Home >> Articles >> How To Reflash Factory Firmware on the NETGEAR WRN3500L Without A Serial Cable
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Member
August 14, 2010 10:45 AM
updated: September 18, 2010 12:46 PM
This procedure has worked for me 2 out of 2 times (and confirmed by another member) to flash Netgear stock firmware back from Tomato 9047:
This is what I did going from tomato 9047 to Netgear 1.0.2.50. After a 30-30-30, I simply upgraded to Netgear 1.0.2.50 in chk format. It took, but the power light keeps blinking.
At this point, I power cycled (30 sec), did 30-30-30, and then tftp'd to 192.168.1.1 [ tftp -i 192.168.1.1 put filenameofnetgearfirmware] (NOTE: I HAVE ALSO SUCCEEDED EVEN WHEN YOU SKIP THE POWER CYCLE AND 30-30-30. JUST TFTP DIRECTLY.)
Wait 5 minutes, power cycle, 30-30-30...VOILA.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU SET A STATIC IP ON YOUR PC WHEN PLAYING AROUND WITH ROUTER FIRMWARE UPGRADES!!
Netgear WNDR3700V1
Member
August 18, 2010 6:05 PM
@Heintz, got exactly the same problem. I didn't actually figure out that I need to set a static ip on my PC after erasing DD-WRT.
But I was able to re-flash it from that point back to the original firmware using "Firmware recovery utility" that is on the bundled CD.
I think this whole process of re-flashing could be done from very beginning using that Netgear's recovery utility rather than telnet-ing and tftp-ing... I presume it's just does all these steps from tutorial in the background. Am I right?
http://sierakowski.eu | ActionScript 3 Developer Blog
Member
September 4, 2010 5:49 AM
taekwon3dan said: This procedure has worked for me 2 out of 2 times (and confirmed by another member) to flash Netgear stock firmware back from Tomato 9047: This is what I did going from tomato 9047 to Netgear 1.0.2.50. After a 30-30-30, I simply upgraded to Netgear 1.0.2.50 in chk format. It took, but the power light keeps blinking. At this point, I power cycled (30 sec), did 30-30-30, and then tftp'd to 192.168.1.1 [ tftp -i 192.168.1.1 put filenameofnetgearfirmware] Wait 5 minutes, power cycle, 30-30-30...VOILA. IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU SET A STATIC IP ON YOUR PC WHEN PLAYING AROUND WITH ROUTER FIRMWARE UPGRADES!!
ok, works fine from tomatoUSB 9049 to Netgear 1.0.2.50, no problem.
Thanks
aloa from paris
Member
September 21, 2010 2:39 PM
Followed the same steps on Mac OSX using telnet and tftp utilities in terminal. Worked perfectly.
If anyone is interested here are the screenshots: http://dmlogs.imgur.com/flash_to_factory_firmware_wnr3500l
Member
October 1, 2010 6:36 PM
I tried to do this in linux.
After the "reboot" command I tried to tftp but apparently the commands aren't the same and I couldn't get it to work.
I eventually gave up trying to upload the new firmware and pinged the router. Over many trials, 30-30-30 resets, and more, it didn't reply to the ping. What can I do!?!
Member
October 2, 2010 11:25 AM
Thanks! I bricked my router during the initial upload of the .chk file, and was a little bummed about having to order a serial cable, but this worked like a charm. The router had blinking power light, wouldn't accept http/s or telnet sessions, but still was responding to pings. TFTP completed in seconds, after a few minutes the router is now up and running.
Much appreciated.
Member
October 17, 2010 10:07 PM
kosskossy said: Here is what I did to get mine to work -Downlaod the latest firmware from netgear and rename it to WNR3500.chk -Save it on your C drive -Open cmd -Type "cd\" and hit "enter", this will move you to the C drive -Type "tftp -i 192.168.1.1 PUT WNR3500.chk" DON'T PRESS "ENTER" -Now plug in the power to your router while holding a screw driver in your hand -wait until all lights flashes and then short the 2 pins shown in Fabian pic -while having your screwdriver on the 2 pins, go to the cmd window and press"ENTER" - wait until you get a confirmation that the file transferred sucessfuly==> Then my lights started blinking green==> -Now put your screwdriver on the table and press the "upward" arrow and then press "enter" to send the firmware file a second time. - The light color will change from blinking green to blinking orange... wait... wait... wait... wait 5 minutes and the router will be restored.
