Wireless router broke

[Mezlo]

Well, its not broken, but the LED flashes tell me the firmware is corrupt. I did some googling and i need to download new firmware onto my laptop and then connect my laptop to the router and reinstall the new firmware. This is difficult for me... I was online with the tech support people for my router for close to 2 hours and my router still isnt working. Any help from you techies would be much appreciated!

So i went to the router website and downloaded the new firmware onto my desktop. I then go into my local connection options and goto the TCP/ICP 4 option (these might not be the correct letters but its something like that, there also a TCP7 or something but the instructions say to goto the #4 one.) I manually change the IP address to almost the same address as the router but instead of ending in .1 like the router, they want me to end it in .10. I then unplug the power cord from the router and reset it by using a toothpick to hit the reset button and then plugging the power cord back into the router. Now the directions tell me to keep holding down the reset button until the power led turns green, but I have held down the reset button for like 2 minutes after powering it back on and the power led never turned that color, that could be the issue. After i give up waiting on the power led to turn green i release the reset button and the router tries to do its thing and then ultimately ends up flashing the power led at me green which means corrupt firmware. I plug my laptop directly into the router where the internet connect from the modem normally goes. I then click on this ftp program the tech support chick had me download. I use the IP address of the printer, the one that ends in .1, the password is password, and then i browse to the firmware file i saved on my desktop. I then try and upload it and it tries 3 times and then says the firmware can't be added.

Help?! Anyone?! I needs wireless internet!!!! I'm so clsoe to buying a new wireless router, but I'd rather it not come to that....

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This is my router.

NETGEAR - N750 Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router

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[cidbahamut]

Re: Wireless router broke

It sounds like you've done everything I was getting ready to walk you through and the firmware just didn't take.

So you've successfully logged into the router's web-based interface and navigated the menus to the one where it says "update firmware" and you said "take that one that's sitting on my desktop", and it just looked at you funny and said "no" three times in a row, yes?

Long-shot troubleshooting option: try using a different internet browser to access the router interface. This probably won't change anything but it's worth trying.

More realistic solutions: There's something wrong with the firmware update file you have and the reason it won't load is because it's just a scrambled heap of data that the router doesn't know what to do with.
OR
You can't update the firmware because you somehow botched resetting the router to factory defaults, so the current firmware remains hosed in such a way that it cannot update to the new functioning firmware.

So double check the firmware file and spend some time with a ballpoint pen resetting the router. If that doesn't get you anywhere it's time to yell at tech support some more and start digging a shallow grave for your router.

[Mezlo]

Re: Wireless router broke

So you've successfully logged into the router's web-based interface and navigated the menus to the one where it says "update firmware" and you said "take that one that's sitting on my desktop", and it just looked at you funny and said "no" three times in a row, yes?

I was not on the router's web-based interface, that sounds easier. The only thing I did that was allowing me to change the firmware was i downloaded an FTP program to my desktop that once i connect my laptop to the router via the cat 5 cable, was supposed to allow me to upload the firmware. So it was like this.

1. connect laptop to router via normal modem connection with a cat 5 cable
2. reset router by holding down reset button and then power off and power on router.
3. wait for the light to stop on green and it never did, it stayed yellow for like 2+ minutes.
4. let go of reset, router gets going then blinks green meaning corrupt firmware
5.goto my desktop where i had downloaded the ftp program
6. run ftp program which prompts for IP addresss, password, and then location of firmware
7. i type in the printers IP address that ends in .1, password is password, and then i pull firmware file from my desktop
8. pop up box appears saying preparing to upload firmware this could take some time
9. it tries 3 times, a total of 30 secs pass, then says unable to upload firmware because device cant be found i think is the comment

[cidbahamut]

Re: Wireless router broke

Hold up, where is there a printer in all of this and why is its IP .1 ?

The default IP address for a router is usually 192.168.1.1. The .1 conventionally denotes it as the default gateway, so unless you're doing some weird networking voodoo, the only thing that should have a .1 at the end is your router. If you have a printer with the same IP then there might be an issue of things getting sent there instead of to your router because you have two instances of the same IP on your network. If that's the case then there's gonna be some weirdness to sort out later, but you should be able to bypass it by simply turning your printer off completely(unplug it from the wall if it's fancy).

