Hard reset - need help RT-AC86U

[Pradeep]

on my RT-AC86U, I am trying a hard reset using the Asus restore utility; the utility keeps saying the wireless router is not in rescue mode. I have been trying the instructions like holding the reset button/wps button with static IPs of 192.168.1.10 or 50.10.. but to no avail

I tried browsing 192.168.1.1 and suddenly I noticed this screen and I wasn't sure what it was? is this the CFE screen? can I use the below screen to reset my firmware? I tried to upload FW_RT_AC86U_300438648260.w file but it doesn't allow it.

what am I missing? thanks in advance.

 

[ColinTaylor]

A "hard reset" and loading a new firmware (via rescue mode) are two different things.

A hard reset just resets the router's settings to their default values. It doesn't change the firmware.

If you want to change the firmware version it's best that you do it through the GUI as normal.

 

[Pradeep]

A "hard reset" and loading a new firmware (via rescue mode) are two different things.

A hard reset just resets the router's settings to their default values. It doesn't change the firmware.

If you want to change the firmware version it's best that you do it through the GUI as normal.

Thanks for the response colin; what am I seeing? is this the rescue mode?

 

[ColinTaylor]

Thanks for the response colin; what am I seeing? is this the rescue mode?

Yes it's in rescue mode.

 

[Pradeep]

Yes it's in rescue mode.

thank you; weirdly the firmware restoration tool doesn't work here. it says wireless router is not in rescue mode any help here, please? thanks again in advance.

 

[ColinTaylor]

Have you currently set your PC with a static IP address of 192.168.1.10 as per the instructions?

I can't really help you because I don't have that model of router. I do remember there being posts specifically about problems flashing and resetting the firmware of the RT-AC86U. I believe these were fixed in a firmware update though.

Why are you trying to use rescue mode? It's a potentially dangerous way of flashing the firmware. Can you not just use the GUI as normal?

 

[Pradeep]

Have you currently set your PC with a static IP address of 192.168.1.10 as per the instructions?

I can't really help you because I don't have that model of router. I do remember there being posts specifically about problems flashing and resetting the firmware of the RT-AC86U. I believe these were fixed in a firmware update though.

Why are you trying to use rescue mode? It's a potentially dangerous way of flashing the firmware. Can you not just use the GUI as normal?

yeah, I set the IP and followed the instructions. I tried the GUI option earlier and it is not fixing an issue. I wanna see if I can do a low-level reset

 

[ColinTaylor]

yeah, I set the IP and followed the instructions. I tried the GUI option earlier and it is not fixing an issue. I wanna see if I can do a low-level reset

What's the issue?

Replacing the firmware with the same version (via any method) won't change anything. Unless it's corrupted in which case it'll be pretty obvious, so just re-flash it through the GUI if you can.

"Issues" may be fixed by either loading an older firmware (followed by a hard factory reset), or just doing a hard factory reset on the currently installed firmware.

 

[OzarkEdge]

on my RT-AC86U, I am trying a hard reset using the Asus restore utility; the utility keeps saying the wireless router is not in rescue mode. I have been trying the instructions like holding the reset button/wps button with static IPs of 192.168.1.10 or 50.10.. but to no avail

I tried browsing 192.168.1.1 and suddenly I noticed this screen and I wasn't sure what it was? is this the CFE screen? can I use the below screen to reset my firmware? I tried to upload FW_RT_AC86U_300438648260.w file but it doesn't allow it.

what am I missing? thanks in advance.

View attachment 41493

Reset FAQ
Reset/Restore
Hard Reset/Restore+Initialize

If you can login to the router webUI, simply use the firmware Restore with Initialize option to "hard reset" the firmware to its default settings and to purge any logged data. Then configure it from scratch.

OE

 

[Pradeep]

What's the issue?

Replacing the firmware with the same version (via any method) won't change anything. Unless it's corrupted in which case it'll be pretty obvious, so just re-flash it through the GUI if you can.

"Issues" may be fixed by either loading an older firmware (followed by a hard factory reset), or just doing a hard factory reset on the currently installed firmware.

2.4ghz wifi signal doesn't seem to be working. tried a reset using the reset button. after a few more attempts, my recovery process started but it says failed. tried the recovery with latest asus firmware, 384 and then merlin's latest. i have no clue why it's failing.

 

[ColinTaylor]

2.4ghz wifi signal doesn't seem to be working. tried a reset using the reset button. after a few more attempts, my recovery process started but it says failed. tried the recovery with latest asus firmware, 384 and then merlin's latest. i have no clue why it's failing.

View attachment 41496

As I said, even if you got that firmware upload to work it won't make any difference. It's the same as doing it through the GUI. If a hard (WPS) reset doesn't fix it then it's likely to be a hardware failure.