WNDR4300SW default password doesn't work after factory reset?

[unclemiltie]

I have been trhing to get "into" a WNDDR4300SW (v1 since it does not indicate a version) for a while now with no success.  I have to changes some settings, an address reservation for a new printer, and don't have the password since I didn't configure it last time.

So I reset the router to factdory defaults using the instructions.  When the router boots and I log into it via web browser (or the Genie app on my mac) I get the configuration/setup screens.  But when it asks for a password the default (admin/password) does not work.  I tried this several times.  I know the router is resettings since it always revertgs to the setup screeens when I do this.

So I read more about it and decided that I would load the factory firmware (probably an upgrade) into the router to see if that helped.

I put the router into the mode to upload via TFTP.   I found the instrucdtions on the netgear website.

• power off the router
• press and hold the reset button while turning the power on
• the power light will start flashing amber, it will flash 6 times then turn green and then flash green
• After it flashes at least 10 times you are ready

Set up your computer to talk to the router

• plug a hard line ethernet cable into your computer and the router
• set the computer up for a fixed IP address in the 192.168.1.x subnet, the router is 192.168.1.1 so use any other address
• ping the router to see if you can reach it.

Now upload the firmware, I downloaded from Netgear WNDR4300-V1.0.2.104.img

• open your tftp client.  on mac it is a command line tool
• > tftp
• > connect 192.168.1.1 
• > binary
• > put WNDR4300-V1.0.2.104.img

you should get an acknowledgement that the file was uploaded ("Sent 12255365 bytes in 3.4 seconds"), exit tftp (quit)

This leaves the router with the power LED flashing green, I left it this way for an hour or so as the notes on line have said it can take a while for the firmare to reflash and the router should reboot.  Nothing happened, it just kept flashing.  

If I then reboot the router it will restart, turn on the wireless and be ready to go.  Still can't log in.

I have no way to tell if the firmware updated since neither the web interface or genie tells you the firmware version before you log in.

(I also tried this with V1.0.2.98 with the same results)

FWIW the getting started sequence allows me to restore the router from a settings file, I don't know if it's going to ask for a password since I don't have a settings file.  If a kind person would make me a settings file with a known password I could try that to get into the thing.  

any ideas (other than junking it and buying a new router!)

[antinode · Accepted solution]

> WNDR4300SW [...]

   The "SW" suffix seems to indicate an ISP-specific ("SureWest", now
"Consolidated Communications") device, which has implications for its
(probably ISP-specific) firmware.

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/td-p/1337888

> I put the router into the mode to upload via TFTP. [...]

   And you brought out the big guns because the normal firmware update
procedure failed in some way?

> [...] I left it this way for an hour or so [...]

   I would not expect a wait of more than a few (say, ten?) minutes,
with no sign of intelligent activity, to be productive.

> any ideas (other than junking it and buying a new router!)

   That would probably be more effective (with less effort) than any of
the alternatives.  I don't remember reading anything about that model.
Possibly interesting:

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1755280

   I would have expected the TFTP scheme to be brutal enough to overcome
the special identity of such a device, but I've been disappointed
before.  A wider Web search for your (correctly transcribed) model
number might find more wisdom elsewhere.

[antinode · Accepted solution]

> WNDR4300SW [...]

   The "SW" suffix seems to indicate an ISP-specific ("SureWest", now
"Consolidated Communications") device, which has implications for its
(probably ISP-specific) firmware.

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/td-p/1337888

> I put the router into the mode to upload via TFTP. [...]

   And you brought out the big guns because the normal firmware update
procedure failed in some way?

> [...] I left it this way for an hour or so [...]

   I would not expect a wait of more than a few (say, ten?) minutes,
with no sign of intelligent activity, to be productive.

> any ideas (other than junking it and buying a new router!)

   That would probably be more effective (with less effort) than any of
the alternatives.  I don't remember reading anything about that model.
Possibly interesting:

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1755280

   I would have expected the TFTP scheme to be brutal enough to overcome
the special identity of such a device, but I've been disappointed
before.  A wider Web search for your (correctly transcribed) model
number might find more wisdom elsewhere.

[unclemiltie]

Give that man a cigar!

After chasing this for a week the answer that this is custom firmware for Consolidated Communication is the right one.  They have a different default username/password combo and when I used that I was able to get into the router.

I don't know if I can post the CCI password here but you can call their tech support people and they will tell you their default passwords.  Worked the first time

[antinode]

> [...] They have a different default username/password combo [...]

   My quick Web search found multiple places which said
"admin"+"password", so I stopped looking.  A more diligent search found
different (better?) info.

> I don't know if I can post the CCI password here [...]

   I'll take a chance: "admin"+"cciadmin".

      https://gist.github.com/aplocher/7d717925fe00c6602bed

Not a very well-kept secret, I'd say.

   Adding "burnboardid" to the search might reveal how to un-SureWest
the thing.  I have no experience with a WNDR4300SW, so I know nothing,
but, to enable Telnet access on my junk, I use the program which I
modified: http://antinode.info/nte/