[aeroknight]

I purchased a new TP Link WR840N Ver:1.0 (FCC: TE7WR840N) - a supported device.

Did 30-30-30
Flashed factory-to-ddwrt.bin from here:http://www.dd-wrt.com/routerdb/de/download/TP-Link/TL-WR840N/v1.x/factory-to-ddwrt.bin/4167 (which I found via the Router Database)

And thats about it never got a chance to flash the webflash file after that.

The power light comes on and the corresponding LAN/WAN light when a cable is plugged in but no wifi light or gear icon light.

If I set my computer to 192.168.1.2 I can ping and access the CFE miniWeb Server on 192.168.1.1 (funny thing is that the webpage says "Broadcom - CFE miniWeb Server").

I have tried flashing the webflash file (http://www.dd-wrt.com/routerdb/de/download/TP-Link/TL-WR840N/v1.x/tl-wr840n-webflash.bin/4168) from the CFE miniWeb Server but though it uploads and the devices reboots it remains in exactly the same status.

I tried TFTP and though I PUT the bin file to the device successfully; same thing - nothing changes.

Can someone please suggest how I can get out of this predicament?

Thanks for your help.

[aeroknight]

Attached is a screen shot.

[LOM]

TP-Link has made a fustercluck.

WR840Nv1 was an Atheros based router for the Chinese market and now they have produced an international one with the same model and version numbers but based on Broadcom chipset.

So your router is not dd-wrt supported and is likely to never be supported.

[aeroknight]

Thanks LOM - that explains alot!

Any ideas if / advice on how I can reload the stock firmware from the CFE screen?

The TP Link firmware is available to download as a zipped bin file.

If not possible I'll just put it in the trash.

Thanks again / in advance!

[LOM]

Click restore default nvram button, then unzip the archive and point the cfe miniweb server to where the .bin file is located.

[aeroknight]

Thanks LOM but that didnt work ...

It gives me a rather unceremonious...

"Receive file size=4063793
The file transferred is not a valid firmware image."

[nebbia88]

could you link the firmware you are trying to upload?

you unzipped it, right?

[aeroknight]

Hi nebbia,

Link to stock firmware I am trying to restore: http://www.tp-link.ae/resources/software/TL-WR840N_V1_130829.zip

Yes, I unzipped the file and was pointing the browser to the bin file.

For good measure I used different browsers and tried an older stock firmware too. Same result no matter what I try - it just says The file transferred is not a valid firmware image.

Thanks.

[LOM]

Try this one:
(you may have to rename it, I don't know how long filenames the cfe web server supports)

[aeroknight]

Thanks for your help.

The file uploaded fine. I got: Upload Successful. Rebooting - or something to that effect.

On reboot the LEDs didnt change (no wifi or gear icon - if the firmware was applied successfully I assume these would have come on).

I have used the reset button and rebooted since but nothing - just power light and LAN 1 light (which is connected to my computer).

I cannot reach CFE anymore. Any ideas what I can do here?

[LOM]

RMA it as not working, it does at least have the right TP-Link firmware on it now but probably written in the wrong location in flash.
It is apparent that the cfe rescue web server doesn't work as it should do, it should have accepted either the stock firmware or my modified version with removed boot loader.

[aeroknight]

Thanks LOM for your help! I really appreciate it.

[nappers]

aeroknight, did you manage to fix your router?

I also bought the same router and unwittingly tried to flash it with the factory-to-ddwrt.bin firmware, which I now see was a bad idea. I get the power light and a LAN light when connected and I can ping the router on 192.168.0.1 (ttl=100), but I don't manage to connect to the CFE miniWeb Server that you mentioned. I have tried to use the tftp flash method to put the original firmware back on it, but I just get a "Transfer timed out." error message. Any ideas?

Thanks for any help.

[aeroknight]

nappers, short answer no. Never could revive it.

I went out and bought a TP-Link TL-WR841ND v8 and loaded dd-wrt on it and I am very happy with its performance.

Gave the non-working WR840N to a patient friend who RMA'd it and got a replacement. He is using it with stock firmware. FWIW, he isn't too impressed with the WR840N's performance with stock but he's kind of stuck with it without any TP firmware options.

[Sash]