Asus RT-AC66U firmware update failure

[John Dudley]

Hi

My current firmware for the AC66U router is 3.0.0.4.372_0-g55910de.

I've tried to install the newest firmware version (3.0.0.4.376.3754) in 2 ways and both have failed.

First, the GUI check for updates does not return any information, just goes round and round.
Second, manually downloading the firmware file from the site, unzipping it and then uploading it via the GUI goes dead when a "Processing...." message appears.

Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks in advance,

John

 

[L&LD]

Unplug all USB devices. Reboot the router and wait 5 minutes.

Now try to update the firmware manually.

Forget about checking for updates from the gui. Waste of time, usually.

 

[jegesq]

Yes, checking for auto notification for firmware updates is a total waste of time.

Do as L&LD suggests first. If that doesn't work, hit the reset button and hold it in for 30 seconds while you boot up. Then connect your router to just your computer only (no WAN connection). Log in from your browser (try deleting your browser's cache before you log in, or better yet, use Chrome as your browser), then try manually updating again. If it stalls on "Progressing" just wait a few minutes, and then open a new web page and log back in using the standard IP of 192.168.1.1, and see what firmware it says the router is using.

Sometimes, after displaying the "processing" message, the page won't reload your GUI properly even though the firmware has updated. This can happen when you make large jumps in versions, such as you'll be doing going from the 260. version to a current firmware.

Also be sure to do a "factory reset" after you upgrade and re-input all of your settings by hand to be sure that there's nothing left over in NVRAM that could screw up your upgraded firmware's operation (by using old inapplicable or inappropriate settings left over from the old firmware). This last step is important so don't overlook it.

 

[John Dudley]

Yes, checking for auto notification for firmware updates is a total waste of time.

Do as L&LD suggests first. If that doesn't work, hit the reset button and hold it in for 30 seconds while you boot up. Then connect your router to just your computer only (no WAN connection). Log in from your browser (try deleting your browser's cache before you log in, or better yet, use Chrome as your browser), then try manually updating again. If it stalls on "Progressing" just wait a few minutes, and then open a new web page and log back in using the standard IP of 192.168.1.1, and see what firmware it says the router is using.

Sometimes, after displaying the "processing" message, the page won't reload your GUI properly even though the firmware has updated. This can happen when you make large jumps in versions, such as you'll be doing going from the 260. version to a current firmware.

Also be sure to do a "factory reset" after you upgrade and re-input all of your settings by hand to be sure that there's nothing left over in NVRAM that could screw up your upgraded firmware's operation (by using old inapplicable or inappropriate settings left over from the old firmware). This last step is important so don't overlook it.

Thank you both for your quick suggestions.

I tried the simpler one (L&LD's) first--the reboot and wait--without success.

Then I tried the reset suggestion, following your instructions, 30 seconds. I can see that the router has reset to the initial firmware it came with, namely 3.0.0.4.376_3626-g9a8323e.

I then tried uploading the newest firmware, unzipped, from my desktop, namely RT-AC66U_3.0.0.4_374_5517-g302e4dc.trx. The results were unsuccessful, although his time the router does not go in to the progressing stage and stall. It now says "Please wait, applying settings," then a message pops up from page 192.168.1.1 saying "Firmware upgrade unsuccessfully. It may result from incorrect image or error transmission. Please check the version of firmware and try again."

I use Chrome as my browser.

Does this lead to any new ideas? Can I flash the firmware?

Thanks again for your attention and aid.

John Dudley

 

[L&LD]

Your original post indicates a different firmware than what you are saying in post #4.

The router cannot load the 'original firmware' after being successfully flashed to another version.

You may want to make sure you are downloading the correct firmware for your router, use something like HashTab to verify what you downloaded is the proper file hashes.

http://implbits.com/products/hashtab/


Then, if this still doesn't work, try putting the .trx file in a folder on your C drive instead of your desktop and try updating the router from there.


Again, make sure that no USB devices are plugged into the router and don't load a backup config file after resetting to defaults. Simply enter the minimum required to get you connected to your ISP. Good luck.

 

[John Dudley]

Your original post indicates a different firmware than what you are saying in post #4.

The router cannot load the 'original firmware' after being successfully flashed to another version.

