How To Repair De-Brick Router Guide PDF
How To Repair De-Brick Router Guide PDF
How To Repair De-Brick Router Guide PDF
Any Questions Or Help That You Need Can Be Found In This Forum.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1
Please make sure that you post at least the following information
to allow the friendly people on the forums to help you.
- what device you are using exactly (brand, type, revision, Version)
- a description of what you were trying to do
- a report of what happened
REPAIR DE-BRICK ROUTER
Take Apart Your Linksys WRT54G/L/TM/GS Router
Open the Screw less Assembly
Opening the router will void your warranty. Since you have probably loaded third
party firmware your warranty is gone anyway so you may as well pop the housing
open. There are no screws to remove. The pieces are snapped in place. The front
face of the router will separate from the rest of the assembly.
Exercise the plastic with your thumb first . At this point you are not loosening any
snap locks. The purpose is to flex the plastic material so it will come off easier.
Clasp the feet of the router with your index fingers . Lean the opposite side wall of
the housing on your stomach. Hold onto the pieces tightly and pull . The first time
is the hardest. You will need a strong even pull. Don't yank as you may end up
throwing the router half the way across the room.
When the side you're working on separates do the same on the opposite end. The
other side will snap out easier.
Every subsequent time you open your router will be easier than the previous. After
several disassemblies you'll be able to unsnap the pieces by pushing your thumbs
apart.
The printed circuit board looks different in different models. In each case it is
attached to the bottom of the housing by two screws . Remove the screws and
slide the PCB off two small side locks.
Version 3 of the WRT54G does have a Phillips screw under each front leg that you need to
remove before removing the front panel. They are located under the black rubber feet on
the underside of the front panel.
For opening other models check the forums or do a Google search.
You need to use a parallel port built in to the motherboard of your computer only no add
in cards or converter cables usb etc.
USB to parallel adapters do not work nor do the PCI parallel port add in cards with the
parallel jtag.
non-standard addresses can end up configured on systems,
even if you only have one parallel port.
This is especially when PCI card based parallel ports are used.
For Windows Vista go to Control Panel click on Hardware and Sound
go to and click on Device Manager go to Ports (COM & LPT) click
on the plus sign and double click on the Printer Port (LPT1)
Then click on Resources tab, this is what it should like 0378-037F for Windows XP etc this
can be found under Device Manager.
First steps to try to de-brick your router try each usually the first one is all you need erase:nvram /noemw /noreset .
(power cycle unplug the routers power cord)
-erase:nvram /noemw /noreset power cycle disconnect the jtag if that didn't work try
-erase:nvram /noemw /noreset power cycle disconnect the jtag cable tftp the firmware for
your router if that didn't work try
-erase:kernel /noemw /noreset power cycle disconnect the jtag cable tftp the firmware for
your router if that didn't work try
-erase:wholeflash /noemw /noreset power cycle and flash the cfe for your router and
version
-flash:cfe
rmmod lp
Then TJTAG will work.
DD-WRT Forum Broadcom based hardware (Any help you need can be found here)
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1
Tjtagv2 - EJTAG De-Brick Repair tool
http://www.ddwrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22655&sid=1cf5e964f60b2f1a4e3cee2205342
575
Guide Recover from a Bad Flash (Never pin short can damage the router)
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Recover_from_a_Bad_Flash
Short Pins
WARNING - This method can cause permanent damage. Success rate is only
about 20%. The other 80% is permanent damage to the flash chip rendering
the router permanently inoperable. Use at your own risk. You've been warned.
Use the JTAG instead.
Install tjtagv2 the giveio.sys copy this file and loaddrv.exe into
{windows}\system32\drivers
double click loaddrv.exe in the system32 dir.
This is important append the filename giveio.sys onto the path in the utility
press the load button and the start button, they should both confirm success.
If this does not happen go no further, go back and fix this.
From the windows command prompt to directory and run get a list of options
tjtagv2.exe
to check your cable, plug-in and power up the router and do tjtagv2 -probeonly
it will then detect the CPU type.
If not then check your cable Could be the cable is plugged into the header
backwards.
Or you did not solder the pin header correctly check it.
