R8500 bricked

Sure but it's hard to know the answer to the question about the "nvram erase" becuase the CFE could have been modified by either Broadcomm or Netgear, or both.

Within a shell script a return of 0 is success but in C programs 0 is false (a fail), so unless it's known the CFE hasn't been modified, looking at the published source to find out (if we could find the correct version) might not be accurate.

All that can be done is to try it and it sounds like you have and haven't been successful.

Very unfortuneate after all the effort, sadly.

Ian

Btw, if you want to go further with this then you could download the Netgear R8500 firmware source code.

But things get much, much harder from this point.

To locate the firmware source for the R8500 do a Goolgle search for "netgear gpl source code" look for the R8500.

I see the latest firmware version has a source code download there already, 1.0.2.80.

Note that not all the objects used in the firmware have source code available, some only have a binary object alone.

Thanks.

First the firmware that I have is 1.0.2.80 and other numbers behind it.

As far the zero on CFC it is fake is not doing anything, I make directory and i see it there all the codes.

I must find a new way how to deal this nvram erase.

I know now the router can be fixed it is matter of time.

What I like the most is other people will appreciate what we all try do do.

peter11742

HI all.

I told you I will fix it.

I found people at dd-wrt have this problem because they load a different firmware on the R8500.

This is the issue the firmware 1.0.2.28 can not be loaded to the router it is made this way.

But the first firmware 1.0.0.28 it loads and works.

The procedure is the same.

First you connect your serial usb connection and make the putty to work.

At any time now press control c untill you see CFE run nvram erase get a 0.

On CFE enter tftpd and waight there.

Now open DOS CMD have the command  run with tftp -i 192.168.1.1 put C:\R8500-v1.0.0.28_1.0.15.chk enter.

You will see the the file transfered from the dos and the cfe.

Now hold the reset button and turn power off the router.

With the reset button stil on start power and count 3 times reboot.

Now go back and start the putty and let it run you will see a surprise you got your green light.

Now we have acomplish to have the first firmware working.

The next time we will discuss how we update to the lates firmware.

Best regards.

peter11742

I experiance a small problem.

The router starts with the red light with power on but in 1 minute it works good.

This is my first netgear router.

I can not login for a reason.

peter11742

Updates.

The red light is only for rebooting the green comes later.

I had the router for hours and it works good.

Now I said is time to update it, netgear dowloaded the updates and they installed them.

Now I got the problem back is rebootnig.

NEVER ASK FOR UPDATES they do not work.

peter11742

To all.

This is my last report we are done.

The people that they do not like the R8500 router are wrong.

This router is confiquered and it covers all my house it beats my new Linksys by a mile.

When i read the specifications I new this router is champ it has the best lenth coverage from all of them.

Good luck to all and happy holidays.

I will still answer all my emails I will help any one that has problems with this good router.

The next project will be the x10 that will bricked let us get ready.

The router is not getting hot just worm.

Best regards.

peter11742

Glad to hear you finally got there.

I agree, my R8500 is unusually stable compared to quite a few other high end routers I have.

Thank you.

We are in agrrement.

With the old software the router boots in 2 minutes but it boots and is good.

Happy holydays.

peter11742

Hi.

A  small correction.

Pin #1 green  Pin #2 white pin #3 blk which is the gound Pin #4 is not connected red.

peter11742

I have established a PuTTY connection but only get garbage. I have verified my serial connection to be appropriate, i.e. transmit and receive and ground. CTRL C does not work for me. I have tried numerous times. restarting the router and trying etc. Any suggestions?

Hi.

It is your computer causing this issue. Check your serial settings and much them with our explained settings.

Read all my my problems and you will see I had to get a good laptop with a good win 10 and it worked.

If your establist comunication is good then you will see good text.

All my settings are explained and all my issues are answered.

Good luck.

Peter11742

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Alabama62 wrote:

I have established a PuTTY connection but only get garbage. I have verified my serial connection to be appropriate, i.e. transmit and receive and ground. CTRL C does not work for me. I have tried numerous times. restarting the router and trying etc. Any suggestions?

---

What does "I have verified my serial connection to be appropriate, i.e. transmit and receive and ground." mean?

How do you know it is correct since you clearly have a problem that usually indicates it isn't?

Have you tried switching transmit and receive around?

Hi.

Please verify that the red cable is not connected.

Verify that the name of the plug is locating your #1 pin green.

Verify that your blk cable will be the third pin and the fourth pin is not connected.

