Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 13:36 Post subject: R7000 won't accept any firmware after flashing back to stock
Here is my issue: I was running the last XWRT Vortex, 384.15, and flashed back to stock firmware, apparently I flashed the wrong version I was supposed to flash, they provide two, R7000-V1.0.3.80_1.1.38.zip and R7000-V1.0.9.26_10.2.31.zip, I flashed the older one since I would update it right after. The flash went fine, the router boots and works fine, but now when I try to upload ANY firmware (be it stock, or dd-wrt from stock, tomato, etc) I receive this message:
"This firmware file is incorrect! Please get the firmware file again and make sure it is the correct firmware for this product."
After some googling I got to nmrpflash, got it working, but even using it the router refuses to flash, upload goes fine, and then:
"OK
Waiting for remote to respond.
Ignoring extra upload request.
Ignoring extra upload request.
Ignoring extra upload request.
Ignoring extra upload request.
Received configuration request from 68:fd:3a:47:dd:85.
Sending configuration: 10.164.183.252/24.
Timeout while waiting for TFTP_UL_REQ."
There were two past tickets openened that were solved by a modded firmware he provided with an edited firmware version handle, but my router still refuses to flash this firmware he provided.
Any ideas on how to solve this? Next step is going the TTL USB flashing way... I will have to buy a cable, and I rather don't.
Any help is apreciated, thanks for the attention.
I can't get it to accept any TFTP program because it isn't bricked, and it doesn't have any way other than be bricked to get to recovery mode, not that I found out at least, and I tried... Nmrpflash apparently is able it to go into recovery mode and use TFTP, but it's the only way I got into this mode and when it goes into TFTP upload it locks out access to any program, so I can't switch during use (using nmrpflash to get to recovery mode and then flash a firmware using another TFTP program). I'm using the appropriate firmware, several options, it will not accept any.
About XWRT fucking my CFE, I also bumped into this during searches, but since I had the last version installed, I think this doesn't apply to this particular case
slidermike wrote:
just an FYI, xVortex says he corrected the corruption causing firmware.
If you want to go back to NG it should work and allow you to revert like normal.
Anyway, is there any way to flash a cfe with nmrpflash or something that doesn't requere TFTP or a usb ttl cable? It might be worth a try.
Joined: 18 Mar 2014 Posts: 12837 Location: Netherlands
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 14:35 Post subject:
Normally every Netgear router can be set into TFTP mode unless the CFE is altered.
Power off
press and hold reset button
Power on while holding the reset button
Light is orange
When it start flashing white after about 15 seconds release reset button and start uploading
That is how I do it with several Netgear routers (R6400, R7000, R7800)
If you can not set the router into TFTP mode your CFE is screwed and you can only use serial
Normally every Netgear router can be set into TFTP mode unless the CFE is altered.
Power off
press and hold reset button
Power on while holding the reset button
Light is orange
When it start flashing white after about 15 seconds release reset button and start uploading
That is how I do it with several Netgear routers (R6400, R7000, R7800)
If you can not set the router into TFTP mode your CFE is screwed and you can only use serial
Edit: you have to use a relative new DDWRT version with update build numbers
I tried the last ones, none are accepted.
By holding resetting button my router never goes into recovery, it just perpetually reboots, it does clear the settings, but that's all.
When using nmrpflash I can get it to recovery mode, but it's only detected within it, it stays with a glowing orange light on power (no blinking) and the lan port light is white blinking with activity when upload is happening. What I'm thinking is, if the router doesn't accept to flash any images after nmrpflash uploads it, even if I got tftp mode working, why would it accept it then? Does it have any difference?
I mean the specific version he mentioned, I doubt there is something special with it, but it was worth a try.
I already tried the last two of 2020 builds.
I just bought a ttl usb cable online now, I have no hope at this point of any other way working.
How would I go through this cfe mini webserver option? By using asus firmware restoration tool? If so, that didn't work by the type of recovery mode nmrpflash is putting it into, asus tool says "the wireless router is not in rescue mode".
I tried both firmwares linked, flashing not allowed, same as all the ones I tried.
edit: Ok, I've googled on how to use cfe webserver and it would just be acessible on the browser by entering the router IP, it doesn't work here.
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14125 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 17:34 Post subject:
If you have the stock R7000 cfe, you should be able to do it via ssh / telnet just like you would to flash the Vortex CFE, but without modifying the mac addresses. You just need to either edit the shell script or change the cfe bin file name to the one in the shell script.
You should be able to flash FreshTomato from XWRT-Vortex without an issue. I have not modified my R7000 cfe, but I have the XWRT-Vortex CFE files to do it.