Double check your soldering. Make sure you don't have any damaged pads/traces.
Use an ohm meter to verify continuity from JTAG pin header to traces on the
board.
That is generally where we see this problem....bad solder joints or solder splashes
shorting pins together.
finally to erase your NVRAM (the usual cause of the problem) tjtagv2 erase:nvram
If solder is already bonded filled in to the jtag connection holes location, you will need to
use a soldering iron to remove it from each hole with a solder sucker or desoldering braid
before inserting the pin header. Once you insert the pin header on the top side of the board,
solder it from the underside of the board. Routers with 14 pin jtag port Solder your 12 pin
header into pins 1-12. Example: Buffalo WHR-G125 the JTAG header on this unit is the
same as any standard Linksys or Buffalo JTAG except it is a 14 pin header...just don't use
the last 2 pins (13,14) on the router. Solder your 12 pin header into pins 1-12 as normal and
it can be jtag from the top of the Motherboard of the router.
As you can see below soldering is not hard (recommended method to install the pin header
if needed)
Pre-soldering picture with opened up WRT54GL/ WRT54G-TM/GS/G/ and 12-pin header.
Turning upside-down the router and the 12-pin header being held in place by a plastic cap
for my tube of solder.
Half way done of soldering the 12-pin header install the header making sure not to use too
much solder.
Using the de-soldering braid to clean things up making sure no solder is touching any two
pins and bridging them.
Everything hooked up with the antennas attached and power plugged in ready to be erased
and flashed.
ONLY FOR LINKSYS WRT350N (JTAG on WRT350N is JB1 on the router pcb)
You would have to scrape the green epoxy off both sides
and then solder both sides with the 12 pin header,
scraped away the green enamel coating over the traces
to reveal clean copper jumper pads and soldered the pin header as picture on both sides.
BSP = VxWorks Bootloader
CFE = Linux Bootloader
The vxworks BSP is 320K bytes.(Board Support Package)
The linux CFE (Common Firmware Environment) is either 128K or 256K depending on
manufacture and/or hardware.
Use these switches with tjtagv2.1.4 to get the Jtag program to recognize the router.
/skipdetect /instrlen:08 /noemw /noreset
Use command line for tjtag as follows
For Backup cfe
-backup:cfe /noemw /noreset /instrlen:8 /skipdetect
For Erase Nvram
-erase:nvram /noemw /noreset /instrlen:8 /skipdetect
For WholeErase
-erase:wholeflash /noemw /noreset /instrlen:8 /skipdetect
For Flash cfe (use the one in the De-Bricking folder cfe folder cfe firmwares) its a special cfe
128KB created to allow you to use DD-WRT micro-plus.
-flash:cfe128 /noemw /noreset /instrlen:8 /skipdetect
Unplug the unit and have the command ready
plug it in and immediately start the command.
If you have a Broadcom 5354 rev2 processor, tjtag2.1.4 will recognize it.
If you have a Broadcom 5354 rev3 processor, tjtag2.1.4 use the command switches above.
Once you flash the cfe128.bin file on, then you need to use tftp program to load the firmware
directly.
Use DD-WRT firmware not the Linksys firmware NEWD micro-plus DD-WRT build firmware.
For Flash cfe (use the one in the De-Bricking folder cfe folder cfe firmwares) its a special cfe
128KB created to allow you to use DD-WRT micro-plus.
If you flash this to your router you must use the DD-WRT firmware micro-plus not the Linksys
firmware http://www.dd-wrt.com/ddwrtv2/down.php?path=downloads%2Fothers%2Feko%2FV24_TNG/
The higher the SVN the newer the firmware or just ask in forums if you are not sure what to use.
Because it is a 128KB file and not a 256KB file you must use
the 128 in commands while flashing or backing up -flash:cfe128 /noemw /noreset or backup:cfe128 /noemw /noreset
Some computer ports are not configure correctly, I suggest you try JTAG from another
computer..just for a sanity check in that case.
You solder install the pin header to this router just like the above ^^ LINKSYS WRT54G2 V1.
There are two jtag ports on this router one is for the radio chip
the other is for the CPU the one you want to use is mark with the arrows to the right.