I did this, minus all the shorting stuff. In addition, I also assigned a static IP to my NIC. Some of the other comments on this page explain how to do that.
Pending Member
November 3, 2010 11:36 PM
If you keep getting a flashing green light and the tftp command is not working. I have the most easiest fix. Just pop the CD in your PC. Have that ethernet cable still hook up. set IP 192.168.1.8, 255.255.255.0, 192.168.1.1 is default gateway. Run the recovery utilty from the CD and it'll put eveything back like it was. You may still have to do up to the erase linux part of this tutorial but after that the CD will take it from there if you run into problems. Hope this helps. It help me.
Member
November 25, 2010 10:40 AM
hi, if you are on a MAC you can use MacTFTP to upload the original FW to the router. The tftp program on Mac OS X doesn't word with the "-i" option, so it is easier to use MacTFTP.
Get it here:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/12146/mactftp-client
Btw. I had to turn off/on the router to get the router to accept the incoming FW.
Member
November 25, 2010 10:44 AM
If you are on Mac OS X you can use a small TFTP client to upload the FW to the router. The original tftp program on the Mac doesn't accept the "-i" option and didn't seem to work for me.
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/12146/mactftp-client
PS I had to restart the router after the "reboot" to get it to accept the upload.
Member
December 6, 2010 7:09 PM
Thanks for the help with this one. It got my router up and running with no trouble by following the video tutorial.
Member
December 18, 2010 6:45 PM
Heey Guys,
I'm all new to this and I'm Trying and learning atm,
I tried to flash my Ntegear WNR3500L to that DD WRT and I guess something went wrong, I've got a orange power LED NOT blinking just Orange all the time,
when I try the Telnet 192.168.1.1, my CMD says "Busy Connecting..." then comes with "Can't connect to host, on port 23: Connection failed"
So I figured since nothing works, maybe there's just no firmware on it, so I tried the TFTP thing, and it takes very long and then my CMD says "Time-Out Occured"
So please can someone help me what can I do, without using the TTL cable preferly,
I'm sorry if the CMD lines aren't right I have a Dutch machine here so I tried translating it =P
Please help me cause I don't know What to do...
Thanks in Advance
Greets:
Thursten
Member
December 19, 2010 4:08 AM
Have you done 30-30-30 resets ?
Try again 30-30-30 !!
Member
December 19, 2010 5:18 AM
Thanks man, But Ain't Working =(
I tried 3 times but it don't seem to work still an orange Power LED ... =(
Anyone else an idea ??
Pleaaassee ??
Thanks
Greets:
Thursten
Member
December 19, 2010 5:27 AM
HOLD ON Wait A Sec..
=DDD
It's working man (I guess)
The Power LED is Green now and the Wireless LED is now on too (wasn't before)
So Now what ?? can I just log in ??
(It took kinda long before it realized it was being reseted ... xD)
Thanks I'm so Happy =D =D =D
Greets:
Thursten
Member
December 19, 2010 8:25 AM
Now you can reflash, using this topic;
Good luck.
( i think it's really difficult to brick this router. :) )
Member
January 6, 2011 9:36 AM
taekwon3dan said: This procedure has worked for me 2 out of 2 times (and confirmed by another member) to flash Netgear stock firmware back from Tomato 9047: This is what I did going from tomato 9047 to Netgear 1.0.2.50. After a 30-30-30, I simply upgraded to Netgear 1.0.2.50 in chk format. It took, but the power light keeps blinking. At this point, I power cycled (30 sec), did 30-30-30, and then tftp'd to 192.168.1.1 [ tftp -i 192.168.1.1 put filenameofnetgearfirmware] (NOTE: I HAVE ALSO SUCCEEDED EVEN WHEN YOU SKIP THE POWER CYCLE AND 30-30-30. JUST TFTP DIRECTLY.) Wait 5 minutes, power cycle, 30-30-30...VOILA. IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU SET A STATIC IP ON YOUR PC WHEN PLAYING AROUND WITH ROUTER FIRMWARE UPGRADES!!
I was actually able to skip the tftp step, all I had to do was select the stock Netgear firmware from the Tomato (v9054) upgrade (after doing a 30-30-30 reset and setting my PC to hardset IP address) and let it flash and reboot, right back into the default Netgear firmware. Restored my config backup and I was up and running with the stock firmware in less than five minutes.
