HELP! I think I bricked my Asus RT-N66U Router!


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Hey all,

Hope you guys can help me out. I believe I bricked my awesome router by attempting to put ddwrt on it. I used the asus firmware recovery utility to place the small image of ddwrt on it and now it simply wont work. I put the router into recovery mode as instructed and uploaded the firmware using the utility but now the power light stays on and im unable to get into the router using 192.168.1.1. upon further inspection running ipconfig shows the following image.

problemfj.png

Any help you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated. I am dying without my wifi!! It appears my router does not have an ip. Is there a procedure I can go through to save my router?

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Please check this link:

http://www.dd-wrt.co...ic.php?t=153609

Pay close attention to the step after flashing the "big" build:

"- Select Reset NVRAM defaults when it completes (should be quick), in the browser field, type in http://192.168.1.1/d...d=nvram+commit. When done press enter. When complete select reboot and wait 5-10 minutes for the router to reboot and start building its layers."

After flashing 2 Asus RT-N66U's my experience was:

1) Boot router in recovery mode

2) Flash "mini" via Asus firmware recovery tool (on included disc), wait 10 minutes after completion

3) Boot router in recovery mode

4) Flash "big" via Asus firmware recovery tool, wait 10 minutes after completion

5) Boot router in recovery mode

6) As soon as network starts re-connecting on PC enter "http://192.168.1.1/do.htm?cmd=nvram+commit" in your browser. You may have to hit the enter key a couple of times before it comes up.

Also, this may seem obvious, but before you start flashing make sure all anti-virus and firewall software on your PC is disabled. It was a step that I forgot initially and caused a lot of headaches. Also, set static IP because automatic IP will not find the router until after it's set up. I hope this helps.

http://www.dd-wrt.co...ic.php?p=696694

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I did find this after a google search and I will attempt again... I did try these steps once before....after flashing I left it alone all day and it simply never started to boot up again....the only difference after the flash is that it is no longer in recovery mode so instead of the power light flashing it simply stays on, I found no other result... But I promise I will try this again right now. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

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No luck. still having the same problem.. I did notice something at the end that intrigues me and may be the problem... it states "set static IP because automatic IP will not find the router until after it's set up. I hope this helps." How does one configure that. Is there anything else I may be missing here? this has had me up all night for two nights and its driving me nuts.

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If you don't know how to set a static ip in windows, then surely you have no need to use ddwrt?

Anyway, you have to go into the properties of your active network adaptor, edit the settings under TCP/IP option

Ip address: 192.168.1.2

Subnet: 255.255.255.0

Router: 192.168.1.1

You shouldn't need to enter and dns servers. Just remember to switch back to automatic/dhcp once you're sorted.

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Biohead is correct, you pretty much always need to set your computer to a static IP before flashing firmware onto routers. (you should also be doing this while plugged into the router via ethernet cable to one of the router's LAN ports)

According to your pic your computer lost its DHCP-assigned IP address after flashing the firmware, so it's totally normal that you can no longer "see" the router.

Should be pretty straightforward to sort out once you've got it all set up. Good luck!

BTW the RT-N66U is an awesome router :)

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So what instructions were you reading before you attempted to flash the firmware??

Step 1 in the instructions

http://www.dd-wrt.co...hp/Asus_RT-N66U

Upload Firmware via Recovery Utility

Set your NIC card to static IP 192.168.1.12, Subnet 255.255.255.0, Default gateway192.168.1.1

Even has a link to how to set as static - http://www.dd-wrt.co...x.php/Static_IP

If you not going to research the method, and read the instructions of how to actually update the firmware what do you expect to happen?

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I appreciate the help guys and while I may not be the most technical savy person, this is the first router flash I have personally done. the fact iv annoyed some by overlooking some documentation was not my intention. I trust this community and have since 04.

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"by overlooking some documentation"

This is what I am trying to understand - did you overlook the static portion and that step should be highlighted in some way?, or was it not there and needs to be added for other first timers? It is a wiki, so we can update the instructions to help the next guy. Or did you just try and fly by the seat of your pants and not read anything?

I don't see any links to what guide you were following? If you did not follow some guide/instructions - again I have to state what did you expect to happen if your not going to read the instructions? Especially if this was the first router you have ever flashed.

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Well I certainly wont forget next time since I didn't realize the backlash that would come out of simply asking for help from a forum I use to feel open to ask about anything. Sorry to waste any of your time. Have an awesome night.

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Well I certainly wont forget next time since I didn't realize the backlash that would come out of simply asking for help from a forum I use to feel open to ask about anything. Sorry to waste any of your time. Have an awesome night.

hey, mistakes happen, that's what these places are here for, we may laugh at you a little bit for the small ones but hey, we've all made them in some way or another at some point, it's all about learning from those mistakes, am I right :)

anyway, did you get everything working ok?

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Backlash?? Really? :blink:

So again - what guide did you follow? So we can see if it should be updated - can you please point it out, or did you honestly just download a file and think you could just upload it without reading a word?

If that is the case, I am at a loss of words..

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Brando,

I don't mind a little poking as one should be a bit humble to ask for help in the first place and should expect a certain amount of jovial humor. I think I was a bit more taken back by how it was done. But again, we all express ourselves differently. And I work crazy hours so I have not had the time to sit down and attempt it. I am not exactly sure if I should post again here if it does not work lol.

BudMan,

I want no problem with you, While I am sure it may get very frustrating dealing with people asking questions that you believe should know the answer to, I don't necessarily agree with the manner in which you stated it. But again, I am the one asking for help here and should of done better research. As some one who has been on these boards for many years, this is the first time that me asking for help has ended up like this.

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Ended up like what??

I am asking you a simple question - what guide did you use? So that we can get it updated, clearly the part about setting static, or maybe the whole thing in general needs to be rewritten or adjusted to make sure the next guy does not have your same problem.