Some of the new N routers have more than one jtag port so make sure
you install the pin header to the correct port see below red arrows.
If you solder the pin header to the wrong jtag port the radio chip,
the jtag program will say Unknown or No CPU Chip ID Detected (3432117F).
If you do JTAG the unit and need to reload a CFE (or back it up)
You might need to use the CFE128 qualifier not the straight CFE with the TJTAG program.
-flash:CFE128
Maybe even give it a "flick" to get rid of any excess solder on the tip of the pen.
Bad soldering comes from not enough heat (cold solder), or too much solder. Use the right
kind for electronics (rosin core solder), and use "thin" solder. The stuff I use is .030
diameter.
You need to clear out the solder from the 12 holes etc before you install the pin header.
Vacuum Desoldering Tool (soldering sucker)
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062745
Best for beginners due to ease of use.
Placed the tip on the back of the circuit board and heat the holes up from the front.
Once the solder melted hit the release button and it will sucked the solder right out.
Get it flat against the board to really suck the solder away.
Desoldering Bulb Same as the above^^^
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062742
Desoldering Braid
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062744
Try melting some solder on top of the holes and then using he braid. See if you can pull it out
that
way. Removing solder is best accomplished by actually adding some new solder to both sides.
The flux in the new solder makes the old solder flow much better making removal much easier
with a solder sucker or braid. Some braid will have flux in it and to use it effectively
it is best to add a small amount of solder to the braid to get the flow started.
Just plain braid without flux will rarely work.
If you have some flux, you could just apply some to both sides.
Without flux, solder gets an oxidized layer when heated which prevents it from
flowing and sticking to the pins on the components.
De-bricking
Tjtagv2 - EJTAG De-Brick tool Tjtagv2.1.4
http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/others/tornado/jtag/tjtagv2-1-4.zip
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22655
Then extract the files to a directory on the C drive. Make sure you copy the giveio.sys file
into the correct directory, C:\windows\system32\drivers .
Then make sure you use the loaddrv.exe to install and load the giveio.sys file.
You must first copy the file giveio.sys to c:\windows\system32\drivers\giveio.sys
Then click on loaddrv and install the giveio.sys c:\windows\system32\drivers\giveio.sys
Then click on loaddrv and click start every time you restart your computer you will have to
start the loaddrv do this.
Now you can hook the Jtag cable to router and your pc and start the jtag program.
Open command prompt on windows you can find it under ALL Programs Accessories.
Type the location of the program (tjtagv2) for example
C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\tjtagv2-1-4\windows\tjtagv2
Now hook up the router via the JTAG cable to the parallel port.
Then run tjtagv2 -probeonly /noemw". If you get a response of what chipset you are
running and flash info of the router then you know you've successfully installed
the JTAG header and set up the giveio.sys file. Copy the giveio.sys driver manually to
c:\windows\system32\drivers\
Although we suggest that you skip backing up either the kernel or the whole flash chip, it is
certainly possible to do so. Even though the usefulness of backing up the entire flash on a
bricked unit is dubious. This process can take from six to 24 hours to complete Another
reason, besides time constraints, you should avoid backing up the whole flash on a bricked
router is that the three major flash sections are combined into one file instead of being split
into individual, easily restorable files.
Please Read Everything In This Guide Before You Do Anything
Tjtagv2.1.4 De-Brick Program
First you need to connect the jtag cable with the router's power off to your computer and
the router, plug the power cord in for the router and start up the jtag program tjtagv2-1-4
First you need to do a -probeonly /noemw /noreset to make sure everything is connected
properly and working CPU found and Flash Chip now we are ready to proceed.
First steps to try to de-brick your router try each usually the first one is all you need erase:nvram /noemw /noreset .