Member
January 6, 2011 10:38 PM
updated: January 6, 2011 10:42 PM
@Aaron K Yes. I think it was reported recently in tomatousb that in the newer builds, you could flash it directly.
"Kernel 2.6-based builds only (beta23):
- Fixed Mini build for Netgear routers with 4MB flash (WNR2000v2, WNR3500v2), removed RIPv1/v2 routing from Mini build due to Netgear size restrictions, added JFFS to Mini build to make use of some otherwise wasted flash space.
- Fixed flashing all supported Netgear routers back to OEM firmware.
- Media server: removed some rare and obsolete demuxers to reduce size, reduced MiniDLNA memory usage.
- Minor backports from upstream 2.6 kernel."
Netgear WNDR3700V1
Member
January 21, 2011 11:12 AM
updated: January 21, 2011 4:05 PM
note:
* under openwrt it would be "mtd erase mtd1"
* if tftping from linux:
tftp
connect 192.168.1.1
binary
put .chk
cheers,
erez.
Member
February 2, 2011 9:57 PM
So Tomato lets you flash back to the factor firmware. That is good as cruddy DD-WRT you have to go thought the mess of erasing the firmware first.
I still won't try Tomato though. I am going to stick with the firmware that the company makes.
Member
April 1, 2011 6:58 PM
Hey hahaha funny question,
i got the firmware back on there - when i hit the router @ 192.168.1.1 via web interface it prompts me for user name and password....
I have no idea what it is!
admin/password doesn't work....
Can the router possibly have cached my old stuff from ddrt or even locked me out now?
Now that it is back to the factory firmware... can i press the reset button on the back of the router??
please post!
Member
April 1, 2011 7:00 PM
kyle said: Hey hahaha funny question, i got the firmware back on there - when i hit the router @ 192.168.1.1 via web interface it prompts me for user name and password.... I have no idea what it is! admin/password doesn't work.... Can the router possibly have cached my old stuff from ddrt or even locked me out now? Now that it is back to the factory firmware... can i press the reset button on the back of the router?? please post!
Not only that thought, the router fully functions .. obviously ... im writing a post!
Member
April 15, 2011 11:48 PM
Just curious -- has anybody ever tried using the firmware recovery utility that ships with the router? I tried it when the router was working fine and it just reported back that my router was functioning correctly and didn't need to be reflashed. I haven't needed to recover and now that I'm using DD-WRT setup exactly as I want I haven't tried since.
Member
May 5, 2011 6:07 AM
I had also bricked my router by flashing an K24 update instead of an K26 flashfile. So I googled and found this post.
Well to be short, I have opened the router and had to shortcut the pins.
Be careful with that! Only shortcut the pins AFTER all the front LEDS flash one time during "boot" and shortcut the chip for a few seconds. If you did this fast enough the powerled will turn to blinking green. If not, poweroff the router and try again.
The next step is to flash AN GOOD FLASH FILE. I've tried it 10 times with the original netgear flash file but that didn't work. Well the flash procedure worked, the TFTP reports it's PUT command correctly but the led didn't turn Orange flashing after the TFTP command.
But I managed the get it working with an DD-WRT mini flash file! I've upload the mini flash file with TFTP en voila! It's running smoothly!
Wait a minute or 5 and the router reboot to normal the normal state.
launch the routerwebsite and upgraded to the latest KONG DD-WRT.
So happy that it works!. And to be sure I have ordered an serialcable for 2 euro at ebay for the next time I brick my router. Short cutting an chip is not ideal!
Netgear WNR-3500v2 - DD-WRT Kong VPN mod
Member
May 21, 2011 2:55 PM
Hello,
I am using Linux and I needed to make some things in another way:
a) after erase linux and reboot, I needed to set up the IP manually on my Linux-System (192.168.1.2 / Mask 255.255.255.0)
b) the Linux tftp-command doesn't work in one step:
- tftp 192.168.1.1
- binary
- put WNR3500L.chk
Binary mode is important, because text mode transfers a corrupted firmware image. SOme tftp-clients may select binary content automatically, but my Linux standard client doesn't. (I tried ascii twice and got another byte count when using binary.)
After a while the system rebooted and I was able to configure the device again.
Maybe a erase nvram (or vice versa) may be useful before step A?!
Bye,
Tom
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