Semi-bricked WR741ND

[pbix]

Ok,
So I wanted to upgrade my WR741ND to 1.13.14. I used the web interface and the sysupgrade.bin image for my router. No error messages but the router GUI did not come back. After waiting a bit and several reboots I tried my old friend failsafe mode.

In failsafe mode I am able to telnet to the router and get the command prompt. I tried my usual crutch "mtd -r erase rootfs_data" That command executes without error and the router reboots but still no love on getting the GUI up.

So then I tried tftp a new image both in normal and fail safe mode and all I get is "port unreachable" responses from the router.

So now I am out of ideas and hoping someone here can help with some suggestions.

[behappy]

If you're still lucky getting the ping from the router I will try w. std. openwrt first for getting the router GUI up by failsafe + tfp method.

I always use tftp2.exe from DD-WRT forum in the case.

[Eric]

You can't use TFTP to upload an image on that router. Instead, activate safe mode, telnet in and then run "mount_root" If you then run "first_boot" it will reset all settings to their initial defaults. Alternatively, if that doesn't work, you can make sure the ssh server is running (after entering failsafe and running mount_root), and then use scp to upload an image and manually run sysupgrade.

[pbix]

Ok,
Thanks for the inputs here's an update on my progress.

Tried 'mount_root' followed by "firstboot'. Commands executed without error but no love on getting any response once gargoyle starts. I see occasional ARP message to an unknown IP address coming out but it will not respond to ARP requests from others.

Back to failsafe mode. Started dropbear, transferred by image to /tmp and ran sysupgrade. Again no error message but no love.

I am using the gargoyle_1.3.14-ar71xx-tl-wr741nd-v1-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin file. The command I used was 'sysupgrade -n /tmp/[firmware_file_name]'

Seems there is a problem here. I do not think the sysupgrade command did anything.

[Eric]

I'm having trouble reproducing the error -- I upgraded my 741ND to 1.3.14 just fine this morning, so I'm a bit unsure what might be going on.

[pbix]

Yesterday I tried multiple attempts to flash openwrt and gargoyle images onto this router in failsafe mode. Never got anything but failsafe mode to come up.

This morning even failsafe mode does not seem to be working and since I do not have the patience for this I offer this router free to anyone who will pay the shipping. So if you like soldering connectors and what not this is the deal for you.

Now I need a replacement so if you want to donate to the gargoyle development cause and have a router send me a PM.

[DoesItMatter]

Paul - sending you a PM!

[DoesItMatter]

http://www.cyberz.org/blog/2011/01/02/o ... l-wr743nd/

Posting this here for quick reference!

This DOES WORK on the TP-Link WR-741ND as well

Only the V1 series though, V2 and higher is supposedly different.

Was able to recover using the latest Backfire RC4 factory file here:

http://downloads.openwrt.org/backfire/1 ... actory.bin

Serial console worked for me - no issues.

Best thing I've found - copy "tpl" without quotes
Connect serial via Putty
As its booting, right click the mouse and it will auto-paste tpl
Easier to catch the u-boot environment that way!