WRT54GSv1 constant bricking

Post new topic   Reply to topic    DD-WRT Forum Index -> Broadcom SoC based Hardware
Author Message
Kruppt
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 11 Jan 2010
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 21:19    Post subject: WRT54GSv1 constant bricking Reply with quote
I have a WRT54GS version one, serial number starts with (CGN1 ) the motherboard numbers are WRT54GSREV:XA. I upgraded from 14929 std to 44715 ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2020/11-03-2020-r44715/broadcom/dd-wrt.v24_mini_wrt54gs.bin. I did the 30-30-30 reset and power cycled the router etc. but this version bricks the router, so I reinstalled the OEM firmware for the router (WRT54GS-4.71.4.001-fw.2.bin) via serial recovery method, and from the Linksys OEM firmware GUI again flashed the above mention version of DD-WRT, was able to access the router from the DD-WRT Browser accessible GUI but was asked for a password, as though I had already set one, so did another 30-30-30 reset and power cycle and it was bricked again, so installed the OEM firmware again using the serial recovery method. I have flashed my wrt54g-tm, wrt54gl, wrt54gv2, wrt54gsv4, several wrt54gsv8 and wrt54gv7, wrtgsv4 and etc from 14929 and some of which I had version 33645 to 44715 and they are all working normally. , Would like to know what is the latest/correct version of DD-WRT that can be flashed to this router. Is there more to erasing/clearing the nvram on this router than just doing the usual erase nvram from the CFE prompt, if so what would the additional commands be? (examples) I have reinstalled the OEM firmware and can ping the router (ttl=64), so what would be the proper method to go from here tftp the proper version instead of using the OEM GUI?
Sponsor
blkt
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 20 Jan 2019
Posts: 5660

PostPosted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 21:51    Post subject: Reply with quote
Try a build from this year? ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2021/03-31-2021-r46220/broadcom/

https://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2021/03-31-2021-r46220/broadcom/

ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2021/

https://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2021/
ThaCrip
DD-WRT User


Joined: 05 May 2008
Posts: 338

PostPosted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 6:11    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ill just add when flashing through the DD-WRT interface (i.e. 'Administration > Firmware Upgrade'), which is the typical way people flash firmware, I always use 'generic' not the 'wrt54gs' specific bin file.

also, I would avoid newer builds newer than r45735 (Feb 11th 2021) (i.e. ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2021/02-11-2021-r45735/broadcom/ (I use "dd-wrt.v24_mini_generic.bin") ) as at some point beyond that they don't work properly (reset button does not work, no 192.168.1.1 interface, no internet). because while I am sure some builds newer than what I mentioned might be okay, there is a point where something broke.

my guess, without testing, is probably the shift from r45948 (Mar 8th 2021) and r45955 (Mar 9th 2021) given what kernel-panic69 said, "For K2.4 (WRT54* series and clones): 45955+ due to kernel and webUI patches"(?).

since you apparently got a JTAG setup (so your safe to to do the test unlike me which is a bit risky as if I had a JTAG setup I would have tested it myself already to see if I can find the exact build where the major problems occur) see if you can test the following two builds as I just want to see if that's THE point where things break...

ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2021/03-08-2021-r45948/ & ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2021/03-09-2021-r45955/

because if it is the point where things break, this needs to be reported to the high ups around here to fix it. because as things are now, people can't use very recent DD-WRT builds on their WRT54* series (at least not on my WRT54GS v1.1, which I assume if mine fails, all of the WRT54* series probably will to).

NOTE: after flashing each make sure to properly clear things so it's back at their defaults when booting up. because for me with r46239 (Apr 1st 2021), after one manages to reset it and you gain access to the 192.168.1.1 interface as soon as I configure the router to my liking like usual and reboot, the router is pretty much shot as the lights appear to be normal but you can't access the 192.168.1.1 page and there is no internet either and the only way to get things to where I can access the 192.168.1.1 page temporarily (which is how I accessed the 'Administration > Firmware Upgrade' page to flash back to r45735) is to... unplug router, wait a little, hold reset button and while reset button is still being held, plug in router power, count 30 seconds, release reset button, and at this point after a small wait you can access the 192.168.1.1 page once again but as soon as I configure my router like I usually do, and reboot it, things are out of whack with no access to 192.168.1.1 and no internet (even 'telnet 192.168.1.1' does not work). but even straight up once that r46239 build is on the router the reset button no longer does anything (short of that method I mentioned above) unlike r45735 which works as expected.

