No_Strings
Premium,Mod
join:2001-11-22
The OC
Host:
Wireless Networking
All Things Unix
Cox HSI
Qwest
Efficient
| reply to Slides
Re: [Info] Flush out the NVRAM Before you Re-Flash Your Router U
said by Slides  :I'm amazed that this thread is stickied. For one reason: It contains a valid reset procedure, including a variation helpful if firmware is corrupted.
The rest, I'll leave to the astute members to opine. |
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Slides
join:2001-09-02
Avenel, NJ | reply to tipstir
I'm amazed that this thread is stickied. The OP has failed to give any valid technical reason for this reset button voodoo. A simple reset is enough. |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
 ·Cox HSI
| reply to mb
said by mb :said by MLGTWISTED :I'm joining this really late, but what exactly does flushing out the NVRAM do and what is NVRAM? Im assuming it to be similar to cache-ing or cached information stored on the router, and it to just cleares it right? NVRAM is non-volatile random access memory. Fancy words, but it is just memory that doesn't lose it's information when the power is turned off. Going through all such gyrations is absolutely not necessary UNLESS the firmware has been corrupted and needs to be re-flashed. It is unlikely that the device would run at all if the firmware was corrupted. It works and doesn't harm the router. All brands it works on. I've tested go figure. |
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mb
join:2000-07-23
Washington, NJ
·Comcast
 ·Callcentric
·Vonage
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to MLGTWISTED
said by MLGTWISTED :I'm joining this really late, but what exactly does flushing out the NVRAM do and what is NVRAM? Im assuming it to be similar to cache-ing or cached information stored on the router, and it to just cleares it right? NVRAM is non-volatile random access memory. Fancy words, but it is just memory that doesn't lose it's information when the power is turned off. Going through all such gyrations is absolutely not necessary UNLESS the firmware has been corrupted and needs to be re-flashed. It is unlikely that the device would run at all if the firmware was corrupted.
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"When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?"
Pete Seeger 1961
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
·Cox HSI
| reply to ibsteve2u
said by ibsteve2u :Just a note: Memory of any sort that will not accept a write, or memory of any sort that corrupts a write or a read sufficiently to cause a jump to a memory location that is not the intended target - whether it is a memory location that is not written by a firmware flash and so might contain "old code" or just the wrong location in successfully flashed memory - is by definition bad memory, and no amount of wishful thinking, voodoo, or power cycling is going to make it good memory. Code can get corrupt in memory flashing out the the old code thus results in a clear area for the firmware to run. You can believe it or not, but routers manufacturers are adapting is process now, DLINK and etc. |
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ibsteve2u
join:2007-03-01
united state
| reply to tipstir
Just a note:
Memory of any sort that will not accept a write, or memory of any sort that corrupts a write or a read sufficiently to cause a jump to a memory location that is not the intended target - whether it is a memory location that is not written by a firmware flash and so might contain "old code" or just the wrong location in successfully flashed memory - is by definition bad memory, and no amount of wishful thinking, voodoo, or power cycling is going to make it good memory. |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
·Cox HSI
| reply to MLGTWISTED
said by MLGTWISTED :I'm joining this really late, but what exactly does flushing out the NVRAM do and what is NVRAM? Im assuming it to be similar to cache-ing or cached information stored on the router, and it to just cleares it right? Flushing out old code that tend to stick around after so many firmware updates and downgrades. Not going to hurt the router. I've tested it on every brand so far and no issues. Just take your time doing it. |
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MLGTWISTED
join:2007-01-19
Melville, NY | reply to tipstir
I'm joining this really late, but what exactly does flushing out the NVRAM do and what is NVRAM? Im assuming it to be similar to cache-ing or cached information stored on the router, and it to just cleares it right? |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
·Cox HSI
| reply to Vihsadas
said by Vihsadas :This procedure doesn't make any technical sense to me. When the router's caps have been discharged after being unplugged for a while, it doesn't matter what you do with the reset button. What's with all of this reset button voodoo? The emergency recovery page is a real thing, as I've seen that page, but other than that, just flash as D-link recommends... Don't know why you think it doesn't make much sense. Known fact to clear/flush out the NVRAM after so many firmware updates and downgrades. If you just got A4 and don't have A1, A2, A3 then it might not make sense to you. |
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Vihsadas
join:2003-12-08
Montreal, QC
| reply to Weird Science
This procedure doesn't make any technical sense to me. When the router's caps have been discharged after being unplugged for a while, it doesn't matter what you do with the reset button. What's with all of this reset button voodoo?
The emergency recovery page is a real thing, as I've seen that page, but other than that, just flash as D-link recommends... |
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Weird Science
@comcast.net
| reply to tipstir
Your advice is wildly excessive and silly.
D-Link cautions to upgrade firmware with a wired connection, and advises that firmware upgrades can reset router configuration to default. You did not discover this.
