Is it really, really bricked, or am I just plain stupid?

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case
case's picture
Is it really, really bricked, or am I just plain stupid?

Ok, so I bricked it. Installed OpenWRT, DD-WRT then voilá! Green blinking light at startup, tried to upload various firmwares via tftp, but no response. So I got the famous ca-42 cable, cracked open the box and fired up. Seems kind of fine, starting with some minor errorcodes and going into upgrade mode. It should be able to reflash if it wasn´t for this:

/**

Done!

Bytes transferred = 4806614 (4957d6 hex)

HW ID on board: ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ

HW ID on image: 29763654+16+128

Firmware Image HW ID do not match Board HW ID

Board HW ID mismatch,it is forbidden to be written to flash!!

**/

So my Router thinks its ID is "ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ"! Every single firmware I tried had the same ID = 29763654+16+128

Is there a way to change the routers HW ID?

(Yes, I have done the 30-30-30 just prior to flashing)

 

jmarin
jmarin's picture
In serial console.

In serial console.
type:
board_hw_id_set 29763654+16+128
board_model_id_set

jmarin
jmarin's picture
I had the same problem after

I had the same problem after I changed the board_hw_id and the board_model I could flash again firmwares but now I have a new problem .

ar7100> board_model_id_show
board_model_id : WNDR3800
ar7100> flinfo

Bank # 1: The hell do you want flinfo for??
ar7100> board_hw_id_set
board_hw_id_set - set board_hw_id

ar7100> board_hw_id_show
board_hw_id : 29763654+16+128
ar7100> board_passphrase_show
board_passphrase : ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
ar7100> board_ssid_show
board_ssid : ????????????????????????????????
ar7100>
ar7100> dnishow
eth0 mac: ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
eth1 mac: ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
wlan5g mac: ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
wpspin : ????????
sn : ?????????????
ar7100>
ar7100> macshow
lan mac: ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
wan mac: ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
wlan5g mac: ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff

all mac address are "corrupted" and also board_passphrase, board_ssid, wpspin, sn and I don't know how to change them.

Subhra
Subhra's picture
Have you tried factory reset

Have you tried factory reset option ?

case
case's picture
Subhra said: Have you tried

Subhra said: Have you tried factory reset option ?

Yes I have. The 30-30-30 has no effect whatsoever on this baby ;-)

case
case's picture
jmarin said: In serial

jmarin said: In serial console. type: board_hw_id_set 29763654+16+128 board_model_id_set

Thank you! I will definitely try this one! Hope it solves my problem.

Subhra
Subhra's picture
Ok, you can make another try

Ok, you can make another try to reset from Stock firmware WebUI if you haven't did it already.

case
case's picture
Subhra said: Ok, you can make

Subhra said: Ok, you can make another try to reset from Stock firmware WebUI if you haven't did it already.

There is no WebUI, just a green blinking light on the router at startup. Maybe later when I have tried jmarins tip.

Subhra
Subhra's picture
Ok keep us know about status.

Ok keep us know about status.

case
case's picture
Subhra said: Ok keep us know

Subhra said: Ok keep us know about status.

Hi,

Ive been working a little with the router but cant connect with the serial cable. Do you know how to use it on a Mac?

case
case's picture
I give up, the sucker goes in

I give up, the sucker goes in the electronics bin! This must be the worst piece of shit Netgear ever released. I have recovered bricked stuff several times without problem. But this stupid junk?

Subhra
Subhra's picture
Check this link for serial

Check this link for serial cable pin connection in WNDR3800.
I dont have a MAC machine, most probably MAC will also use minicom for accessing serial console.
I will update you if I get some more info on that.

jmarin
jmarin's picture
case, You can install vmware

case, You can install vmware trial version and then install windows xp I using windows xp and to connect via serial cable I use putty.

Subra, I already install openwrt firmware but it appear the wifi is not configured because the firmware didn't detect the wifi cards, I don't know if the dd-wrt firmare change the address that contains the direction on the wifi address or the address is corrupted.

Can you give some advise on this matter, what is the next step.

Thanks.

clemeb01
clemeb01's picture
I'm having the same problem.

I'm having the same problem. I went into the serial console and found all the entries with a value of yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. I reset all of the values and got the original firmware back on the router. Now, in the GUI the WPS section is grayed out. I have no wireless. When you check the boxes to turn it on and hit apply, the boxes change back to unchecked. The wifi and the wps button on the front of the router do not work. Does anyone have an idea of what is going on?

case
case's picture
Thanks guys! So I managed to

Thanks guys! So I managed to put a Netgear original firmware back thanks to a combination of jmarins tips on rewriting correct board model in serial console and subhras link to the pinout article. Now the router starts normally, and when I connect with wired network it gives me an IP-address, but no wireless connection is broadcasted at all and I can not connect to the web user GUI. I used an image called WNDR3800-V1.0.0.16.img and I believe it is a Netgear original. Any suggestions on next steps.

Subhra
Subhra's picture
@case: Have you tried factory

@case: Have you tried factory reset after uploading the Netgear's Original firmware?

case
case's picture
Subhra said: @case: Have you

Subhra said: @case: Have you tried factory reset after uploading the Netgear's Original firmware?

Yes I have dom the 30-30-30, still no sign of intelligent life.