rt-ac56u can't update firmware. HELP

[joelw23]

I flashed ddwrt build 23940 and I would like to move to a merlin build.
the gui won't let me upgrade firmware, nor the asus firmware restoration or the cpe in recovery mode.

all of them say the upload was successful.

the firmware restorations says "failed to restore system"

all of them reboot the router and it still has the 23940 build on it.

i've cleared nvram..

what else can i try?

 

[NGRhodes]

Try updating to a newer build of ddwrt. I've flashed from DDWRT (a build from Oct 2016) to Merlin no problem on my AC56U.

 

[joelw23]

I just tried that from the web gui with the same results...still at 23940...tried to upgrade to the 29739 beta build.

 

[L&LD]

Try removing all USB devices and rebooting the router, then waiting at least 5 minutes for it to stabilize.

Now, see if you can flash a new firmware.

 

[joelw23]

just tried that....same result.

 

[joelw23]

it seems like the uploading of the new firmware goes too fast with the gui...

with the firmware restoration tool it takes longer to upload it, but then fails....

 

[L&LD]

How long are you waiting for the firmware restoration tool to finish? It can take an hour or more.

 

[joelw23]

It says failed to restore system and reboots in to ddwrt.. So I guess I'm not waiting at all.. How would I know to wait?

 

[L&LD]

It says failed to restore system and reboots in to ddwrt.. So I guess I'm not waiting at all.. How would I know to wait?

This is different than what I was expecting. Sorry, don't know (or want to know) DD WRT. You may be following the steps incorrectly or, you may need to load an intermediate version first.

 

[joelw23]

The firmware restoration tool is an Asus product, not ddwrt.

 

[KevTech]

I suspect you need to use the CFE mini web server in recovery mode with static IP.

 

[joelw23]

Yes it is the first time.. I did do the as us updates when I got the router this week and then loaded ddwrt. Now it won't let me load any firmwares, ddwrt updates, stock, or Merlin.

 

[joelw23]

i tried 378.55 via the ddwrt firmware upgrade...it counts down from 299 and after 15 sec it says upgrade successful, unit is rebooting. I click continue and see the cfe miniweb server. then it finishes rebooting and is back at the ddwrt gui

 

[john9527]

I think that dd-wrt may use a different flash partitioning scheme. Try loading some asuswrt code that is much smaller (like my fork) via the CFE mini server. If that works, then step to 378.55 and then to your desired Merlin level.

 

[iisac]

Try loading some asuswrt code that is much smaller (like my fork) via the CFE mini server. If that works, then step to 378.55 and then to your desired Merlin level.

Alrighty,

I had DD-WRT 06/06/2016-R29837 on my ASUS AC56u and I wanted out . I flashed ASUS Original FW (something from 2014 and the latest) in DD-WRT FW Upgrade page and it still always booted to DD-WRT. I managed to downgrade the DD-WRT version to "RT-AC56U Firmware - Webflash image" from DD-WRT website. I googled for multiple hours and finally found this thread .

First I went in Recovery mode and flashed this. (Optional-->) Then I flashed 378.55 and now it's rocking!