(power cycle unplug the routers power cord and plug back in)
-backup:cfe /noemw /noreset
-erase:nvram /noemw /noreset power cycle disconnect the jtag if that didn't work try
-erase:nvram /noemw /noreset power cycle disconnect the jtag cable tftp the firmware for
your router if that didn't work try
-erase:kernel /noemw /noreset power cycle disconnect the jtag cable tftp the firmware for
your router if that didn't work try
-erase:wholeflash /noemw /noreset power cycle and flash the cfe for your router and
version
-flash:cfe /noemw /noreset cfe file needs to be in the same folder as the tjtag program.
power cycle disconnect the jtag cable tftp the firmware for your router
http://www.wlan-skynet.de/download/skynet_repairkit_1.2_setup.exe
or
http://www.wlan-skynet.de/download/skynet_repairkit_1.3_setup.exe
Skynet Repair Kit if you need a CFE the Bootloader Creator can create one for you. You
can also
get it here or request it here http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=25971
Use Bootloader Creator to create cfe for your router.
Download install and do a online update before you create the cfe.
Your Mac is on the bottom of the router.
After installing it make sure you do an update from within the program itself.
Once you are all set up and updated you'll want to make a CFE file with your MAC
address(Located on the bottom of the router)
and select (Your router and version) for example WRT54GL v1.1 also used for WRT54GTM from the drop down list.
Then save the file to the same directory you have the tjtagv2.exe file.
Now you will want to download and use the Linksys TFTP or some other TFTP program.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/others/tornado/Windows-TFTP/tftp2.exe
Go to the Linksys website http://www.linksys.com and download the actual Linksys
firmware for
(YOUR ROUTER AND VERSION) for example the WRT54GL v1.1 used for the
WRT54G-TM also.
the (YOUR ROUTER AND VERSION FIRMWARE) for example WRT54GL Linksys
firmware.
Now try and transfer the firmware image to the router. It should work fairly quick,
but let it sit for a few minutes. It will reboot itself once it's done.
How to TFTP
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/TFTP_flash
Setup a static ip on your pc.
Windows Vista
Go to Start
Control Panel
Network And Internet
Network and Sharing Center
Manage network connections
Right click on Local Area Connection
Double click on (Internet Protocol Version 4)
Select use the following IP address
IP address: 192.168.1.10
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1
Click OK.
server: 192.168.1.1
password: admin
File: browse for the .BIN file
click on upgrade button and it should now start the upgrade
let it sit for a few minutes.
once successful, hard reset and reconfigure router
Go to 192.168.1.1 in your web browser and log in with the default Linksys password. Blank
username and admin for the password.
Now go back and select Obtain an IP address automatically from when you setup a static
IP on your PC.
Router should now be de-brick repair highly recommend upgrading to DD-WRT third
party firmware.
The instructions for how to use tftp.exe are here:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Tftp_flash
Make sure your firewalls and virus protection are disabled prior to upgrading.
Get the appropriate firmware version for your router.
Use this tftp utility
http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/others/tornado/Windows-TFTP/tftp2.exe
Set your computer to a static IP 192.168.1.10 and 255.255.255.0 for a mask.
Plug Ethernet cable into lan port
If you get hardware error, this means your router is not attached.
If you get a timeout, this means you are getting no response. You cannot tftp if you do not have a
ping response.
Sometimes, when you power cycle or do a hard reset (or do the procedure to put the router into
management mode)
you can then tftp the router. But sometimes, when there is a problem you will get timeouts, and
then get a few ping responses of ttl=100,
then get timeouts.
If tftp is not started just as these ttl=100 start, it will sometimes not properly upload.
You have to try again and again, anticipating the right time.
This can take many many times in order to get this right. It can be frustrating.
Make sure your computer hardware, especially your lan cable are working properly. Make sure
your network adapter is working.
Disable all virus protection and firewalls on the computer.
Connect one computer to the router with a cable. Have no other connections to the router except
one computer and one cable to that computer.
Set your computer ip address to 192.168.1.10 (if that is the same subnet as the router is supposed
to be at).
Check to see what IP default is for your router usuallay this is 192.168.1.1. Some routers are
192.168.10.1 and some are 192.168.1.245.
Make sure if the subnet has changed, your have changed your computer to match the subnet.
Additional Information
DD-WRT Forum Forum Index -> Broadcom based hardware
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1
At the moment DD-WRT supports more than 80 different router models.
