T-Mobile TM AC 1900 won't enter rescue mode

[Rick Mathes]

I am trying to downgrade my tmobile router. It's new and I know I need to downgrade firmware as a first step if I am reading correctly. My problem is I can't get it to rescue mode. I power on the router while holding the wps button until I get the flashing power light. From what I understand it should then be in rescue mode but instead of being in rescue mode the minute I release the button it just reboots. I have tried the reset button to get to rescue mode and that does nothing at all.

 

[Rick Mathes]

Ok I was doing it wrong. I did get in to rescue mode and was able to downgrade my router to 1703 firmware. Now I am in the process of downgrading cfe. The command it says to use is "cat /dev/mtd0 > /tmp/mnt/pen/original_cfe.bin" to save my original cfe. I am getting the message "can't create /tmp/mnt/pen/original : nonexistent directory. Any advice. I feel I am getting close and then I stumble.

 

[Rick Mathes]

Finally got it. Haven't worked with linux before. Very unforgiving Working like a champ on Merlin

 

[Engineer]

Are you running the latest Merlin? What CFE did you flash to? Just to make sure, can you check your current version of CFE (I think it's under Tools in Merlin)?

 

[Rick Mathes]

Ok I may have to do more. I was able to finally get Merlin to work. I installed cfe rt-ac68u_1.0.2.0_us. I am running 376.47 firmware. I was going to update to I believe .55. Is that correct. Also I am confused on what I have to do about updating the cfe again.

 

[Engineer]

Ok I may have to do more. I was able to finally get Merlin to work. I installed cfe rt-ac68u_1.0.2.0_us. I am running 376.47 firmware. I was going to update to I believe .55. Is that correct. Also I am confused on what I have to do about updating the cfe again.

You don't have to update the CFE again. You might need to run another firmware to update the rootfs partition (Asus 376.3626 comes to mind) so you can update to any of the 378.xxxx series.

If you get to 378.56 of Merlin, if you don't mind, please post your CFE listed from the Tools menu. You're good to go other than later firmwares as far as I can tell.

 

[Rick Mathes]

If I update to 3626 from asus won't that cause my router to go back to the t-mobile version?

 

[Engineer]

If I update to 3626 from asus won't that cause my router to go back to the t-mobile version?

Not that I know of. Once you're on CFE 1.0.2.0 (or 1.0.2.1), there 'should' be no reason that any firmware takes you back to a TMobile CFE / Firmware. Of course, anything can change but as of now, I have not see that happen (and I've been with this thing watching and helping for over a year now - see SlickDeals thread for details on that - somehow inherited the job, lol).

 

[Rick Mathes]

Ok updated to latest 378.56_2 firmware. I did as you said and installed 3626 first. My cfe is still 1.0.2.0. Really appreciate all the help. Not that I need to know but why did I first have to downgrade to 3626 before flashing with the latest. Again thanks so much for the help. To be honest I don't need the extra features but I am an old retired guy and have loved messing with computers since back in the days of CPM computers before pcs became the thing. Lots of fun.

 

[Engineer]

Ok updated to latest 378.56_2 firmware. I did as you said and installed 3626 first. My cfe is still 1.0.2.0. Really appreciate all the help. Not that I need to know but why did I first have to downgrade to 3626 before flashing with the latest. Again thanks so much for the help. To be honest I don't need the extra features but I am an old retired guy and have loved messing with computers since back in the days of CPM computers before pcs became the thing. Lots of fun.

The new 378.xxxx series of firmware (either Asus or Merlin) needs a 64Meg rootfs partition. 376.3626 was the first Asus firmware to expand the partition from 32M to 64M. There are other Merlin versions that do it also (maybe they all do by now) but I know for sure that 376.3626 does, so I stick with what works.

 

[Rick Mathes]

You the man. Thanks buddy for the information. Now what will I do tomorrow to fill my day?

 

[TheFar_1]

Ok I was doing it wrong. I did get in to rescue mode and was able to downgrade my router to 1703 firmware. Now I am in the process of downgrading cfe. The command it says to use is "cat /dev/mtd0 > /tmp/mnt/pen/original_cfe.bin" to save my original cfe. I am getting the message "can't create /tmp/mnt/pen/original : nonexistent directory. Any advice. I feel I am getting close and then I stumble.

How did you get it? I've tried to reset button but nothing happens

 

[jdbway]

I have the same problem, l can't get it in rescue mode. You say you were doing it wrong, but you don't say how. I have spent hours trying various button combinations and nothing has worked. Reset alone, WPS alone, Reset/WPS, WIFI on/off, etc. This is driving me up the wall! What's your secret?