[Recovered!]Upgrading to 384.6 killed my ac68u :(

[Sylphia]

Upgrade as usual, but after the router have rebooted, it entered boot loop.
Then I boot it into rescue mode, upload the firmware, but it entered rescue mode boot loop (ttl 100), and the mini web page cannot be opened.
A 30-30-30 seems brought the router out of boot loop, entered rescue mode(slow blinking power led), but the web page remains down (connetion reset), then I tried to upload firmware by tftp, reboot the router after a full night, but it dosen't work, still rescue mode boot loop.

Any actions that I can do to bring it back?

P.S. I've got a ac86u as replacement, but sadly the iptable's geoip module didn't work.

 

[Jack Yaz]

Actual AC68U or a converted T-Mobile router?

 

[jim769]

30-30-30 resets do NOTHING on Asus routers. Try a proper reset by powering on the router while holding the WPS button till the power led flashes if possible.

 

[Sylphia]

Actual ac68u.

Actual AC68U or a converted T-Mobile router?

 

[RMerlin]

Make sure you are trying to flash the correct model. Flashing over tftp/webui recovery should work, unless something is defective.

 

[Sylphia]

Make sure you are trying to flash the correct model. Flashing over tftp/webui recovery should work, unless something is defective.

I'm sure it's the right firmware for ac68u.
Current status is,
- normal boot: go into recovery mode (slow blinking power led), boot loop ~30 seconds, webui sometimes works but can't do anything because of boot loop;
- power off, long press reset button then power on: seems booted recovery mode (slow blinking power led), but webui didn't work, timeout or connection reset.
- power off, long press wps button then power on: same as normal boot.
In all situation tftp seems working, but as soon as I start uploading firmware, ping to router goes timeout.
Asus firmware recovery tool shows recovery failed after uploading.

I'll get a TTL cable later to see if there's anything I can do.

 

[HowIFix]

Follow this guide: STEP #1: Flash Stock Firmware

 

[Sylphia]

Follow this guide: STEP #1: Flash Stock Firmware

Thank you but like I said, even in recovery mode, it still doing boot loop, no chance to upload a firmware.

 

[Sylphia]

Tried TTL cable, no luck.
With TTL cable connected, power on the router results in all lan led lighted, dimmed power led, and nothing from com port.

 

[RMerlin]

Some TTL adapters are quirky, connect it after you power on the router.

 

[Sylphia]

Some TTL adapters are quirky, connect it after you power on the router.

Tried, no luck
I think it's time to say goodbye to my ac68u

 

[loveleeyoungae]

I also had some issues with 384.6, so tried downgrading to 384.5 but realized that it seemed it might not be able to downgrade via webui as Merlin said in another thread.
Tried using the CFE miniweb and it did not work, only the power LED was on and nothing else. For the last week, I have tried several methods but have not succeed. I could use CFE Miniweb, Firmware Restoration, tftp and they all output successful messages "Transfered successfully", "Upload completed" etc... but the router power LED just kept staying On. This is really strange...

 

[Sylphia]

I also had some issues with 384.6, so tried downgrading to 384.5 but realized that it seemed it might not be able to downgrade via webui as Merlin said in another thread.
Tried using the CFE miniweb and it did not work, only the power LED was on and nothing else. For the last week, I have tried several methods but have not succeed. I could use CFE Miniweb, Firmware Restoration, tftp and they all output successful messages "Transfered successfully", "Upload completed" etc... but the router power LED just kept staying On. This is really strange...

Since your cfe miniweb still working, try reset nvram first, then flash a official firmware.

 

[loveleeyoungae]

Since your cfe miniweb still working, try reset nvram first, then flash a official firmware.

When I said "several methods" I also implied that I tried several types of firmwares (Merlin, John, Official). The only thing left I will try is the "patience" method. Just flashed the very old 2014-era firmware 374.5656 using the Firmware Restoration tool, I will wait for a day as some people suggested.

 

[Grisu]

you need a firmware smaller 32MB to be loaded via MiniWeb.

 

[loveleeyoungae]

you need a firmware smaller 32MB to be loaded via MiniWeb.

I tried some <32MB firmwares as well. As I said, the CFE Miniweb and other methods always "worked" (gave out successful messages). But they all just stayed at that level. Nothing else except the power LED is always lit. I even waited for around 4-5 hours, but someone said he waited at least 10 hours, that's why my next tries I will try to wait at least 12h-24h.
Btw, I can't use putty or scp, even when the router is in rescue mode. Is that normal?

 

[loveleeyoungae]

Beside digging a lot of threads last week, yesterday I found someone mentioned that the only firmware he installed successfully for the debugging was OpenWrt (I have not thought of trying that one as people usually never mentioned about it due to its wireless support). It sounded reasonable as OpenWrt size is small (6-7 MB). So, after waited some long hours and the patience method I did yesterday did not work, I have just tried OpenWRT, and... well I can putty ssh into the router now. So tempted, wondering what I should do next... However, I am going on a vacation right now (yeah, just tried the flashing right before packing and going , so I will get back in 3 days.

 

[Grisu]

I have just tried OpenWRT, and... well I can putty ssh into the router now. So tempted, wondering what I should do next...

sounds promising
maybe with SSH: mtd-write2 FW_RT_AC68U_30043763626.trx linux
similarly like done here: https://blog.silocitylabs.com/post/2018/01/01/flashing-merlin-to-tm-ac1900-or-ac68u/comment-page-1/

 

[loveleeyoungae]

sounds promising
maybe with SSH: mtd-write2 FW_RT_AC68U_30043763626.trx linux
similarly like done here: https://blog.silocitylabs.com/post/2018/01/01/flashing-merlin-to-tm-ac1900-or-ac68u/comment-page-1/

Thanks. Just dont know if OpenWRT has mtd-write2. I heard they had some other upgrade tool such as sysupgrade.

 

[Sylphia]

Finally, I got it recovered by upload a openwrt firmware by ASUS recovery tool, and waited for over 24 hours, then flashed merlin 384.6.
After merlin firmware booted, there's many log entries like "jffs2_scan_eraseblock(): magic bitmask xxx not found at xx: xxx instead".