Wireless router problem

[hiccup]

I've got a Netgear wireless router. Yesterday I tried to upgrade the firmware, as my wireless connection kept dropping out (a wired connection seemed fine). The first firmware upgrade went fine, but after I'd done the second one, I was no longer able to a) connect to the internet or b) connect to the web interface for the router. I tried running the firmware upgrade recovery utility from the Netgear site, but I couldn't run all the way through the utility: it didn't seem to recognise there was a "device" (router) attached. Which it is, via an ethernet cable.

Netgear support have been less than helpful:

Me: "I can't connect to my router after a firmware upgrade"

Them: "You need to upgrade your firmware"

Me: "But I can't connect to my router to do that"

Them: "You need to upgrade your firmware"

Me: "But..."

Etc etc etc.

All the lights on the router that should be on, are on, but all I can get is "limited or no connectivity", either via ethernet, or wirelessly. I'm at a bit of a loss. Is it fucked? Or is there anything else I can try?

Any advice gratefully, gratefully received. Dial-up sucks

EDITED TO ADD: I've tried using the factory reset button on the back of the router, but holding it in for 10 seconds doesn't seem to re-boot the router like it's meant to.

[miss minnie]

have you tried reading the support pages for your router's model? i recently did a firmware upgrade and there was tons of info on how to rollback if it went wrong.

btw, why did you have to do two firmware upgrades? you can usually upgrade to latest in one hit.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/netgear is a handy place to get help and info on netgear products, i've seen their tech support on there helping out.

[hiccup]

Yeah I've been through the manual, but everything relates to the web interface, and I can't access it, or the recovery utility, which doesn't work.

I did two firmware upgrades just because there were 5 or 6 listed on the site, all of which seemed to fix different issues, and it wasn't clear if I just needed the latest one, or all of them, so I started with the oldest. Maybe that was a mistake.

I'll take a wander over to that site now, thanks for the link.

[miss minnie]

yeah, deffo a mistake to start with the oldest i'm afraid. go for the latest, it will apply all previous patches if needed.

[hiccup]

Bugger. Well I'll know for next time I guess. Think I might just hit it repeatedly with a hammer then go to the pub.

[Blagsta]

I have a DG834G and the latest firmware version is buggy as hell. I went back to an older version and its much better.

[miss minnie]

same router here. running V3.01.25, which appears to be the latest, and it is fine.

[Blagsta]

When I upgraded it, it hung at the end of the procedure and popped up "This document contains no data" error message. On reboot, the router worked OK but UPnP refused to work when running Soulseek. I went back to an older version and it was fine.

[hiccup]

Apparently I can do something called a "long reset", which I'll try this evening.

A whole weekend spent swearing at a small white plastic box - marvellous.

Thanks for the replies.

[gnoriac]

I have a DG834 too which is a bit problematic (speed drops during the day, sometimes fails to boot properly), is this also likely to be firmware? It's on 2.10.22 atm. If so, is there a safe way of upgrading, so as not to end up in the brown & smelly like poor old hiccup?

[hiccup]

As long as you can get into the web configuration page thingy, I think you can always "undo" firmware upgrades.

[oicur0t]

I'm running 14 DG834's (two wireless) and never had any problem with them out of the box. One has even survived an office flood.

[hiccup]

Mine had been running without a problem for 6 months or so.

[oicur0t]

You say your wireless connection kept dropping, we have had problems with our neighbours using the same router (and channel). Did you try a different channel?

[hiccup]

No, but I will if I can ever get back in to the damn thing. I assume the manual will tell me how to do this?

[oicur0t]

No, but I will if I can ever get back in to the damn thing. I assume the manual will tell me how to do this?

I've never read the manual, but online there must be something to do a factory reset.

[miss minnie]

No, but I will if I can ever get back in to the damn thing. I assume the manual will tell me how to do this?

when you can access the router admin page, go to Wireless Settings and select a channel.

[hiccup]

when you can access the router admin page, go to Wireless Settings and select a channel.

Cool, ta.

[hiccup]

Update: the "long" reset method did seem to reset the router, but I still can't connect to it's configuration page. Going to try and borrow another one from a mate and see if I can get that to work, to try and narrow down exactly what the problem is.

[Derian]

Try this:

From a dos prompt type ipconfig, hit return



This should give you you’re ip address and default gateway



If there is no default gateway and the ip address is not 192.168.x.y or 10.x.y.z then the device is pretty shagged and possibly now has no firmware.



If there is an ip address like 192.168.x.y or 10.x.y.z there should be a gateway as well.



See if the gateway is in the “ARP” table on the pc by typing arp –a from the dos prompt. If it is try typing telnet 192.168.x.y (whatever the gateway address is)

[hiccup]

Well fuck-a-duck.

Just tried with a new ethernet cable and, for reasons that elude me completely, it worked. Well, I've been able to configure the router and connect here to post this. Just got to fiddle about with wireless stuff now.

Thanks for the advice. You all rock the most.

[Derian]

Yay