No reason to make this a sticky. Your procedures are ill-informed. |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
·Cox HSI
| reply to aaronwt
said by aaronwt :said by tipstir :Actually you should all put the wireless router, cable modem, switches, wireless access points, print servers on timers to shutdown at night where your sleeping. This way it can cool off thus save energy too. My cable modem works very hard I also reset that one flush out the NVRAM once every 6 months. After that it performs faster. I control everything with one power surge strip, I should put everything on a timer. Flush out all the switches too. Say like 4am to 9am (5 hrs) shutdown.......... I have ten DLINk Gigabit switches, a Dlink access point, a couple of Dlink Bridges, a DGL4500, and the Actiontec router. they are never turned off. All my electronics are on a UPS. All of the network equipment is covered for 15 to 20 hours during a power outage. I never turn them off and never reboot unless necessary like during a firmware upgrade or to get a new IP address. Otherwise I have no other reason to reboot. I would never turn that equipment off, since I have around 50 devices on my network and there is always a device that needs internet access at any given moment, especially my alarm system. Well everyone going to have different setup. You're running SBS right or small domain, average home using not going to be running such a complex system. I mean I come close to you in switches. I really don't need more than 20+ nodes. on Enterprise Server. Don't have to turn off everything that's optional to save energy. I have wireless set to shut down after 3am to 7am no need to have that running where not one is up using it. |
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aaronwt
Premium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
 ·Verizon FIOS
4 edits | reply to gigaenvy
said by tipstir :Actually you should all put the wireless router, cable modem, switches, wireless access points, print servers on timers to shutdown at night where your sleeping. This way it can cool off thus save energy too. My cable modem works very hard I also reset that one flush out the NVRAM once every 6 months. After that it performs faster. I control everything with one power surge strip, I should put everything on a timer. Flush out all the switches too. Say like 4am to 9am (5 hrs) shutdown.......... I have ten DLINk Gigabit switches, a Dlink access point, a couple of Dlink Bridges, a DGL4500, and the Actiontec router. they are never turned off. All my electronics are on a UPS. All of the network equipment is covered for 15 to 20 hours during a power outage. I never turn them off and never reboot unless necessary like during a firmware upgrade or to get a new IP address. Otherwise I have no other reason to reboot.
I would never turn that equipment off, since I have around 50 devices on my network and there is always a device that needs internet access at any given moment, especially my alarm system. |
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aaronwt
Premium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to tipstir
never update the firmware on ANY device without having it plugged into a UPS.
said by tipstir :WARNING*** DO NOT FLASH OVER WIRELESS OR IN A LIGHTING STORM
YOU DO NOT WANT TO LOOSE POWER DURING THE NEXT STEPS
PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME DOING THE BELOW STEPS
NO RUSH OKAY!
GOOD LUCK!Step A_First backup your config file Take the router off your network Just keep the power plug in it.. Now you'll need pin or paper clip for the reset button This reset button need to be press in for 90 secs During each 30 secs you'll be doing: Step B_press reset for 30 sec on the first try press reset for 30 sec and unplug the power cord at the same time press reset for 30 sec and plug-in the power cord at the same time now unplug the unit wait 30 seconds now plug in the power Step C_connect 1 LAN port cable back to the router login as the admin now re-flash wait until the screen is completed now unplug the unit wait 30 seconds Step D_Now repeat these steps.. press reset for 30 sec on the final try reset 30 and unplug the power cord at the same time press reset for 30 sec and plug-in the power cord at the same time now unplug the unit wait 30 seconds now plug in the power Step E_connect all LAN/WAN cables back to the router login as the admin either you recover from a backup or just start fresh. |
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taytong888
join:2005-06-20
Nepean, ON
| reply to tipstir
Thanks tipstir, I will give this a try. As for how I bricked the Asus router, when I first flashed the router I must have been too impatient to do the 30-30-30 properly. Then I spent a few hours playing with the reset button and got it working as a non-DD-WRT router. After that I flashed the DD-WRT firmware and it was working fine. Recently I switched to the modified Trendnet and had to unplug the Asus. When I tried the Asus again, all lights went on despite no cables being plugged in. That's why I believe it has been bricked and asked you for the correct procedure to "unbrick" it. Hopefully this time I will work more slowly but correctly. Sorry for the long explanation. |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
·Cox HSI
| reply to taytong888
said by taytong888 :Hello tipstir, Does this Recovery Mode procedure work for reviving a bricked Asus WL-520GU router that previously was flashed with DD-WRT firmware? Or do I need to follow specific instructions in the DD-WRT web page? Browser set to the default IP use when you first got the router. Reset the router press in the pin in the rear for 40 seconds then release and keep on access the default IP through the browser. Has to be timed just right. Once you get in flash the router back with the orginal one. I did on the trendnet it worked.
How did you brick your Asus? |
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taytong888
join:2005-06-20
Nepean, ON | reply to tipstir
Hello tipstir,
Does this Recovery Mode procedure work for reviving a bricked Asus WL-520GU router that previously was flashed with DD-WRT firmware? Or do I need to follow specific instructions in the DD-WRT web page? |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
·Cox HSI
| reply to Internet Expert
said by Internet Expert :
THis is basically the worst thing Ive ever heard of doing. It is all redundant, makes no technical sense, and there are no good reasons for doing this. I think its a really bad idea for anyone to listen to this guy...
It's not the worst thing.. I've you tired it? Others have. |
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Internet Expert
@comcast.net | reply to tipstir
THis is basically the worst thing Ive ever heard of doing. It is all redundant, makes no technical sense, and there are no good reasons for doing this. I think its a really bad idea for anyone to listen to this guy... |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
·Cox HSI
| reply to No_Strings
said by No_Strings :That, I'll buy. The rest is excessive. Well the Recovery one I wouldn't use that unless it was the last resort or you had issues flashing the firmware (Example (router rebooting on it's own, stuff like that). The first post comes in handy for all of those here with A1, A2, A3 hardware who's be flashing back and forth with no many new flash releases. Some firmware sticks around and doesn't clear it self. I see DLINK is recommending resting the router after the you flash. I do it before and after. |
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