You may want to make sure you are downloading the correct firmware for your router, use something like HashTab to verify what you downloaded is the proper file hashes.

http://implbits.com/products/hashtab/


Then, if this still doesn't work, try putting the .trx file in a folder on your C drive instead of your desktop and try updating the router from there.


Again, make sure that no USB devices are plugged into the router and don't load a backup config file after resetting to defaults. Simply enter the minimum required to get you connected to your ISP. Good luck.

Hi L&LD
Thanks again for your advice.

You correctly note that the firmware version now on my router is not the one I reported in my first mail. I ran the "check firmware updates" function earlier this week and that file, the one reported in my first mail, was the one uploaded, without any hitches. After the reset, I'm back to the first one. I know that's correct because a have a screen shot of the original setup. Hmmm.

Anyhow, I checked the file hashtags as you suggested--they checked out--and copying the file from C:, but to no avail.

I've found Merlin's Asuswrt's page and a corresponding update. Before trying it, however, I'd like to ask if you think this is risky. I've read other posts about bricking a router in firmware upgrades, and I sure don't want to do this.

John

 

[L&LD]

Flashing between Asus' official firmware and RMerlin's firmware version is not risky as long as they are both fairly current. Going to another third party firmware definitely is though.

Give RMerlin a try and let us know the results.

 

[enr00ted]

The update procedure is the same for Merlin's firmware. You do this by wire right ? I mean connected by ethernet ?

 

[L&LD]

Wired is ideal, but RMerlin has mentioned that even wirelessly the file is first uploaded to the router and then the actual flashing begins, so its safe either way.

 

[John Dudley]

Flashing between Asus' official firmware and RMerlin's firmware version is not risky as long as they are both fairly current. Going to another third party firmware definitely is though.

Give RMerlin a try and let us know the results.

Hi

Just tried Merlin's firmware update and got the same failed message as reported in my previous mail.

I guess that's it.

Thanks for the helping hand.

John

 

[L&LD]

No, its not done yet. Just that I can't help further, sorry.

You can try doing an firmware recovery. But someone else will have to help with those steps.

 

[john9527]

Try this sequence....

Go to this link and download/install the Firmware Restoration Tool

http://support.asus.com/Download.as...ue_RT_AC66U_2000.zip#Rescue_RT_AC66U_2000.zip

(Hopefully you are running Windows...the tools is only available for Windows)

Then, ASUS actually published an example restoration for the AC66U (you can use any of the firmware levels you had previously downloaded, but I'd recommend using Merlin's 376.49_5).

http://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1000814/

 

[Diveblaster]

I exp the same problem...i finally got my router back. Thought I had crashed it after a couple of tries to update...the version i use that i can still install is merlin 376.45
This is so strange because before I could update without any failures at all and then for some reason which i dint know...i cant update to a later firmware...with that said i havent tried the newer ones because im afraid to loose the router ...so

Best of luck
Dive

 

[Gardettes]

Just to complete this subject... because i found the answer on an other forum...

I had an issue while updating asus rt ac 68u, the update fail and then i had no more wifi signal from the router... so i can not access any more to the configuration ! the wifi leds where off !

the recovery software does not work as well because no wifi to download the firmware !

the reset button does not change anything...

i found that i had to push the WPS BUTTON before starting and keep it push during 30 seconds, then the router makes a complete reset.

You have to wait a while so the router takes time to reset, then the wifi leds works again and i just had to start the configuration again...

I had to say that i wrote to the asus support and that they had no solution for me ! i even wonder if they know what is a router ?

Thanks to all the people who helps each other and give a little bit of their time !
Stephane.

 

[Damilson Silva]

Just to complete this subject... because i found the answer on an other forum...

I had an issue while updating asus rt ac 68u, the update fail and then i had no more wifi signal from the router... so i can not access any more to the configuration ! the wifi leds where off !

the recovery software does not work as well because no wifi to download the firmware !

the reset button does not change anything...

i found that i had to push the WPS BUTTON before starting and keep it push during 30 seconds, then the router makes a complete reset.

You have to wait a while so the router takes time to reset, then the wifi leds works again and i just had to start the configuration again...

I had to say that i wrote to the asus support and that they had no solution for me ! i even wonder if they know what is a router ?

Thanks to all the people who helps each other and give a little bit of their time !
Stephane.

I wanted to thank you immensely Gardettes because I had the same problem and nothing works until I got to read your post here and did just as you said and managed to solve

Thank you again.