[hugosboss]

Hello!

I believe i bricked a router again

This time TP Link Archer C8 1750 V1.

I did a factory reset.
Flashed Index of /dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2023/08-21-2023-r53396/tplink_archer-c8v1/
Router bricked.
3 Green lights sometimes light up continius sometime

Does this router have a TFTP function?
How do I activate it?
How do I recognize if it is in the TFTP mode?
Which IP does the router have in TFTP mode?
----
Is there an alternative solution to debrick?

Hope some one can help me.
Thx

[dale_gribble39]

Are you sure you were trying to access router at http://192.168.1.1 after flashing DD-WRT? How exactly did you perform a "factory reset"?

https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/TP_Link_Archer_C8

As far as TFTP, all you should have to do is power up while pressing reset until the WPS LED starts flashing.

Support for TP-Link Archer C8 and Huawei E5786

[hugosboss]

TP-Link Router Webside GUi-> factory resett
then i flashed dd-wrt via Gui

After the flash no wlan and ethernet was just trying to make a connection but failed.
- Windows says network is beeing identified
- unidentified network
- no network cable
and repeat

tried diffrent Lan Adapter, Cables etc

[kernel-panic69]

Lack of reporting on the C8 v1 seems to be a contributing factor, perhaps. Don't know if this was a blind port or not. Another game of whack-a-mole.

New Build - 09/24/2020 - r44467

TP Link Archer C8 - bricking

Tp-link Archer C8 - bricked

[hugosboss]

This video helps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW5fpOWpI0I

TFTP64 is running
Log File
Connection received from 192.168.0.86 on port 1998 [25/08 14:58:30.040]
Read request for file <ArcherC8v1_tp_recovery.bin>. Mode octet [25/08 14:58:30.040]
File <ArcherC8v1_tp_recovery.bin> : error 2 in system call CreateFile Das System kann die angegebene Datei nicht finden. [25/08 14:58:30.041]

What firmware should i try to flash?
Archer C8_V1_151125
r44406?
r44467?
should i yolo r53396 again?

Is the router fail safe or can I kill the TFTP funktion and finally brick device?

[dale_gribble39]

The file "ArcherC8v1_tp_recovery.bin" should be in the root directory of the TFTPD server (folder listed next to the Browse button ...). It's always best to use the stock firmware file renamed to "ArcherC8v1_tp_recovery.bin"...

[hugosboss]

So I flashed the OG Firmware Archer C8_V1_151125.

I was optimistic but after resetting my IP in WIndows and the wifi Router creating no wifi.

TFTP64 log
File <rftest> : error 2 in system call CreateFile Das System kann die angegebene Datei nicht finden. [25/08 17:16:29.566]
Connection received from 192.168.0.1 on port 45445 [25/08 17:16:29.603]
Read request for file <rftest>. Mode octet [25/08 17:16:29.603]

Thats not a good sgin isn't it?

Should I try if flashing the Archer C8(UN)_V1_160517 FW?

EDIT:
DHCP works
DNS works
ping Router works
wifi not working
switch funktion working
Router gui notworking

[dale_gribble39]

In TFTP recovery mode, the router IP address will be 192.168.0.86 and your PC should have a static IP of 192.168.0.66. The log says 192.168.0.1, which seems suspect, but that is the default IP of the router to access webUI. I can only guess this thread is going to turn into pages and pages of "troubleshooting"....

[hugosboss]

no I am sorry:


Flash was succesful (officially)
then i tried to reset Lad Adapter IP
then i recognized Wlan not working
then i watched this File <rftest> : error 2 in system call CreateFile Das System kann die angegebene Datei nicht finden. [25/08 17:16:29.566]
Connection received from 192.168.0.1 on port 45445 [25/08 17:16:29.603]
Read request for file <rftest>. Mode octet [25/08 17:16:29.603]

I am not sure why there is no wifi from the device and why i cannot visit Gui of TP-Link OG webside.

I tried again with the newer FW.
Now its working with OG TP-Link FW


So which FW can I try to get DD_WRT Working?
Should I downgrade the TP-Link OG FW to an older version?

Can't I just flash a dd-wrt FW via TFTP?

[hugosboss]

TP-Link FW Downgrading is not working

can it be that with the newest FW something changed that it cannot be downgraded or upgraded?

If i red this correctly https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/archer-c5-c7-wdr7500#tftp_recovery_de-bricking

Note: the TFTP flashing process requires that the product hardware id and version in the new image header match those in the existing image in flash, otherwise the new image is rejected, flashing is cancelled and the bootloader proceeds to boot the old image.

Try an error with webflash dd-wrt it is i guess

Edit
From newest OG FW webflash 44715 works
Gui looks broken on firefox; on edge fine

[dale_gribble39]

But we still don't know where current releases have broken for this device and 44715 has several known vulnerabilities and is nearly 3 years old. Optimal situation would be to flash incrementally or flash current release with serial USB TTL UART adapter attached and serial console being logged and find what broke. This is not an ideal solution to flash what works and not contribute.

Also, TP-Link FW does have a point at which it locks out downgrading and 3rd party firmware flashing, generally speaking.

[hugosboss]

For me this Version would probably 44715 enough (cheap Wlan Repeater)

My experience with Putty and flashing ESP32 ESP8266 is limited.
I have a CP2102 Adapter.

What would I need to do to help?
Tear down Router look for RX TX
Flash back to OG FW
Start and connect Putty
Flash current DD-WRT Version via Webflash
Copy an publish contend from putty consol

[hugosboss]

From the Voltage to Ground
Antenna Up
leftest pin GND 3,3v
snd left pin GND 0,0v + Ohm 0 -> Ground pin
3rd left pin GND 0,0v no connection to Ground
right pin GND 3,3v
left to right 0,0v

I guess left an right are RX and TX
my multi meter is not able to measure ohm so I have to guess RX an TX.

[kernel-panic69]

You'll have to ensure that no pins are missing components on the PCB. TP-Link has a bad habit of leaving components off so you cannot connect serial UART to an adapter without bridging solder pads. That definitely does not look the same as the C9 V4 US model that I still need to do a serial dump on.

All you *should* have to do is once you have working serial is to flash the upgrade file while pulling serial output. Since you already have a means of recovery, this should be trivial now.

[hugosboss]

Houston, we have a problem.

I connectet the UART-Cable with a clothespin (pressure).

I tried turning on router an I got no replay.

I used Baud 115200
no Flowcontrol

+ its not booting at all