I don't want any problem with you either, what I want is a answer to a simple question. So we can help the next guy.

What guide did you use? Please link to it, if you did not use one - then please state that and to me this thread would be dead. Since there would be nothing else to do.

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DDWRT Loaded beautifully. Only one issue.. I am unable to access the internet. I have reset my modem and router, Its not the modem (100% positive) because I can directly connect to it and access the internet. Where I believe the problem lays is the modem not picking up the router. Local DNS and Gateway settings are all 0's. Budman - I am currently googleing my way through this issue and to answer the first question, I did use the wiki but my limited technical skill on this issue proves the wiki isn't idiot proof. :) I find this a minor problem and shouldn't have an issue getting this fixed I am simply happy I hadn't bricked my $200 router! lol

ddwrtimage.png

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going to try this to get a WAN ip..

1. Power down the computer that you are using to configure the router or alternatively if you do not want to power down the computer open a command window and issue the following command: ipconfig /release

2. Reset your router to factory default then power down the router . Do not power up the router. Remove the Ethernet cable leading from the router WAN port to the COMCAST cable modem port.

3. Power down the COMCAST cable modem and wait 10 minutes so it clears the MAC addy and reboot the cable modem.

4. Now that the COMCAST cable modem is back up and operational connect the Ethernet cable leading from the router WAN port to the COMCAST modem port and nowPower up the router and wait for 60 seconds.

5. IF you chose not to power down the computer mentioned in step 1 above in the command window issue the following command: ipconfig /renew. IF you did power down the computer now power it up and proceed to do whatever you had planned on doing.

Edit

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21551907

Tried it twice.. no joy... still have a wan with all 0's. hmmm googling on.

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Yes if you change the devices connected to a modem, you need to reset it.

What can also happen, I have seen this more than once - is the mac on the wan interface of your router gets set to something specific, not its default mac any longer. You can verify this by looking at the bottom on your router and what does it show for mac. And then look at the web ui, and what does it show you for your mac.

This was back a few years mind you. But if your having trouble getting a wan IP on your router, and you have power cycled the modem. Then its something to check. A few years back there was an issue with dd-wrt setting the wan mac during flash, so lots of people were getting the same one. Not that big a deal until someone connected to your same ISP in the same area is also running dd-wrt ;) Once a mac gets an IP, your not going to be able to give out another IP to the same mac.

Something to check if your reset doesn't work.

edit: This was back on the 5 and 5.1 and such old wrt54gs -- so not sure if could be related. But I did look up the old instructions for those, and yup right up the top they point out the generic mac that could happen if you didn't create a custom vx image.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Linksys_WRT54G_v5.0_%26_5.1_%26_6.0

Something you should check if your not getting an IP from your isp.

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What build did you use? Looking deeper into the instructions it talks about a specific build or you can have wan port issues.

use build 18946, it fixes the WAN port issue.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=153609&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=5

And that was only a couple of months ago.

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Yes if you change the devices connected to a modem, you need to reset it.

What can also happen, I have seen this more than once - is the mac on the wan interface of your router gets set to something specific, not its default mac any longer. You can verify this by looking at the bottom on your router and what does it show for mac. And then look at the web ui, and what does it show you for your mac.

This was back a few years mind you. But if your having trouble getting a wan IP on your router, and you have power cycled the modem. Then its something to check. A few years back there was an issue with dd-wrt setting the wan mac during flash, so lots of people were getting the same one. Not that big a deal until someone connected to your same ISP in the same area is also running dd-wrt ;) Once a mac gets an IP, your not going to be able to give out another IP to the same mac.

Something to check if your reset doesn't work.

edit: This was back on the 5 and 5.1 and such old wrt54gs -- so not sure if could be related. But I did look up the old instructions for those, and yup right up the top they point out the generic mac that could happen if you didn't create a custom vx image.

http://www.dd-wrt.co...%26_5.1_%26_6.0

Something you should check if your not getting an IP from your isp.

Okay I power cycled the router and modem and I already confirmed the MAC address in DDWRT matches the one on the bottom of my router as I found that info on another website yet its still not obtaining a WAN ip. hmmm I need to do a bit more digging. I'll take a look at the site you listed...

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There is a note on the instructions wiki page

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Asus_RT-N66U

Note: use build 18946, it fixes the WAN port issue.

I don't have this router so have not read any thread or looked into details about flashing this router, but seems there might be an issue that could effect the wan port.. So what build did you use?

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What build did you use? Looking deeper into the instructions it talks about a specific build or you can have wan port issues.

use build 18946, it fixes the WAN port issue.

http://www.dd-wrt.co...der=asc&start=5

And that was only a couple of months ago.

What build did you use? Looking deeper into the instructions it talks about a specific build or you can have wan port issues.

use build 18946, it fixes the WAN port issue.

http://www.dd-wrt.co...der=asc&start=5

And that was only a couple of months ago.

I am using

Firmware Version

DD-WRT v24-sp2 (03/11/12) big - build 18702

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Okay so I am going to first clear the NVRAM then update to 18946 Mega.. then clear nv ram once more and see if that gives me my WAN ip..... Sound like a plan?

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Dude -- not to bring it up again.. But right at the top of the instructions wiki page, dated june -- so clearly it had to be there before started this process.

Loaded DD-WRT (June 25, 2012) but loaded Router Database recommended svn18702, should have tried a newer version at first, like svn18740 or svn18946. Also should stick with the mini version, so NVRAM issue does not appear after first saving of any settings.

Dude :blink: So reading isn't something you feel is required for flashing your firmware ;)

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I came across that version by going to ddwrt main site, going to the router database and its the version that poped up as compatible. see image.

ddwrtimage.png

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