Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14221 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2020 5:19 Post subject:
Google netgear telnetenable. I would probably go as far as opening it up and connecting serial console and do basically a serial recovery method of flashing it, if TFTP, NMRPFLASH, webflash or CLI is not doing the trick. You are using the .chk file for the initial flash, correct? _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
Contribute To DD-WRT Pogo - A minimal level of ability is expected and needed... DD-WRT Releases 2023 (PolitePol)
DD-WRT Releases 2023 (RSS Everything)
----------------------
Linux User #377467 counter.li.org / linuxcounter.net
When it fails to flash DD-WRT does it return to the stock or what does it do at that stage?
What size is the stock firmware compared to dd-wrt?
You may have bad sectors of flash and DD-WRT is to big I've has this before. Try looking back through all builds and try flashing the smallest ddwrt available for your router.
When flashing (any type of flash), an unsuccessful flash leads to the Router being "bricked"; it's unresponsive, doesn't assign an IP, has a solid amber power light, and cycles the LAN (for the computer) light on and off periodically.
As for firmware sizes- I've been trying old firmwares- the netgear firmware is roughly 11mb and all the dd-wrt firmware for the router I've tried (7 different builds) are all roughly 22-23mb.
When flashing (any type of flash), an unsuccessful flash leads to the Router being "bricked"; it's unresponsive, doesn't assign an IP, has a solid amber power light, and cycles the LAN (for the computer) light on and off periodically.
As for firmware sizes- I've been trying old firmwares- the netgear firmware is roughly 11mb and all the dd-wrt firmware for the router I've tried (7 different builds) are all roughly 22-23mb.
I haven't opened yet to serial
Odds are your flash has bad sectors and DD-WRT will not fit on.
Sorry not got time to look but think there is a way to check this from command line may even be other ways have a search about on forum.
I maybe wrong but from what your saying it's a possibility.
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14221 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 13:19 Post subject:
You should be able to flash this thing back to an older stock version of firmware and then flash the latest beta. I'm surprised jwh7 hasn't chimed in here, but I also think this one requires CLI flash after you get DD on it(?). If I am repeating myself, sorry, I haven't kept up. _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
Contribute To DD-WRT Pogo - A minimal level of ability is expected and needed... DD-WRT Releases 2023 (PolitePol)
DD-WRT Releases 2023 (RSS Everything)
----------------------
Linux User #377467 counter.li.org / linuxcounter.net
@kernel-panic69 Long story short, every attempt to flash (via web GUI or NMRPFlash) to dd-wrt has resulted in a crashed router. I can flash up and down with netgear without issues of the "downgrade" in the web GUI. No problem NMRPFlashing netgear firmware either.
So anyone have ideas either how to test the flash or how to get around this?
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14221 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 4:06 Post subject:
sassriverrat wrote:
Look....
Only options left are TFTP or CLI flash after you have done initial DD-WRT Flash:
Can't flash DD-WRT so this won't work
I'm going to go find another serial cable I think[/b][/i]
https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Netgear_WNDR4500 <-- I was referring to this. You should be able to get the initial flash with the correct file for v1 or v2, depending on what version your device is. Since yours is a v1, you should be able to flash it with, oh, I don't know, the .chk file here from the most recent build released today:
You can't CLI, TFTP, or NMRPflash DD-WRT to the router for initial flash, as far as I know. You may have to downgrade to an older stock firmware via NMRPflash, like the oldest firmware version you can find, AT MOST if you can't downgrade via the stock firmware webUI. I guess somewhere we all lost track and threw things askew, but I think I got this post correct.... _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
Contribute To DD-WRT Pogo - A minimal level of ability is expected and needed... DD-WRT Releases 2023 (PolitePol)
DD-WRT Releases 2023 (RSS Everything)
----------------------
Linux User #377467 counter.li.org / linuxcounter.net
I don't mean to be rude because I really do appreciate the help, but I don't think you read my initial pieces in this post. Just to make sure I hadn't missed something weeks ago, I ran your directions to the T despite having done them before and not having any luck. So here's what I did.
I downloaded the very first firmware available for this router and successfully downgraded the stock netgear firmware through the netgear GUI (that should be the first flag). I then downloaded the .chk file for dd-wrt from the link you provided. I went into the netgear GUI and uploaded this dd-wrt .chk. I started the upgrade and bricked the router.....AGAIN. I will now have to NMRPFlash this router to get it to come back.....
