The Duck
join:2001-07-11
Sacramento, CA
clubs:
 ·Comcast
2 edits |  [BEFSX41] Firmware upgrade=toast?
Last night I flashed my BEFSX41 v1 with firmware version
1.50.18 from 1.40x. After the flash was complete my router went into a continuous reboot loop. I attempted a long reset and lost my router. By that I mean that I could not ping the default IP address, nor could I use the TFTP util to reload the firmware. The router is no longer rebooting however.
I have given myself a static IP, set my NIC to 10mb/half, power cycled the router, attempted numerous long resets with no luck. The front panel LEDs appear to go through a normal reboot sequence, I have normal link lights, and the diag LED is dark.
Does anyone have any suggestions before I give up and chuck the (out of warranty) router?
Edit to correct typo in title for search engines and per request of a member. ~sorto' |
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Eko
Premium
join:2004-05-04
Slovenia
2 edits | Re: [BFSX41] Firmware upgrade=toast?
One last thing to check again:
- Be SURE your computer is set to static IP 192.168.1.10, net.mask: 255.255.255.0, def.gateway: 192.168.1.1 by going into command prompt and typing ipconfig/all .
- Be SURE you have disabled software firewall (XP built-in, ZoneAlarm, Sygate...)
- Prepare Linksys TFTP program, but not press Upgrade yet. Be sure to use proper TFTP util »ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pub/network/befsx41_Tftp.exe, default password is admin
- Then type ping -t 192.168.1.1 (this will start continuous pinging). While pinging play with reset button (short press, 10 sec., 1 min press), play with unplugging and plugging back power to router. Try plugging power back while holding down reset button. Leave it unplugged for 30 mins, then plug it back while pinging it.
- You might get ping reponse for just a second or two. When you get it, start upgrade proces.
Don't use 1.50.18, use one of the stable firmwares »[wired] Recap: BEFSX41 Stable Firmware
After successful upgrade be sure to restore to factory defaults. Good luck. |
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d_l
Barsoom
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-08
Reno, NV
| reply to The Duck
From personal experience, I think the procedure about holding the reset button in while unplugged, then powering up, and then releasing the reset button that Eko  suggested is a critical step to getting a ping response from your router.
The diag light may still be flashing when you have a ping response, but proceed with the TFTP flash anyway because it WILL work properly in that condition. |
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The Duck
join:2001-07-11
Sacramento, CA
clubs:
·Comcast
| reply to Eko
Yep, positive that all software firewalls are disabled, IP is proper, the TFTP util is correct. I have not received a reply to any ping since the initial long reset.
I admit that I didn't think to check here first before loading that firmware. It really cheeses me off that I relied on the manufacturer instead of coming here and finding out from you good folks that REALLY know what is up. We all make dumb calls when tired sometimes I guess. |
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The Duck
join:2001-07-11
Sacramento, CA
clubs: | reply to d_l
Thank you for the suggestion.
I did attempt to hold the reset while powering up, but not for very long. Should I do that fo any specific time or wait for the diag light to flash? |
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d_l
Barsoom
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-08
Reno, NV
| reply to The Duck
First off you didn't mention this, but only have one cable hooked to your router, your computer cable.
From what you describe, it sounds as if the long resets you did weren't "taking". Possibly the router is too far gone to take a long reset, but maybe, just maybe, you can get the reset to work right at power up. That is why holding the reset button before and for at least 30 seconds after plugging in the power jack is worth a try.
Eko 's continuous ping suggestion tells you right off when you have gotten through to the router so you can start your recovery flash immediately. |
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The Duck
join:2001-07-11
Sacramento, CA
clubs: | Thank you both for your suggestions, unfortunately I am not able to report success. Guess I have an excuse to build an ISA server now.  |
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Eko
Premium
join:2004-05-04
Slovenia | Are you willing to open the router and to try some hardware tricks to revive router? |
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The Duck
join:2001-07-11
Sacramento, CA
clubs: | I thought you would never ask...:)
Where do I start? |
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d_l
Barsoom
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-08
Reno, NV
| reply to The Duck
How to open it if you don't know already: »How do i open a Linksys Router
The other method is to drop it a few feet to a carpeted floor and hope it disassembles itself. I did that accidentally once. It isn't recommended for the faint of heart.  |
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The Duck
join:2001-07-11
Sacramento, CA
clubs: | One router, three pieces. Next step? |
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Eko
Premium
join:2004-05-04
Slovenia
2 edits | Do what I wrote before: plug just one cable to sx41 LAN port, prepare Linksys TFTP in one window, start "PING -t 192.168.1.1" in another window.