See if you can reach the web based interface. Just type the ip address of your router into the address bar. It's most likely 192.168.1.1 if it follows normal industry conventions.
Better yet, open up a command prompt (windows key + R -> cmd) and run the command "ipconfig". The IP address next to Default Gateway should correspond to the IP address of your router.
If you can make it to the web interface you'll have to log in, which will probably be the credentials they had you enter earlier. If that doesn't work you'll have to just do some googling to find the default username/password for your router, or maybe it's one that has it printed on a label on it. Once you're in it's just a matter of clicking until you find where to upload firmware and pointing it to the correct file.

[Mezlo]

Re: Wireless router broke

When i said printer i meant router, i just said the wrong device, lol...

So i'll try that IP address 192.168.1.1, but how does this work? I only have one ethernet conenction on my laptop so i can either have it plugged into the modem and be online, or have it plugged directly into the modem and the modem isnt online. Do i jack into the modem, then open up a webpage and then type in that IP address?

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[Icemage]

Re: Wireless router broke

The problem seems to be that you didn't get the reset function to work (i.e. the power light never turned green). Have you tried unplugging the router from the power cord for 30 seconds before attempting to reset?


Icemage

[DakAttack]

Re: Wireless router broke

What about getting a new router? I really liked this one: ASUS RT-N53 Black Diamond Dual Band Wireless N600 SOHO Router, DD-WRT Open Source support, Fast Ethernet, 5 Guest SSID, Parental Access Time control to Each User - Newegg.com

It's just sitting around at the moment, because Verizon provided us with a modem/wireless router combo.

[Mezlo]

Re: Wireless router broke

The problem seems to be that you didn't get the reset function to work (i.e. the power light never turned green). Have you tried unplugging the router from the power cord for 30 seconds before attempting to reset?


Icemage

I did it for 10 seconds per the instructions, I'll try 30 next time...

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What about getting a new router? I really liked this one: ASUS RT-N53 Black Diamond Dual Band Wireless N600 SOHO Router, DD-WRT Open Source support, Fast Ethernet, 5 Guest SSID, Parental Access Time control to Each User - Newegg.com

It's just sitting around at the moment, because Verizon provided us with a modem/wireless router combo.

If i have to I'd buy a new one, but mine is less than a year old. I'd prefer to get mine fixed if it's an option...

[Feba]

Re: Wireless router broke

It's just sitting around at the moment,

How about you send it to him instead of making him buy a new one then, dick.


Oh, wait, it's Mezlo.

[Mezlo]

Re: Wireless router broke

Oh, wait, it's Mezlo.

/wave

[cidbahamut]

Re: Wireless router broke

When i said printer i meant router, i just said the wrong device, lol...

So i'll try that IP address 192.168.1.1, but how does this work? I only have one ethernet conenction on my laptop so i can either have it plugged into the modem and be online, or have it plugged directly into the modem and the modem isnt online. Do i jack into the modem, then open up a webpage and then type in that IP address?

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[laptop]------(ethernet cable)------[router]

Your router should have multiple ethernet ports to connect to. Make sure your laptop is connected to it via one of the ports labeled "ethernet" and not the one labeled "internet". You will not need any internets to update the firmware.

Go to your preferred web browser. In the address bar instead of typing "www.google.com" or whatever, you type the IP address 192.168.1.1
The black magic of your computer normally turns "www.google.com" into an IP address for you, so by typing in an IP address explicitly you're just bypassing that step. Assuming your router is indeed modern and not from the stone age, a page should load that is basically a web interface for doing all sorts of admin stuff to your router.

Also: please stop saying "modem" because I can't tell if you're adding additional hardware to the equation or more terminology. I mean really, you've already tried to turn your router into the most problematic and hated peripheral in the entire industry.

Also also: if possible you should probably turn off your laptop's wireless connection. There's usually a button or some function key to do it. I know some models will be finicky about connecting via ethernet cable if there's a wireless network anywhere in the vicinity. Just trying to rule out potential hang-ups here.

[Mezlo]

Re: Wireless router broke

I cooked dinner last night so I couldn't try fixing it. But tonight with the wife cooking, this is what I plan on doing tonight. I'll keep you posted!

Oh, and as far as the terminology goes just so we are straight:

I get my high speed cable internet from Time Warner. They provide a "modem" to me that brings the internet connection into my house from their cable. I connect the "modem" to the "wireless router" with an ethernet cable. That use of the word "modem" is correct, is it not?

[cidbahamut]

Re: Wireless router broke

Indeed it is. I just wanted clarification because I've known some people to use the terms interchangeably when they are not the same device.

Keep me posted and I'll try to help as best I can.

[Mezlo]

Re: Wireless router broke

Had to cook again last night, I'll be trying the router fix tonight...