Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 23:21 Post subject: Bricked AC66U ?
I got a AC66U recently and tried flashing the latest BS build .trx file as per the Wiki and seems to have bricked the router in the process.
After flashing the trx file from the Asus UI, I rebooted the router and it does nothing from there on. It doesn't respond to ping/SSH or Telnet on 192.168.1.1. I tried to reset the router by turning it off, pressing the WPS button for 5 secs, turning it on and pressing it for 10 secs. Nothing seems to help. Don't see Asus recovery mode coming up. Any ideas or help in recovering it are appreciated. Thanks
To access recovery: start a continuous ping. tTrn off the router. Hold the reset button in while turning on the router. When the ping responses are ttl=100 and/or the power led is flashing it is in recovery mode.
Then use the mini cfe web browser, I prefer to use tftpd32, to upload asus/rmerlin or dd-wrt.
This is the method required to flash any asus router which has recent asus firmware on it, as asus is trying to prevent the installation of third party firmware.
Also if the ac66u you just got has non removeable antenna, then use the firmware for the rt-ac68u, because that's what it really is. _________________ I am far from a guru, I'm barely a novice.
To access recovery: start a continuous ping. tTrn off the router. Hold the reset button in while turning on the router. When the ping responses are ttl=100 and/or the power led is flashing it is in recovery mode.
Then use the mini cfe web browser, I prefer to use tftpd32, to upload asus/rmerlin or dd-wrt.
This is the method required to flash any asus router which has recent asus firmware on it, as asus is trying to prevent the installation of third party firmware.
Also if the ac66u you just got has non removeable antenna, then use the firmware for the rt-ac68u, because that's what it really is.
Thanks for the response. I'm finally able to get into recovery mode. I tried to upload the latest firmware from the below link directly in the recovery page and nothing happened.
I'm completely stumped by CFE Web browser or TFTP. I followed the Wiki here and it says I should give it plenty of time after I get the dddwrt onto the router from the recovery mode. Is that true?
At this point, I'm confused on what I have to do to get this working as DDWRT wiki, Wiki Dev and you seem to be suggesting different things.
P.S. I have removable antennas for my router, so I'm sure its the AC66U
Last edited by RandomJerk on Tue May 08, 2018 0:15; edited 1 time in total
Try tftpd32. Also like I said, make sure you have the old rt-ac66u with the removable antenna. Also, that build version may not actually work.
Try an older build known to work on the rt-ac66u. I know this one works, as I use it.
ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2015/02-04-2015-r26138/asus-rt-ac66u/dd-wrt-26138-Asus_RT-AC66U.trx _________________ I am far from a guru, I'm barely a novice.
Last edited by Malachi on Tue May 08, 2018 0:16; edited 1 time in total
Thanks for the link. I did put the router in recovery mode and Tftped the merlin firmware through a windows Virtual machine. It seemed to finish successfully and the power led stopped blinking and is continously on. Should I restart this thing myself or leave it alone till it restarts? No other led other than port4 (which is connected) are glowing at this point.
Accessing the router through the url 192.168.1.1 still shows asus recovery screen