Ok, theory goes like this - chapter 3.3 (I think it applies to sx41 just the same):
»openwrt.org/OpenWrtDocs/Troubleshooting
Get a small screwdriver. Find flash, pins 5 and 6 (or 4 and 5, experiment...). Plug the power in, wait 6 (or 4,5,7..) seconds and then short the pins for fraction of a second (touch them for a moment).
It will probably take many tries (100...) to get ping response. If you get it, start TFTP.
Good luck.
You'll see the details on pictures I took. |
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The Duck
join:2001-07-11
Sacramento, CA
clubs:
·Comcast
|  I am happy to report a successful recovery. I appear to have been able to coax the um, toast back to life. It now has jam!
After about an hour or so of experimenting I found that I could force the router to boot and bring up an IP interface. Here is how it works:
Follow the above suggestions for static IP, ping -t, only one patch cable, etc.
Start the TFTP app, enter the password and path to the flash file. Set the retry to 40 or some other high number.
Place a small screw driver between pins 4 and 5.
Plug the power in to the router and wait for it to begin booting. As the router boots drag the screwdriver (GENTLY) towards pin one and back towards pin 6. The router appears to boot normally, and responds to ping requests.
The running TFTP applet will begin to upload the flash and all is right in the world.
Thank you very much for your assistance, I am thrilled to have saved the router from the trash heap. I could not have done it without your help. You are a credit to the forum. |
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Eko
Premium
join:2004-05-04
Slovenia | Welcome! Glad you did it. We're now two very lucky guys.
Don't forget to restore to factory defaults after each fw. upgrade.
May I ask for further reference which fw. did you TFTP to router? |
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The Duck
join:2001-07-11
Sacramento, CA
clubs: | "sx41_v1.45.7_001_code.bin" obtained from the stable firmware link you provided above. |
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netband
join:2003-06-03
Morrisville, PA
| reply to Eko
I was ready to dump my router in the garbage before I found these threads. I am another victim of Linksys's 1.50.18 firmware.
I have an older befsx41 with v1.44.3 stamped on the FlashROM. I upgraded to 1.50.18 because the unit started rebooting more frequently. Thanks to AliM's knowledge, and Crockaduck's experimenting with "dragging the screwdriver between pins 1 and 6", I brought the unit back to life and Flashed it with sx41_v1.45.7_001_code.bin.
So far it's functioning properly...!!! |
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Eko
Premium
join:2004-05-04
Slovenia | 3 working routers....:). Great!:) |
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Jan Janowski
join:2000-06-18
Skokie, IL
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to The Duck
That is absolutely fantastic!!!
I printed out the info AliM posted a few days ago.... And browsed other links...
At the time I was thinking that it was a real "Last Gasp"...
But hearing the success you had with it... That's Great!!
--
Looking for 1939 Indian Motocycle |
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erniek
join:2002-01-15
Dallas, TX
| reply to The Duck
Here's another success story.... I used the above process and brought mine back out of the weeds.... It is crucil to tap with a small screwdriver during power-on.... It actually took me longer to open the darn case than get it going again.... Flashed to 1.45.7.... I previously had held the reset button and powered-on until hell froze over, with no results.... Thanks to all who contributed to my success.... |
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Eko
Premium
join:2004-05-04
Slovenia
| reply to Eko
Another success story here: (Thought it would be nice to collect them all in one place)
said by arlehdon:Success!! I did as described in the thread you linked. Pinging and resetting didn't have any effect, so I opened the box and started experimenting with the flash address lines. At first it didn't seem to work, but I guess it was fortunate timing that worked in the end. I plugged in the power, then waited for a couple of seconds and then very briefly shorted the address lines (I can't be sure what lines exactly ). After that there was a ping response and I was able to upload 1.45.7 firmware. Now everything seems to be working correctly. Thank you very much for your help! From now on I'll be sure to check out this forum first before upgrading the firmware! |
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