- First check your router firmware version and the downloaded version,
sometimes you can't UPDATE to the newest firmware, you must look if
they recommend an old version before the newest one.
If that router from ISP, it mean's they locked your router. you have three options to flash it with other version.
First method
By using SSH commands most ISP left backdoor ports, you can use that method to un-break your router.
Download the firmware to the router's /tmp directory with wget or scp.
cd /tmp
wget http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/stable/dd-wrt.v2x_generic.bin
you could use the mounted share if you have one, and simply download the file there.
Compare the MD5 checksum of the original and the downloaded file.
md5sum dd-wrt.v2x_generic.bin
Write the firmware to flash.
write dd-wrt.v2x_generic.bin linux
Wait...
Reboot
Second method by flash your router with DD-WRT, Tomato or OPEN-WRT "open source firmware"
I recommend DD-WRT it's more easy than other open source firmware and stable
check their websites to find what firmware can work on your router, open source firmware can pass your ISP Lock.
The last method
By using serial ports to flash your router, gives you the fully control of everything, this method can break any router, no close doors or locked routers anymore :)
Most factories left serial port on the main circuit board to test/troubleshoot their product.
Sometimes you must solder wires to the ports, Like what I did in the PIC below, check My blog if your want more info about soldering your wires.
![enter image description here](../../I/static/images/eaedcc12d11954a72b108595f9af3caf03d1dee635eddf7d325a39687446c0a7.jpg)
and sometimes they are ready to use
![enter image description here](../../I/static/images/23b2f6fe96acf948799f00ff2962e394b67d98ed445ca2a36b009c60939c7d9f.jpg)
Now you need something called Arduino "Micro-controller"
We will use it to make a communication between your PC and your router over the serial port.
Connect your Arduino to your router like this
TX-------RX
RX-------TX
GND-----GND
VCC----3.3V
WARNING DON'T connect VCC to 5V
IP Setting for your lan card "all that inside TFTP"
- Setting IP server: setenv serverip 192.168.1.100
- Setting IP Mobile Router : setenv ipaddr 192.168.1.1
flash your Router with this command
tftpboot 0x80000000 openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-mr3020-v1-squashfs-factory.bin
after flashing type this command
1. erase 0x9f020000 +0x3c0000 (enter)
2. cp.b 0x80000000 0x9f020000 0x3c0000 (enter)
3. bootm 9f020000 (enter)
router reboot processing.....
That's it
NOTE
If your router can't have WAN-IP after you figure out all settings, you need something called 30-30-30 Hard reset, sometimes your old firmware will stuck inside your NVRAM they call that Dirty NVRAM, 30-30-30 hard reset will clean your old firmware completely "that's for dd-wrt" firmware"
10The message simply indicates the firmware isn't a valid firmware for your device.. – Ramhound – 2015-08-08T02:04:19.587
1At first I thought this was a question regarding wifi router channels. – March Ho – 2015-08-08T05:30:31.700
Are you connected wireless or wired to the router when attempting upgrade? – Moab – 2015-08-14T22:27:15.113
@Moab I'm connected wired to the router when attempting to upgrade – user2824371 – 2015-08-15T03:13:42.757
"what I use now is not the original firmware" does this mean you were able to update it some time ago? Or are you referring to ISP-branded firmware (which you never changed yourself)? – Arjan – 2015-08-17T10:35:26.467
@Arjan I'm referring to ISP-branded firmware (which you never changed myself) – user2824371 – 2015-08-19T12:35:01.833