Help! I've bricked my Linksys EA8500 - badly...

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nickant
DD-WRT User


Joined: 09 Feb 2016
Posts: 319

PostPosted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 6:50    Post subject: Help! I've bricked my Linksys EA8500 - badly... Reply with quote
Yes - I have searched for the answer on the forum, but my situation seems worse..
I have 2x EA8500 - one as Gateway and one as Wired AP.
I used to use a Linksys WRT1900AC as my wAP and its version of DD-WRT is now a few months old, so I decided to hook it up and update it.
Unfortunately - I hooked it up using the wrong ethernet cable - the DD-WRT update meant for the WRT1900AC went to the EA8500...now it's bricked.
I have used a serial cable and Putty once before - to get DD-WRT on the WRT1900AC several years ago.
I fired up my old Windows 7 PC and set up its static IP etc.
I hooked serial cable up to EA8500 and followed MRJCD's excellent instructions.
Once Putty gets connected, it shows text in the box but doesn't stop at IPQ prompt - it continues loading stuff, gets to a point where it asks me to hit any key to stop - but no key stops it proceeding - then it reboots and away we go again.
I remember having this lack of key press before - it was due to firewall not being disabled; this time no firewall...
Can anyone help me out here?

_________________
------------------------------------
Netgear XR500 OpenWrt-23.05.3 (Gateway)
Linksys EA8500 OpenWrt-23.05.3 (Wired AP)
Linksys WRT3200ACM DD-WRT r55460 (spare Wired AP)
Netgear WNDR3700v4 DD-WRT r55460 (spare Gateway)
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickant44/albums
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mrjcd
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 31 Jan 2015
Posts: 6268
Location: Texas

PostPosted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 11:53    Post subject: Reply with quote
try a different keyboard or something --- plug into other USB port Wink
NOT using a wireless keyboard I hope Rolling Eyes
YOU MUST stop the EA8500 boot process in order to give it instructions to fetch a new firmware Razz

---edit:
nickant wrote:
this time no firewall..

reboot computer after firewall is completly diabled
might have to try another version of PUTTY ...I haven't used such in years
nickant
DD-WRT User


Joined: 09 Feb 2016
Posts: 319

PostPosted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 12:09    Post subject: Reply with quote
I've tried 4 usb ports.
Keyboard is wired.
Rebooted after firewall off.
Had used Putty 0.67 - tried 0.78 - same result
I'll try again tomorrow - it's 10:40pm here.
cheers

_________________
------------------------------------
Netgear XR500 OpenWrt-23.05.3 (Gateway)
Linksys EA8500 OpenWrt-23.05.3 (Wired AP)
Linksys WRT3200ACM DD-WRT r55460 (spare Wired AP)
Netgear WNDR3700v4 DD-WRT r55460 (spare Gateway)
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickant44/albums
blkt
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 20 Jan 2019
Posts: 5660

PostPosted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 12:35    Post subject: Reply with quote
Try to connect ground wire just after power on; some USB to TTL serial adapters are finicky but not this FTDI 3.3V.
Aside from wire mixups maybe recent firmware upgrades to or from r52054? Triple power toggle ON, 2-3 seconds?
sumbuddie
DD-WRT User


Joined: 28 Mar 2009
Posts: 74

PostPosted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 14:51    Post subject: Reply with quote
For the EA8500 couldn't you just power on/off 3-4 times (within a couple of seconds) to force it to boot from the other partition which hopefully wouldn't have been impacted?

Or would the WRT1900AC firmware completely overwrite the partition layout?
mrjcd
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 31 Jan 2015
Posts: 6268
Location: Texas

PostPosted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 18:00    Post subject: Reply with quote
r52054 'ddwrt-linksys-wrt1900ac-webflash.bin'
= 38.5 MB -- 39424 KB -- 40370176 bytes

EA8500 max is:
linux = 41943040 bytes
linux2 = 41680896 bytes

So it prolly went to one part but have NO idea what it may have done. Evil or Very Mad
I tried the power-switch trick to change parts lately with NO luck.
Works fine from SSH or the GUI CMDs iffin yous can get there.
NOT sure why don't work anymore -- maybe some BS changes on that stuff...
... power-switch (NO boot) 3rd time should switch parts ...worky fine in old days Twisted Evil

nickant will likely get it sorted when he gets around over in his part of the world Cool
nickant
DD-WRT User


Joined: 09 Feb 2016
Posts: 319

PostPosted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 0:51    Post subject: Reply with quote
sumbuddie wrote:
For the EA8500 couldn't you just power on/off 3-4 times (within a couple of seconds)

Tried this but no joy.
As MRJCD mentioned, this used to work but hasn't seemed to for a while now.
I'll have another go later on.
It just feels like Putty isn't going its thing right.
Online searches show a lot of people have similar Putty issues.
I've tried conrol flow On, then Off - still nothing.
Tried swapping TX and RX connection - no good.
I'll be online searching for another cheap EA8500, but none here at present.