also, if I recall correctly the NVRAM erase from telnet prompt might be a little weird on my WRT54GS v1.1 as if that acts up I just simply hold reset button for 30 seconds and that resets it back to defaults. but according to... https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Hard_reset_or_30/30/30 ; the process is different from old builds as the currently way is "nvram erase && reboot" but the older way, which is prior to Apr 18th 2018 (i.e. 35681 and prior)... "erase nvram && reboot"

but if your router is bricking from 30/30/30 reset it makes me wonder if this (which is from the Peacock thread) would apply to you (although it does not specifically mention a 'v1' router but does show 'v1.1')...

Quote:
Note: WRT54GS v1.1, GS v2, and GS2.1 models can brick after a hard reset no matter how it is done. See this thread and the solution in Vulcan's post:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=45024


I applied that to mine but I NEVER have used a 30/30/30 on my router as just holding reset button for 30 seconds seems to properly clear the NVRAM. because I noticed when using the telnet prompt with the 'nvram erase' etc command that it does not seem to fully wipe it as I noticed if your overclocking the router, it does not clear that aspect, but using reset button for 30 seconds does clear it.

so basically I would just flash through the routers interface and avoid the full-on 30/30/30 stuff as a simple 30 second reset button press should be sufficient (although as a general rule when flashing firmware, wait a full 5 minutes before touching anything as this will help ensure the flashing process is never interuppted!). because I can go from one DD-WRT build to another using the DD-WRT 'Administration > Firmware Upgrade' page.

EDIT (Apr 6th 2021): after playing around with stuff some more, I am not 100% sure but I am thinking the problem is due to the overclock (I was running 240mhz instead of stock 216Mhz). so those reading this, it seems you can ignore my bug report here for now. although it is odd that r45735 works fine when router is @ 240Mhz where as with r46239 (Apr 1st 2021) does not seem to like that as I currently have it back to running at stock speed of 216Mhz. I did initially have some issues with r46239 when returning back to default clock speed of 216Mhz but it seems like once I removed power, wait a little, held reset button, plugged in power, and while still holding reset button counted 30 seconds, released reset button and after router came back online I configured router to my liking, minus the overclock, and so far everything seems good.

_________________
Primary Router: Linksys WRT54GS v1.1 /w dd-wrt.v24_mini_generic (r46640 May 13th 2021) ; new Panasonic capacitors Feb 11th 2020 | Backup Router: Linksys WRT54GS v6 /w dd-wrt.v24_micro_generic (r46640 May 13th 2021)
voip2014
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 20 Feb 2021
Posts: 38

PostPosted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 6:59    Post subject: Reply with quote
Switch to openwrt all your overclocking issues simply go away Smile
ThaCrip
DD-WRT User


Joined: 05 May 2008
Posts: 338

PostPosted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 13:11    Post subject: Reply with quote
voip2014 wrote:
Switch to openwrt all your overclocking issues simply go away Smile


I think the problem with that is that it's not really made for these older Wireless G routers at this point in time... https://openwrt.org/toh/hwdata/linksys/linksys_wrt54gs

but thanks for the suggestion.

p.s. it appears DD-WRT is pretty much the only real choice for a up-to-date firmware for these WRT54GS v1 and v1.1 routers especially given they are not listed as supported by FreshTomato either which shows support for only GL v1 and v1.1 and G/GS v2-4. NOTE: I did run FreshTomato from roughly a couple of years ago on my GS v1.1 but it's uptime is not stable (which probably explains why they are not officially supported by FreshTomato firmware). so DD-WRT is definitely safer when it comes to GS v1 and v1.1 routers.

_________________
Primary Router: Linksys WRT54GS v1.1 /w dd-wrt.v24_mini_generic (r46640 May 13th 2021) ; new Panasonic capacitors Feb 11th 2020 | Backup Router: Linksys WRT54GS v6 /w dd-wrt.v24_micro_generic (r46640 May 13th 2021)
Display posts from previous:    Page 1 of 1
Post new topic   Reply to topic    DD-WRT Forum Index -> Broadcom SoC based Hardware All times are GMT

Navigation

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum