WNR3500 Firmware Recovery

[DanoNH]

I have a not-so-old WNR3500 v1 router that just bricked during the latest firmware upgrade. I have tried all of the reset button and power on/off techniques mentioned in jmizoguchi's post here, and at the VPN Case Study site. TFTP32 did not appear to communicate with the router but did indicate that Block #0 was sending. It wasn't clear what to set the port number to, so I tried nothing and port 80...

Netgear support mentioned to use a firmware recovery utility on my CD, but there is no such tool available, only a firmware update checker utility.

Support also mentioned that the newer shipping versions of the WNR3500 have such a utility included on the setup CD, but there is no downloadable version available. They also suggested buying just a setup CD from a local retailer. The local retailers here in the USA would not sell just the CD out of a package.

Does anyone have the files for this firmware recovery utility so I might try to un-brick my 20-month-old router? I am not sure, but I think this is model-specific.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading... Dan

[jmizoguchi]

if you can't do tftp then you have brick unit
http://forum1.netgear.com/showthread.php?t=30453( this also tftp method )

other last thing is go to myopenrouter.com and learn about jtag.

[DanoNH]

I could not get tftp to work, but Netgear Support (who referred this forum to me) has told me that the new WNR3500 CDs have a firmware recovery utility specific to the WNR3500. The problem is that my CD does not have this, and the forum rules say not to ask for product CDs...

I see everywhere that you don't need a CD for this router, when in my case I do!

Where can I find such a CD or CD image? I am desperate.

Thanks... Dan

[DanoNH]

I have gotten a "transfer complete" message with tftp, and executed it twice to be sure, but the router won't boot. I just get the flashing power LED.

[jmizoguchi]

I would probably suggest that you need new router..

this is the last way
http://www.myopenrouter.com/forum/th...ighlight=jtag+

[DanoNH]

Thanks. This may be irrelevant, but so far, all of the recovery information has been for a WNR3500L router, not a WNR3500v1 like I have. The WNR3500L has a USB port for NAS, but mine doesn't.

I have had no luck with the non-invasive methods, but I'm thinking about cracking open my WNR3500v1 and trying to connect to it at the board level. I just don't want to spend any money on it if it is indeed "bricked"...

Thanks... Dan

[dvsjw]

I'll start at their fourms and then go from there...

My sob wnr3500 v1 did the same thing and they say its my fault their update cause my router to brick.

Have tried listed solutions. No joy.

No support and no help from netgear, so far..

Very irritated and likely 175.00 poorer.

If you are just a little smarter than me and have an idea let me know.

[jmizoguchi]

Originally Posted by DanoNH

Thanks. This may be irrelevant, but so far, all of the recovery information has been for a WNR3500L router, not a WNR3500v1 like I have. The WNR3500L has a USB port for NAS, but mine doesn't.

I have had no luck with the non-invasive methods, but I'm thinking about cracking open my WNR3500v1 and trying to connect to it at the board level. I just don't want to spend any money on it if it is indeed "bricked"...

Thanks... Dan

try Jtag and see... never know might works out

[Saoirse]

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to DanoNH. Your instructions worked perfectly when nothing else did. I was ready to head to my local MicroCenter to buy a new unit. Thank you so much for saving me the cash!

[bkl1960]

I just bricked my old WNR3500L using the upgrade procedure. It appears that something is wrong with the upgrade vs router. I just purchased the 2 new routers just to try to see if I was doing something wrong. I was able to upgrade the newer router with out any problem. A friend aof mine tried to upgrade his old NG using ehe same process and it failded also. Now I'm down a router because of a faulty upgrade. I'm putting all upgrades on hold until a fix is found for this.

Also, The new router that i purchased yesterday did not have any firmware recovery tool on the disk. It seams that NG dont have one out.