_________________
------------------------------------
Netgear XR500 OpenWrt-23.05.3 (Gateway)
Linksys EA8500 OpenWrt-23.05.3 (Wired AP)
Linksys WRT3200ACM DD-WRT r55460 (spare Wired AP)
Netgear WNDR3700v4 DD-WRT r55460 (spare Gateway)
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickant44/albums
nickant
DD-WRT User


Joined: 09 Feb 2016
Posts: 319

PostPosted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:08    Post subject: Reply with quote
[quote="nickant" I'll be online searching for another cheap EA8500, but none here at present.[/quote]

A local is selling a Linksys WRT3200ACM cheaply, as the AC adaptor has gone, together with ex-spouse.
The EA8500 adaptor (12V 3.5A) is compatible (12V 3A) so deal Done!
Yes, it's Marvell not Atheros - but its a WRT3200ACM - and my old WRT1900ACv1 works with no issues here, including WPA3.
I might try the larger EA8500 antennas on it and see if it improves signal strength.
I'll continue to persevere with my existing brick and keep an eye open for a replacement EA8500.

_________________
------------------------------------
Netgear XR500 OpenWrt-23.05.3 (Gateway)
Linksys EA8500 OpenWrt-23.05.3 (Wired AP)
Linksys WRT3200ACM DD-WRT r55460 (spare Wired AP)
Netgear WNDR3700v4 DD-WRT r55460 (spare Gateway)
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickant44/albums
blkt
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 20 Jan 2019
Posts: 5660

PostPosted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 13:00    Post subject: Reply with quote
blkt wrote:
Try to connect ground wire just after power on; some USB to TTL serial adapters are finicky but not this FTDI 3.3V.
Aside from wire mixups maybe recent firmware upgrades to or from r52054? Triple power toggle ON, 2-3 seconds?

Being unable to interrupt u-boot countdown seems a USB to TTL serial adapter issue, also doubt EA8500 is bricked.
Update drivers for the adapters you have, commonly Prolific PL2303, SiLabs CP2102, FTDI FT232RL (avoid clones).

Disconnect the ground wire from pin header, after power on connect the ground pin then tap keys on the keyboard.
I did not need to do this on my FTDI but some adapters a problem, also workaround is fairly simple after power on.

Marvell WPA3 I do not think 802.11w was ever properly implemented in driver so it's very much YMMV see mwlwifi.
Both routers have very good range (EA8500, WRT3200ACM), so you can't go wrong aside from incomplete Marvell.

EA8500: HK-X142-A12, HK-X142-A12S, KSAS0501200350HU, 2103-30103502R. WRT3200ACM: MU42-3120300-A1

I am fairly certain WRT3200ACM power adapter barrel plug size is larger and I cannot recommend swapping power.
As for swapping antennas I would not recommend it as these antennas are well designed for their specific purpose.

About triple power toggle ON 2-3 seconds each time I do not think timing has changed always been a little difficult.
I had to 3x recently on r51976, timing was not easy and I also ended up tripping the dd-wrt bootfail reset defaults.
nickant
DD-WRT User


Joined: 09 Feb 2016
Posts: 319

PostPosted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 23:54    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'll try the Ground wire trick as suggested - later today.
The WRT1900ACv1 has WPA3 using DD-WRT - our Android mobile phones and laptops all seem to use it ok.
I know the OpenWRT crowd have had difficulties with WPA3, but currently none with DD-WRT.
The power adaptor barrel for the WRT1900AC (12V 4A) is identical to the EA8500 (12V 3.5A) - I'll check the WRT3200ACM (12V 3A) when I go get it Wednesday, but I suspect it will also be identical.
I tried the EA8500 antennas on my WRT1900AC - no change to 5GHz signal strength and I thus prefer the smaller ones.
The 3x power toggle was always a bit tricky but I had managed to get the right pace in the past, but this time it just did nothing.