Now you have to hit control c at the beginning of the reset of the router when you will see a lot of numbers.

Your serial port baut rate has to changed until you see real characters.

Good luck.

peter11742

It was the baud rate. 115200 worked. Loaded firmware, router working like new. Thanks for all the help.

Hi.

I am very happy to hear this.

Now do not make the mistake and update the router, if you do you have to start all over again.

peter11742

---

peter11742 wrote:

Hi.

I am very happy to hear this.

Now do not make the mistake and update the router, if you do you have to start all over again.

peter11742

---

Not being able to update the router firmware is not really acceptable.

I expect that no-one on this thread will be willing to subject themselves to Netgear support particularly to discuss an issue like this, they'll probably play the "not supported" card anyway and not even bother to collect any information to pass on to engineering.

But it would be good to get this infomation to Netgear engineering and even better to get some feedback as to what might be happening.

AFAICS this, or a very similar problem, is causing considerable cost to Netgear in terms of replacing faulty units so it should be something we can get their attention for.

So, to the Netgear folks watching the forum, how about opening a dialogue with engineering?

I apologize but our scope of support is limited especially when the hardware has been opened. 

---

ElaineM wrote:

I apologize but our scope of support is limited especially when the hardware has been opened. 

---

The fact that the only way to fix the NVRAM corruption caused by the router firmware is to open the router should be something engineering want to fix.

If they are happy to just replace routers when this happens then so be it but it is happening far too often!

Perhaps it is a hardware fault with some devices and there is no choice but to replace the devices, but the people on this topic need to know that too.

And, if it is a harware fault, what about those people that have devices that are not long out of warrantee?

Given the price of this device the problem isn't being handled well at all!

Ian

Hi All.

I have no issues with any warranty.

I bought a product that it is still in warranty but the serial number was entered by the previous owner and of course Netgear rejected.

I do not ask for favors, I ask for my legal rights that the software is corrupted but it can not be restored.

I learn that the header in the nvram is corrupted. The new version of the nvram is looking for this header it does not find it and corrupts bricks the router.

As an engineer I never created software that will change my original selection.

So far I lost my faith for a good software update.

I use the router with it's original software and of cource I have only 2x 5 mhz channels and none 1x 2 mhz channel.

I will have more information soon.

I will find how to create a new header on the nvram eprom.

Peter 11742.

Hi all.

After all this past time I found still we can not update the new  software version.

Let me  know if any one has any better news.

Peter11742

Hi Peter11742

I was going through this thread "R8500 bricked" earlier because i am encountering a similar situation R8000. I followed your steps but encountered some differences. I was wondering if you could lend me some advice. 

Just some background, i bought a bricked router R8000 from someone who claimed it is fully working. After i realised it was bricked, i decided to get serial cable, disassembled the chassis to fix it. Please bear with me as this is the first time i am doing this to a router, i usually use routers off the shelf.

Back to the steps you have listed. using it as a checklist so you can see the steps i completed. 

1) J4  connector pins : 1   2   3    4  pins are visable by looking the motherboard and they are located in the front view.

     and j4 mark is located next to #1 pin.  1 gets green color, 2 gets white color, 3 gets green color, 4 is not connected.  Done

2) open the bottom cover by removing the 6 tork screws.

    Take the cover half way out so you can see the j4 plug and plug the serial cable.Turn on the router. Different router, i remove everything until i get the pcb board, plugged in my USB-TTL cable (similar to serial cable) Done.

3) Start Putty let it run for a minite or so and start sending control c commands until you will see CFE. If i wait for a minute to start sending control C command, I cannoit get into CFE. so i started once putty starts. I got into CFE.

4) on CFE type nvram erase you will see a 0 as an answer. Done 

5) On CFE type tftpd you will get tftpd server ready ::Done 

At any time now press control c untill you see CFE run nvram erase get a 0. Done

On CFE enter tftpd and waight there. Done, but see screenshot below. PuTTy just stops there, router lights also stops blinking. believe it is turned off. Is it supposed to be like this? Do i continue with the next step of going to doc cmd?

 Any help will be appreciated. Thank you in advance! 

Demonstrative

The tftpd command tells the router to wait for a TFTP transfer.  You need to initiate the transfer from an Ethernet connected PC or Mac.

Hi.

You forgot to connect your PC with the dos command and the specific instructions see my procedure.

Follow my instructions and repeat the procedure it works.

Best regards.

Peter11742