what. I don't want to call support because I know what they are going to say: can you factory reset teh router?

 

ARRRGGGGHHHHH

Message 21 of 288
Goliath60
Guide

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

Yeah, that is what I'm going to do in the morning.  Reset back to factory, try to update after that.  I've lost my second 5ghz wifi channel, too.  I'll let you know if it helps.  If not, I'm taking back and getting a mesh system.

Message 22 of 288
Goliath60
Guide

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

Reset back to factory settings, still unable to upgrade firmware, tried both manually and used automated. 

Also lost second WIFI 5 GHZ, that started several days ago. 

I gave up and returned to Costco. 

Went with the Orbi Mesh system (RBR50) and two satellites (RBS50), little pricier than I wanted but, we are moving to a 6000 foot house in a couple months and I figured it was what was best for our situation.  

I almost didn't buy NetGear products again, but I've had good luck in the past and didn't want one bad experience to cloud judgement.

The setup was routine and simple, and seems to be working well.  Hoping it goes better than the nighthawk did.

Message 23 of 288
Zero_c00l
Star

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

@DarrenM , 

 

Do you have any update on this?

Message 24 of 288
IdahoScott
Apprentice

Re: R7960P firmware not upgrading

Tried applying R7960P-V1.4.1.50_1.3.10 once again.  No joy.

 

This issue has been active now for at least four, maybe five weeks.   It appears to me that whatever the issue is, the Netgear engineers cannot, or will not provide a fix.  Your best hope is just to wait for the next update, which *** "might" *** work, and apply as designed.  If the next one fails, I'm going to reset my router (which should install the original firmware), start over, and see if the new version applies.  The problem may not be with V1.4.1.50_1.3.10, but the previous version (in my case, V1.4.1.44_1.3.5).  The prior version may be have a bug which prevents new updates from applying.

 

Again, as I have posted before, if Netgear has a widespread problem with one of their updates (i.e. "widespread"; just google  V1.4.1.50_1.3.10 and see how many hits you find), they should recall it, or at least, post some sort of notice on their web site indicating "Hey, we know we have this problem, we're working on a fix, probably in 10 days, just remain on your current router firmware version for now.", or words to that effect.   "Crickets" for a response is pretty damning  PR for a technology company.

Message 25 of 288
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