Back to stock firmware

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renedis
renedis's picture
Back to stock firmware

Hi there,

I have installed DD-WRTfirmware on my WNR3500L and i decided that it was not the firmware that i wanted. (no good USB file sharing support)

the problem is that now i can't go back to the original firmware!
I've checked the forum for answers but i can't find a working solution for me.

I have no serial cable and have tried the "SSH solution"
Putty gets me connected with the 3500L but what then?

i have followed this guide (http://www.myopenrouter.com/article/10496/How-To-Switch-Firmwares-on-the-NETGEAR-WGR614L-Without-A-Serial-Cable/) to complete it but i don't know how to copy files to the /tmp folder.

wouldn't it be much easier if everything was in the same file format? all .chk or all .bin?

is there a way to convert .chk files to .bin?

my main question is: how do i get back to stock firmware?

tcope
tcope's picture
I'm no expert but can't you

I'm no expert but can't you just download the original firmware rather then trying to install firmware from a different router?

http://www.myopenrouter.com/download/13854/NETGEAR-WNR3500L-Original-Fir...

Or better yet, pick an original firmware from a list:

http://www.myopenrouter.com/download/list?cat=55

You may want to check this one out with Paragon's support for drives formated as NTFS.

renedis
renedis's picture
thanks for your reply but the

thanks for your reply but the original firmware is in .CHK format.
dd-wrt only supports .BIN files and not .CHK

thats why i can only install dd-wrt on my WNR3500L

tcope
tcope's picture
I've not read through the

I've not read through the links but here is some info on this:

http://www.myopenrouter.com/forum/thread/12627/How-to-disinstall-DD-WRT-...

Basically it leads to this URL for the info:

http://www.myopenrouter.com/article/10496/How-To-Switch-Firmwares-on-the...

Read Elk's comment that newer DD-WRT installs already contain this utility. As mentioned, I'm no expert but it seems like you might be able to perform this operation from a non-Linux system as the erase file is already included.

renedis
renedis's picture
i'm trying to recover the

i'm trying to recover the firmware but it's not working for me.

i'm not a linux expert and that recovery process is making no sense to me.
The link you have provided is also in my first post.

i wish there was a .chk to .bin converter but i can't find it anywhere.
this thing is giving me a big headache :(

tcope
tcope's picture
As I read it, erasing the

As I read it, erasing the boot image puts the router into a "listen state", it can then accept a chk image file.

However, the _huge_ hurdle is that the install command needs to be issued from a Linux machine on the LAN. Not such an easy task for most.

I have the 13401 revision installed and just performed a search for the erase utility. It's located in the /sbin dir.

To telenet into the router from a Windows system you need WinSCP:

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/WinSCP

renedis
renedis's picture
can anyone tell me how i use

can anyone tell me how i use TFTP?
the mtd erase linux went good and now the power LED is flashing.
but i can't seem to manage to upload new firmware to the WNR3500L.

my pc still says that DHCP is enabled en i'm getting this settings:

sorry that it is in Dutch but the numbers you see should be enough.

does anyone know a good TFTP program for windows (7)?
what port must be used to send it to?
and maybe an good ip-adress?
i've used the tool "TFTPUtil Client GUI" but it is giving me no results.

that are the ip-adresses i've tried..

if needed.. i can install ubuntu on my laptop, but can't it be done on a windows pc?

renedis
renedis's picture
my Router works again!

my Router works again!

i'm planning to make a tutorial on how-to flash your router back to original firmware in Windows if there are enough people that want one.

Brandon C
Brandon C's picture
Your problem is that you are

Your problem is that you are using Windows TCP to automatically configure the IP address of your machine.

Hence why you are seeing your machine using 168.254.241.148

 

 

You must be using Vista or Win 7.

You need to set the configuration manually. I would do it like this in XP.

Not sure how Vista does it but set the computer up to use a specific IP address. ThenTFTP to 192.168.1.1 and you should be good to go.

 

 

 

 

Brandon C
Brandon C's picture
renedis said:

renedis said:
my Router works again!
i'm planning to make a tutorial on how-to flash your router back to original firmware in Windows if there are enough people that want one.

That would be great.  We already have a tutorial on how to debrick the router doing it using a serial cable. Which of course would enable you to put on the factory firmware. But an article on how to do it without a serial cable would be cool!

If you click on "articles" in the tabs above you will be shown a "Sumbit an Article" icon on the right side. You can create it there and then submit it for publication.

I would love an article on how to do this without using a serial cable.

If you need any help creating it let me know.

renedis
renedis's picture
BrandonC said:

BrandonC said:

renedis said: my Router works again! i'm planning to make a tutorial on how-to flash your router back to original firmware in Windows if there are enough people that want one.

That would be great.  We already have a tutorial on how to debrick the router doing it using a serial cable. Which of course would enable you to put on the factory firmware. But an article on how to do it without a serial cable would be cool! If you click on "articles" in the tabs above you will be shown a "Sumbit an Article" icon on the right side. You can create it there and then submit it for publication. I would love an article on how to do this without using a serial cable. If you need any help creating it let me know.

I'm beginning tomorrow on a tutorial for Windows Vista/7 with screenshots for the WNR3500L :)

tcope
tcope's picture
renedis said:

renedis said:
i'm planning to make a tutorial on how-to flash your router back to original firmware in Windows if there are enough people that want one.

YES, YES, YES!

