[ddwrtnewbie_chris]

Router Model: Netgear R7000 v1
Build number current: factory "R7000-V1.0.11.134_10.2.119.chk"
Build number target: r48425_2022-02-24

Preamble: you can skip this section if you aren't offended that I made this post at all

I am completely lost on this website/forum with all the conflicting and/or outdated information. This isn't a complaint as I know this is all free/community-supported work but it is a plea for some non-judgemental help. (One example among many inconsistencies: a sticky in this Broadcom SoC based Hardware forum says to use this "up-to-date" supported devices list but that page itself says it's not to be trusted as updated) so I decided to make this post since the R7000 is purportedly widely used/supported.

Question: how do I safely move from the latest factory firmware (1.0.11.134_10.2.119_2022-02-16) to the latest/any dd-wrt firmware (02-24-2022-r48425)?

Here are the resources I've been reading:

• the supported devices thread suggests to use the latest beta build and work backwards yourself to find a build that works well for you, so that's what I would like to do
• this thread from 2021 suggests that the latest builds are fine to use and flashing factory-to-dd-wrt.chk should work but some users indicated they had to TFTP flash, and no one in the thread mentions which factory version they were flashing from
• partially conflicting/confirming the above, the R7000 install wiki page says that if your factory firmware is at/above 1.0.9.64_10.2.64 then you have to use a modded Kong build from nmrpflash (I can't tell when this was last updated but official Kong builds have been archived since 2019) or alternatively use the TFTP method
• all the "New Build" threads mentioning R7000 that I have found (such as this one) have contributions from users that have used webflash upgrades and not factory-to-dd-wrt

So this is where I am stuck. I don't feel comfortable flashing my router from factory without more up-to-date documentation since unbricking seems to involve physically opening up the router and attaching a serial converter cable to the PCB which is a process I am entirely unfamiliar with.

Can anyone here confirm that it is safe (ie won't brick) to flash from the latest OEM firmware to the latest dd-wrt firmware using web GUI flashing? Or using TFTP flashing? Or using nmrpflash? Or none?

If the answer is: "we don't know and you shouldn't flash if you aren't willing to take the risk of bricking" then okay I understand, but I am hopeful that someone has a better or more nuanced answer for me.

Thank you in advance for your time in reading/responding.

[blkt]

R7000 users have been around a while, also rare for new R7000 users to appear or report in build threads.
Foxconn China and later Vietnam (2015) the hardware is the same but do not know about future revisions.

Recently picked up R7000 for $10 USD, so if you want me to be the guinea pig sure the next build release.

https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Netgear_R7000 Stock firmware lock workarounds TFTP mode FTW.
The model has TFTP recovery and nmrpflash modes so I doubt running into a situation requiring TTL serial.

hold reset, power on, blinking, Netgear Tftpd, tftpd64.464.zip, tftpd32.464.zip, tftpd32.452.zip, nmrpflash

[ddwrtnewbie_chris]

[kernel-panic69]

Downgrade with nmrpflash (or TFTP). Flash the factory-to-dd-wrt.chk file from the stock firmware, preferably from the current release. You can always recover with nmrpflash or TFTP - it's *NOT* that difficult. At least you didn't flash XWRT-Vortex first, because that would an entirely different situation altogether. These routers are hard to completely brick to the point of being fubar'd.

[blkt]

[ddwrtnewbie_chris]

[redhawk0]

For what it's worth...I have 1.0.7 build of the EOM firmware for my R7000. (attached) It might(?) be possible to downrev your FW first...then update using either the factory-to-ddwrt.chk build....or the older KONG K3_7000.chk build.

I've attached 1.0.7...if you need any of the other mentioned...look in the install guide...or ask.

redhawk

[hurleyp]

[blkt]

Reset V1.0.8.34_1.2.15 (12th previous version to 1.0.9.64_10.2.64 lock) upgraded to V1.0.11.134_10.2.119.
Ready to try both TFTP & nrmpflash modes, changed my mind then held hardware reset button 7-10 seconds.

Netgear setup, "disagree" to auto updates and collection of router analytics data, set password and questions.
Canceled closed popups, time zone, offers, circle. Advanced, administration, router update, browse -> r48425
factory-to-dd-wrt.chk = Warning! The firmware version you are trying to upload is older than the one you had.

Do you still want to continue?
Current Firmware Version V1.0.11.134_10.2.119
Uploaded Version V1.0.9.64_10.2.64

Clicked yes & directly flashed r48425. No reason to download modified version chk or old OEM stock firmware.

[ddwrtnewbie_chris]

[blkt]

Since R7000 has no tftp recovery by holding reset during power, only after a CRC failure or via TTL serial CFE,

was curious about magic nmrpflash. Never tried it before so attempted to install r48432 factory-to-dd-wrt.chk.

Turns out super easy, only set ethernet adapter IP 192.168.1.2, subnet 255.255.255.0, gateway 192.168.1.1.

[gilliardmelo]

[egc]

Your problem could be browser related.

Use build 50927, use Firefox, clear browser cache, use incognito mode without extension.

[gilliardmelo]

[dale_gribble39]

I couldn't help but notice this inaccuracy, thanks to the thread bump. Having several of these and other similar hardware in inventory, I'm not entirely sure where this deduction came from.