_________________
------------------------------------
Netgear XR500 OpenWrt-23.05.3 (Gateway)
Linksys EA8500 OpenWrt-23.05.3 (Wired AP)
Linksys WRT3200ACM DD-WRT r55460 (spare Wired AP)
Netgear WNDR3700v4 DD-WRT r55460 (spare Gateway)
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickant44/albums
nickant
DD-WRT User


Joined: 09 Feb 2016
Posts: 319

PostPosted: Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:37    Post subject: Reply with quote
Picked up Linksys WRT3200ACM.
Already had a mid 2020 build of DD-WRT installed.
I reset it and installed latest r52081 build.
Set up as per usual.
No internet.
Tried other builds r51787, changed channel to 100 - eventually got internet, but extremely slow even though signal very strong...and nothing on Samsung Mobile.
Reset, very basic setup, tried again - same...
Will return and try to find EA8500...

_________________
------------------------------------
Netgear XR500 OpenWrt-23.05.3 (Gateway)
Linksys EA8500 OpenWrt-23.05.3 (Wired AP)
Linksys WRT3200ACM DD-WRT r55460 (spare Wired AP)
Netgear WNDR3700v4 DD-WRT r55460 (spare Gateway)
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickant44/albums


Last edited by nickant on Thu Mar 23, 2023 6:32; edited 1 time in total
dale_gribble39
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 11 Jun 2022
Posts: 1900

PostPosted: Wed Mar 22, 2023 14:11    Post subject: Reply with quote
blkt wrote:
blkt wrote:
Try to connect ground wire just after power on; some USB to TTL serial adapters are finicky but not this FTDI 3.3V.
Aside from wire mixups maybe recent firmware upgrades to or from r52054? Triple power toggle ON, 2-3 seconds?

Being unable to interrupt u-boot countdown seems a USB to TTL serial adapter issue, also doubt EA8500 is bricked.
Update drivers for the adapters you have, commonly Prolific PL2303, SiLabs CP2102, FTDI FT232RL (avoid clones).

Disconnect the ground wire from pin header, after power on connect the ground pin then tap keys on the keyboard.
I did not need to do this on my FTDI but some adapters a problem, also workaround is fairly simple after power on.
------

Some specific PL2303 require an older specific driver or they will not work. This is also related to the ground wire pull trick. Driver updates are not always necessary. No issues with any adapters in Linux, but YMMV.

_________________
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep." - Robert Frost

"I am one of the noticeable ones - notice me" - Dale Frances McKenzie Bozzio

<fact>code knows no gender</fact>

This is me, knowing I've ruffled your feathers, and not giving a ****
Some people are still hard-headed.

--------------------------------------
Mac Pro (Mid 2012) - Two 2.4GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon E5645 processors 64GB 1333MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM OpenSUSE Leap 15.5
blkt
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 20 Jan 2019
Posts: 5660

PostPosted: Wed Mar 22, 2023 14:30    Post subject: Reply with quote
You should provide specific older drivers addition to mrjcd, but already recommended FTDI USB to TTL serial 3.3V.
Prolific is well known for a counterfeit clone problem and bad driver history. Even SiLabs has better driver support.
mrjcd
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 31 Jan 2015
Posts: 6268
Location: Texas

PostPosted: Wed Mar 22, 2023 15:07    Post subject: Reply with quote
The true correct PL2303 has built-in drivers with Debian.
Used it many times ...as my 1st EA8500 has had an attached PL2303 since 2016 Twisted Evil
dale_gribble39
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 11 Jun 2022
Posts: 1900

PostPosted: Wed Mar 22, 2023 20:36    Post subject: Reply with quote
blkt wrote:
You should provide specific older drivers...


https://www.miklor.com/COM/UV_Drivers.php

https://github.com/johnstevenson/pl2303-legacy

_________________
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep." - Robert Frost

"I am one of the noticeable ones - notice me" - Dale Frances McKenzie Bozzio

<fact>code knows no gender</fact>

This is me, knowing I've ruffled your feathers, and not giving a ****
Some people are still hard-headed.

--------------------------------------
Mac Pro (Mid 2012) - Two 2.4GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon E5645 processors 64GB 1333MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM OpenSUSE Leap 15.5
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