Debricking a Router
 

Hey all, I've got another problem. I think the router is bricked (I think that's the term for it, I can't reach the configuration and only one connection works at a time.) The Router itself is a Linksys WRT54GC: A Compact Wireless-G Router. It all happened after a firmware update failure. It started to update the firmware, and then I left and came back and the operation had timed out. At which point, I couldn't get online with my computer anymore, yet the other computer could still get on. Tried another cable to connect to the router, no luck. Connected my computer directly into the modem and that worked. Plugged it back into the router and it works too. Now we go to the second computer and it stops working. Any tips/suggestions as to how to fix this?

Actually, I have a linksys and checked something in regards to mine (I have a WRT54G). If you can find your router model and version on the Linksys site, download the EXE version of the latest firmware upgrade. Just run that and that should fix your problem.

Apparantly, Linksys dropped the bomb here, the Compact version of the router requires the firmware to be working first to upgrade it. Since I can't get into the configuration screens of the router (the http://192.168.1.1) I can't upgrade it. Their firmware is a single .IMG file which I can't open otherwise. I don't know what using a regular Wireless G router would do.

Some routers have a button, switch, etc. to reset the system to the factory settings. That means reverting the firmware to the first one and deleting all settings. Maybe the Linksys has such a button. Or maybe the regular reset button has more functions you know about (some D-Link wired routers act differently depending on how long you push the button down)

Yeah, I've tried that button a lot, from 8 seconds to 30 seconds, with no visible result.

I have never heard of a router that reverts to its original firmware by pressing the reset button.

Unless you are adept at programming, and have a firm grasp on the design of the router, as well as the tools(the thing will most likely need manual reprogramming/reinstalling), I think your only option is to see if you can get Linksys to fix it.

Were you installing a firmware update that they provided, or was it unofficial? You might have a chance to get them to fix it it you were doing one of their upgrades.

Otherwise, you are SOOL; unless there is some trick, like jumping some pin... but to do that would most likely void any warrantee, and I myself wouldn't have the faintest clue what to do (hearsay says the wrt54gc is a different design from the near-standard wrt54g).

Yeah, it was an official firmware update, so I know warranty hasn't been voided. Most likely, I'll have to send it in for a replacement.

If you were an elite hardware hacker, you could desolder the firmware chip, drop it in a firmware flasher and load the IMG data onto it and then carefully resolder it to the board.. But, that takes some serious hard-core geekery and special tools. I think you might be shit outta luck here.

They didn't release an EXE file alongside it to do a remote install?

How sad. :(