Upgrading Merlin firmware on AC88U to 384.11_2

[Peter Rasmussen]

I am using RT-AC88U with Merlin firmware 384.10_2.
Have been upgrading MANY times before with Merlins firmware without any problems.

This time I wanted to upgrade from 384.10_2 to 384.11_0.
The firmware update did not complete. After installation and warm reboot CPU1 was loaded 100%.
Firmware still showed version 384.10_2.
Did a coold reboot without any result, still firmware 384.10_2, CPU1 load back to normal, about 5%.

Now, I tried to upgrade from 384.10_2 to 384.11_2.
Still same result. CPU1 load was 100%, did a cold reboot, but still firmware version 384.10_2.
CPU load normal again.

What could be the problem?

 

[AndreiV]

Which exact model are you using?

The RT-AC66U is no longer supported by Merlin , see :

https://asuswrt.lostrealm.ca/about

 

[martinr]

You could have a look at John’s fork, where it appears your model is supported:

https://www.snbforums.com/threads/fork-asuswrt-merlin-374-43-lts-releases-v39e3.18914/

(You’d have the added bonus of being able to use his NVRAM Save/Restore utility, which is still compatible with his fork.

And welcome to the forum

 

[Peter Rasmussen]

Sorry, sorry, sorry.
I wrote the wrong model!
My model is RT-AC88U.

 

[AndreiV]

Do you have any USB sticks attached? If so remove prior to flashing the firmware.

 

[Peter Rasmussen]

No, there are no USB sticks attached.

 

[Stevens243]

Delete and re-download the firmware and ensure that it is the correct model and that you unzip the files first.

I have had a couple of "bad" downloads and re-downloading the file has solved the issue.

 

[indark]

power cycle and hold WPS button while rebooting to reset the router.

power off the router for 30 sec
holding wps button while powering on,
wait till the power led start blinking
release the wps button and wait for the router to fully rebooted.
now manually reconfigure everything without loading the previous settings.