I flashed mine to DD-WRT but am thinking about going back as the USB HD access is so very difficulty to set up. Also, I want to use a NTFS formated HD. Stock firmware and a few others handle this but it does not appear DD-WRT does. Shame... I love all the features of it.

sonnabend
sonnabend's picture
I have DD-WRT running on my

I have DD-WRT running on my WNR3500L router and decided to see if I could revert to the stock Netgear firmware. Well DD-WRT doesn't like the chk format so I compared .chk files versus the same firmware in .bin format and noticed that the only difference was the header. Long story short - I edited the .chk file, renamed it to .bin and proceeded to "brick" my router. I managed to get a ping response from the router after doing a reset but nothing else was working - even the radio didn't transmit. I then used tftp (in Vista 64 bit) to flash with the stock Netgear .chk file and the router now works again.

renedis
renedis's picture
i'm still working on it. I

i'm still working on it. I hope that i can have it done by the evening.

Brandon C
Brandon C's picture
renedis said:

renedis said:
i'm still working on it. I hope that i can have it done by the evening.

Did you have any sucess? If not let us know what you have tried. I have both changed firmware using a serial console and the "erase Linux" deal. I would be interested in what you have tried.

envoy
envoy's picture
Managed to get my WNR3500L

Managed to get my WNR3500L back to stock firmware from DD-WRT using pretty much the guidelines outlined above (/erase linux, reboot, TFTP stock firmware back to router, reboot), wasn't too much hassle although there were a couple of "urk" moments when the router hung for a while.

Brandon C
Brandon C's picture
envoy said:

envoy said:
Managed to get my WNR3500L back to stock firmware from DD-WRT using pretty much the guidelines outlined above (/erase linux, reboot, TFTP stock firmware back to router, reboot), wasn't too much hassle although there were a couple of "urk" moments when the router hung for a while.

 

I know what you  mean. It does take sometime before the router does it's thing and it leaves you wondering if anything is happening,

I have done it both ways, using a serial console and the "erase Linux" deal and both have worked for me.

 

pen
pen's picture
Yes it works, and quick to ~

Yes it works, and quick to ~ 2 min. for the hole deal :-)

I used
- '/sbin/mtd erase linux' in a telnet session (It's part of dd-wrt)
- 'tftp -i 192.168.1.1 PUT code.chk' from windows
- Factory reset by pressing button on back of router to get default user/password

Could this thread be made 'sticky' until there is a real tutorial?

nerad
nerad's picture
This process worked for me.

This process worked for me. Thanks for the tips.

I had some problems with DD-WRT that I could not live with, so I reverted back to the stock firmware.

Brocili
Brocili's picture
On one of the above links

On one of the above links Eko says ;
All dd-wrt builds already include erase utility, I see no need to load another one.
You can simply telnet in and type

erase linux
reboot

So;
Start -> run -> cmd (which brings you in a "DOS" box)
type telnet
type open (routerIP) in this case 192.168.1.1 (so ; Open 192.168.1.1)
login root
password (your password)

then

erase linux
reboot

I just did it and it works
after that (or before) you need to set an static ip like described by BrandonC

after that ;

Start -> run -> CMD

tftp -i 192.168.1.1 PUT code.chk

where code.chk is of cours the official Netgear firmware

let it upload and dont touch the router for a few (3-4) minutes (just to be sure)

thats IT!!!

no need for any weirdo cables or hardware or anything

i just did this about 2 hours ago and everything works

bas_der_gruene
bas_der_gruene's picture
hi,

hi,

just reinstalled the original firmware this way, too. Works fine but I had to figure the right Syntax for tftp on Mac OS X out for myself. Wasn´t that complicated.

Works fine!

Internet151
Internet151's picture
When doing the command "tftp

When doing the command "tftp -i 192.168.1.1 PUT code.chk" where code.chk is the firmware your uploading, what should be typed to point to the folder the .chk file is in? Just checking on this as i'm not sure if it will be the same as the filepath windows shows me as im not familiar with linux and telnet.

Brocili
Brocili's picture
i have the .chk file in the

i have the .chk file in the same folder as tftp
so there is no need to point anywhere

[edit]

tftp is in the windows systems directory
that means that from a command prompt (start-> run ->cmd)
you are able to run it in every directory you are

so
open up a command prompt
it will probably be in your documents and settings folder somewhere

type; cd\
this will land you in the root of your c drive
(the prompt should be c:\> )
change to the map where you have your .chk file stored

you can do this by typing; cd router
(if you have the .chk file stored in your c:\router folder)

then type in the tftp command as described earlier

Internet151
Internet151's picture
So for Windows, I need to put

So for Windows, I need to put the .chk file in the C:\Windows\System32 folder? That appears to be where tftp is.

achilles
achilles's picture
Yes u need to put it there or

Yes u need to put it there or u can copy the tftp utility in the folder where u have ur .chk file ....

erich
erich's picture
I am getting a time out error

I am getting a time out error on my tftp.... please help!!

lexonline
lexonline's picture
renedis said:

renedis said:
i'm still working on it. I hope that i can have it done by the evening.

Hi!

Did you finish your tutorial?

 

dm_dano
dm_dano's picture
Please let us know when you

Please let us know when you finish up that tutorial! It would be a huge help for us without much Linux exposure haha

mutant
mutant's picture
I am also interested in

I am also interested in looking at the tutorial.
As an update, I think the shorting method suggested by fabien is more effective.

roamingrican
roamingrican's picture
I pulled a noob move anf

I pulled a noob move anf flashed from tomato usb to ddwrt using a .chk file, so perhaps the easy solution is to upgrade to tomato using a .bin then downgrade to stock using the .chk? Easy enough to try i will experiment tonight because my tomato build has horrible wireless quality and the ddwrt builds wont recognize my hard drive.

Subhra
Subhra's picture
As per my knowledge, your

As per my knowledge, your approach is right. Please let me know about the result.
Btw, will you please elaborate the problem you were actually facing in dd-wrt?

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