Recovering a WRT54GL V1.1

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dolphinkickme
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Joined: 02 Apr 2020
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 16:55    Post subject: Recovering a WRT54GL V1.1 Reply with quote
Thank you in advance for reading and possibly helping.

I am wondering if I need to:

    Restore my original Linksys binary
    Keep trying to time a new flash of the latest dd-wrt version via tftp
    Do something else


The situation:
I have a Linksys WRT54GL V1.1 that I flashed to a dd-wrt version at least 8 years ago (currently not sure which version).

The box sat on a shelf for a couple years.

When I plugged it in and tried to connect to check out the settings, I get the below screenshot:
https://imgur.com/a/pVk6Rbi


The things I've tried:
I did the required initial reading:
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=54845
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=51486
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=54889

And concluded that my best path forward would be to reflash with the latest dd-wrt version for my model.

I downloaded the mini version here: https://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2019/08-06-2019-r40559/broadcom/dd-wrt.v24_mini_generic.bin

And following the instructions here:
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Recover_from_a_Bad_Flash#WRT54G.2FGL.2FGS
and here:
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/TFTP_flash#Special_for_Linksys_WRT54GL_Users

I 30/30/30 reset the router and observed no change on the router.
Then connected an ethernet cable to the device, turned off wifi on my computer, set my ip to 192.168.1.2 netmask 255.255.255.0 with the router at 192.168.1.1
I setup a continuous ping to the router.
I attempted with various resets and power cycles to catch the ttl=100 response and use tftp to reflash the new dd-wrt mini version.

Code:
tftp>  connect 192.168.1.1
tftp>  binary
tftp>  rexmt 1
tftp>  timeout 60
tftp>  put dd-wrt.v24_mini_generic.bin


I variously get:

Code:
Error code 1024: code pattern incorrect


or

Code:
Transfer timed out.


Following the ideas here:
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=47536&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

If I hold the reset button for 15 seconds as I pull the power cable and plug it back in, I can get the router into recovery mode where the ping ttl=100 continously. tftp flashing at that point results in the same error messages.

I'm not sure if I'm following the correct approaches for my issue and need to change or if I am, and I just need to change the timing (or not enter the recovery mode of the device), or if I need to restore a factory bios before trying what I'm trying.

If I do need to restore to the factory, advice on doing so for an older device in this state would be useful.

Thank you again for reading!
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kernel-panic69
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 08 May 2018
Posts: 14125
Location: Texas, USA

PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 17:14    Post subject: Reply with quote
40559 was a junk build.

https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Linksys_WRT54GL

https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Installation

https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Firmware_FAQ

https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Firmware_FAQ#Where_do_I_download_firmware.3F

https://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2019/

https://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2020/

Some users who still test the old WRT54* series may chime in. All you should have to do is TFTP with the linksys client.

https://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=137928

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dolphinkickme
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 02 Apr 2020
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 18:53    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thank you @kernel-panic69 you helped me on the path.

I grabbed the version at: https://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2020/03-25-2020-r42803/broadcom/dd-wrt.v24_mini_wrt54g.bin

After setting it in recovery mode (15 sec on the reset button after plugging the power in) and using the tftp on my mac got:

Code:

tftp>  connect 192.168.1.1
tftp>  binary
tftp>  rexmt 1
tftp>  timeout 60
tftp>  put dd-wrt.v24_mini_wrt54g.bin
Sent 3404800 bytes in 16.0 seconds


It worked to flash it!

I 30/30/30 reset it and browsed to the gui. It was updated by the new version, but the gui is still broken, so I must have another issue.

https://imgur.com/a/iW9ItSA

Any help is appreciated!
jwh7
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 25 Oct 2013
Posts: 2670
Location: Indy

PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 19:43    Post subject: Reply with quote
dolphinkickme wrote:
I 30/30/30 reset it and browsed to the gui. It was updated by the new version, but the gui is still broken, so I must have another issue.
You got the password set page prompt after resetting right?

First, did you try a ctrl-F5 to force a cache-bypass refresh? What browser are you using? I've had lots of issues the past year being able to access DD after a reset, and have to resort to IE (netsurf or dillo in linux).

If none of that helps, try the last reported working WRT54* build (42557):
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=1193452#1193452

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# NAT/SFE/CTF: limited speed w/ DD # Repeater issues # DD-WRT info: FAQ, Builds, Types, Modes, Changes, Demo #
OPNsense x64 5050e ITX|DD: DIR-810L, 2*EA6900@1GHz, R6300v1, RT-N66U@663, WNDR4000@533, E1500@353,
WRT54G{Lv1.1,Sv6}@250
|FreshTomato: F7D8302@532|OpenWRT: F9K1119v1, RT-ACRH13, R6220, WNDR3700v4


Last edited by jwh7 on Fri Apr 03, 2020 1:59; edited 1 time in total
wabe
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 17 Jun 2006
Posts: 889

PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 20:12    Post subject: Reply with quote
i recently brought out an old Linksys wrt54GL1.1 from the closet and reflashed it with 42803 std. Works well!
I think you've managed to flash it successfully. The GUI issue is most likely caused by the browser as suggested by jwh7.
You could try to make a 30-30-30 reset if in doubt.

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dolphinkickme
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 02 Apr 2020
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 21:24    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thank you @jwh7 and @wabe!

I did get to the password reset and cleared the cache but it was indeed Chrome v80 as the browser that caused the issue.

Firefox 70, Safari 13 both worked well.

What a fantastic forum and community!!! You guys helped a ton. I would have struggled a long time without you.

Thank you for lending your experience.
kernel-panic69
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 08 May 2018
Posts: 14125
Location: Texas, USA

PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 22:16    Post subject: Reply with quote
Had I been around to see your post, I would've told you not to use Chrome whatsoever. It has the most issues with the webUI. Currently, I am using Pale Moon and the only extension loaded on it is uBlock Origin. Extensions and add-ons also cause a LOT of issues for some reason. Glad you got it sorted out!
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dolphinkickme
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 02 Apr 2020
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 3:24    Post subject: Reply with quote
kernel-panic69 wrote:
Had I been around to see your post, I would've told you not to use Chrome whatsoever. It has the most issues with the webUI. Currently, I am using Pale Moon and the only extension loaded on it is uBlock Origin. Extensions and add-ons also cause a LOT of issues for some reason. Glad you got it sorted out!


Thank you @kernel-panic69, I'll check out Pale Moon.

Normally Chrome is useful (and a mem hog). I recently added a number of extensions for work and didn't even think about them.

I learned so much today, thank you all!
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