AC66U Bricking on Merlin Installation

[wdomon]

I am currently running 3.0.0.4.374_130 on Factory settings from Asus. When I try to upload RT-AC66U_3.0.0.4_374.32_0 from Merlin my AC66U router goes into a restoration mode and becomes unresponsive (Power light blinks about once every 5 seconds).

This is the first custom firmware I have tried to install, so I may be missing something but all the readme files just say "Flash it like any regular update" so I assume that using the "Upload" button on the Asus UI is the way to do this. However, after I use that to upload the Merlin firmware I get a ASUS miniServer page that has a couple of basic options on it (firmware upload and reboot). I have tried leaving the router alone for 30 minutes, tried uploading the Merlin firmware again from the miniServer page, and uploading the Merlin firmware from the Asus Firmware Restoration Utility. None of these have netted me any results.

Any feedback or correction to my method would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jerry6]

Are you unzipping the merlin FW then browse to the trx file to upload ? Sometimes it's the simple steps that are forgettten .
I Have never had a problem running installing merlin FW

 

[wdomon]

Yeah, I am extracting the .zip to my desktop and browsing to the .trx file to upload in all cases.

 

[RMerlin]

Also make sure you did download the RT-AC66U firmware and not the RT-AC56U one.

Try flashing with a different browser, in case your browser is failing to properly send the whole binary file to the router.

 

[jerry6]

Well it was worth a try , my RT N66 U bricked just like that 2 weeks ago , was installing a new FW and bang , went into an endless loop of upload or reset to factory then a blank page , used the reset and started over .
No idea why or how it happened , just send it back under warranty .
Good luck .

 

[wdomon]

I used Chrome initially. I just tried IE10 and received the miniWeb Server page immediately after the upload of the Merlin FW finishes uploading. Is this by design or what should I see immediately after the Asus UI shows 100% for the upload?

Edit: It is definitely the AC66U firmware as the file name shows that.

 

[jerry6]

Sounds like the endless loop my n 66 went into , when you finish the upload you should go to the general settings page or the auto start the setup if you went back to factory settings , no ?

 

[wdomon]

Well this isn't entirely endless. I can upload the Asus FW back onto it at any point and it works just fine again until I try to upload the Merlin FW.

 

[joegreat]

Any feedback or correction to my method would be greatly appreciated!

Hi,

I remember (no sure, but likely) that I had the same issue with the first Merlin firmware install via the web interface or another alternative firmware.

The ASUS Firmware Restoration tool did the job for me correctly.
No issues since then when updating to the new Merlin versions.

With kind regards
Joe

 

[jerry6]

Then you're lucky , mine could not load any FW that would work . Good luck

 

[wdomon]

I may have spoke too soon. The FW loaded correctly so now I get a UI, but it won't connect to the internet. When I try to do the Quick Internet Setup it times out every time.

I have a cable modem (Motorola SB6141) connected to the WAN port of the router.

 

[RMerlin]

I may have spoke too soon. The FW loaded correctly so now I get a UI, but it won't connect to the internet. When I try to do the Quick Internet Setup it times out every time.

I have a cable modem (Motorola SB6141) connected to the WAN port of the router.

Try powering off your modem for 5-10 minutes to allow your existing session with the ISP to expire, then power it back on.

Double check the cable between the modem and the router as well - while using the reset button you might have accidentally pulled the cable out.

 

[wdomon]

5 minute rest seems to have done the trick. Everything (UI and connection) was behaving very strangely until I let it rest. Settings weren't applying like they should (stealth mode specifically), etc. Now I'm connected and settings are acting appropriately. Thanks everyone!!