To check if your router is supported by DD-WRT and which version
you can use for the router please refer to the following entry in the DD-WRT Wiki:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices
Downloads
http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv3/dd-wrt/downloads.html
Hard reset or 30/30/30 (If you decide to upgrade the firmware always do a hard reset
before and after firmware upgrade.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Hard_reset_or_30/30/30
-backup:wholeflash
-erase:cfe
-erase:nvram
-erase:kernel
-erase:wholeflash
-flash:cfe
-flash:nvram
-flash:kernel
-flash:wholeflash
These are the options you can run the program with. Starting the program with
any of the options will start it immediately and run until completion (so get the
option correct!)
A couple notes here:
Backing up the Kernel or Wholeflash will take a really long time (I think I
already mentioned that why yes - I believe I did!)
The image to flash must reside in the same directory as the program
The image to flash must be named one of the following: CFE.BIN or
NVRAM.BIN or KERNEL.BIN or WHOLEFLASH.BIN
Anytime you backup an image the image is saved with the name
CFE.BIN.SAVED or NVRAM.BIN.SAVED or KERNEL.BIN.SAVED or
WHOLEFLASH.BIN.SAVED
Anytime you flash a portion of the flash chip using this utility it will first
erase that portion of the chip to flash.
Issuing a Flash command will *not* automatically backup what is there
first. That is up to you to first issue a backup command.
Take the time to make a backup of each section of
the flash before doing anything else. (This is only
smart in case you roast things later and you may
want to put those backups in a safe location. I
believe if I recall correctly the CFE.BIN.SAVED image
(the CFE portion of the flash) contains a MAC
Address embedded specific to the router.)
Ok now that you have seen the options you need to know one thing first before
running the program for real
You need to type the requested command line option in completely and just
before hitting <ENTER> plug in the power cable to the WRT54G. In other words
have the JTAG cable hooked up to both the PC and router with the routers
power off and then type the command line you wish and plug in the router and hit
<ENTER>. The command should start working and progress will be seen on
screen.
*** IMPORTANT NOTE ***
Anytime you re-run the program, follow the above step it is important since the
WRT54G v2 has a Watchdog Timer built into it that will reset things at a very
IP Address: 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1
Click the Advanced button in the TCP/IP setup window and in the IP Address section click the
ADD button to add the following 2nd IP Address to the adapter:
IP Address: 192.168.1.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Then click OK on each screen. Your network interface card (NIC) now has 2 LAN IP Address
statically set on it, 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.1.2. This will allow your PC to communicate with
the router before and after replacing the CFE on it. It will also allow you to be able to tell when
the router is ready for a TFTP upload.
2. Open a command prompt window and type ping -t 192.168.1.1 and hit enter. Leave this
window open.
3. Log into the WRT54G-TM's web interface @ http://192.168.0.1 (assuming that the router has
been reset to defaults) and go to the Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade. Upload the
CFE_Updater-WRT54G-TM.bin to the router.
!!!ATTENTION!!! You MUST wait at least 5 minutes after clicking the Upgrade button to
allow the CFE_Updater to replace the stock CFE on the router and for it to erase the rest
of the flash, otherwise you will brick your router.
A few seconds after clicking the Upgrade button the Linksys web interface will report that the
upload has been successful and the power light will begin flashing on the router. Do NOT
assume that the CFE replacement/flash erasing/reboot process has finished as the power light
will continue to flash after it has rebooted. So there is no way to tell when it is ready for you to
TFTP the DD-WRT firmware to it except when you begin to see the ping respond.
So once it is finished replacing the stock CFE and erasing the rest of the flash, the router will
reboot. When the router is ready for the TFTP upload of the DD-WRT firmware, you will see the
ping -t 192.168.1.1 begin to respond in the command prompt window that you opened before.
4. Start up the TFTP utility and set the following:
Server: 192.168.1.1
Password: <leave blank>
File: <path to dd-wrt.v24-10404_NEWD_mega.bin> (or whichever build you wish to
use)
Now click the Upgrade button. Once the firmware is sent to the router, it will reboot. The power
light will change from flashing to solid when it is ready to be configured @ http://192.168.1.1
done.
- what device you are using exactly (brand, type, revision, Version)
- a description of what you were trying to do
- a report of what happened
Please Read Everything In This Guide Before You Do Anything