Possibly bricked RT-N66U

[ryuk999]

I followed the Wiki for it down to the very last step.

Here's what I did exactly.

• Uploaded AsusWRT Merlin 3.0.0.4_270.24 (Worked like a champ btw)

• Had CFE version 1.0.1.3 so I thought could go straight to DD-WRT 18946 NEWD K2.6 mini

• Cleared NVRAM w/ WPS button

• Had to go through basic setup to access the upload page

• Upload DD-WRT 18946 via web gui

• Waited 30 minutes, router still not booted. Ping 192.168.1.1 only to have "Destination host unreachable" with 0% packet loss

• Tried clearing the NVRAM again, no success in getting router to ping

• Attempt to enter recovery mode by holding down reset button on reboot, no success on entering recovery mode

All I can do is make the power LED turn on as well as the ethernet port light up if I hold the reset button on boot. If I clear the NVRAM I can get the wireless LED's to go up but no wired/wireless signal of any type. Is there anything I can do?

[MaxRat]

Go to the Asus site and get the Asus flash recovery tool and reflash it...

[ryuk999]

I have tried that to no success. I can't get it to reflash the router because I can't enter recovery mode. Am I entering recovery mode right?

• Unplug router

• Hold down reset button until power light glows on and off

I do all that except in the second step, the power light won't glow on and off. I've held it for the past 2 minutes now.

EDIT: When I do ipconfig /all I get a weird IP address/subnet mask when I leave it to DHCP. I get 169.254.239.223 and 255.255.0.0.

[bob]

Some info here.
HELP! I think I bricked my Asus RT-N66U Router! - Neowin Forums

[ryuk999]

Thanks bob, but I couldn't find any useful info on there.

Here's what my ipconfig / ping tests look like in case I'm missing something.

This is what it does after I attempt to enter recovery mode.

This is all it does after I clear out the NVRAM.

[bob]

Its been a long time but I see Netbios over TCPIP enabled.
It is possible a web search with "bricked RT-N66U" may turn up better results.
Try a different computer to set it up.

[ryuk999]

Just tried it with my Asus laptop. Exact same outcome, I'm starting to think I messed up my CFE because I can't enter Recovery Mode.

[MaxRat]

have you tried a hard reset? Hold reset button 30 sec, unplug power still holding reset button 30 sec and then replug power all the while still holding the reset button... after 30 seconds of holding the reset button after power up let it go... what does that do?

[ryuk999]

Originally Posted by MaxRat have you tried a hard reset? Hold reset button 30 sec, unplug power still holding reset button 30 sec and then replug power all the while still holding the reset button... after 30 seconds of holding the reset button after power up let it go... what does that do?

This is also known as clearing the NVRAM which I posted a video on youtube, but only with the WPS button and not the reset. Holding the reset button yields no results other than this, also there's no blinking lights when doing this.

[bob]

It could just be a hardware failure - it happens.

[ryuk999]

Just sent the router back to newegg for RMA.