Removing dd-wrt firmware and restoring to factory - Netgear Nighthawk Series 2020 Update! 

Nice! It is easier to flash on the older Nighthawks AC1900 and below.

But wasnt there security issues with the initial firmware. Hence the current hotfix?

Jim_Mitchell aka/jmgargoyle I would go to initial first, then flash to the latest firmware.

Thats because for newer Netgear that uses the .img file you need to do it with the tftp command in command prompt. Let me get the info and ill send it your way.

Here it is: kb.netgear.com/000059634/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-Windows-TFTP Now to activate TFTP in cmd you need to: Go to the Start Menu and open up the Control Panel. Navigate to Programs and features and then on the left-hand side, click ‘Turn Windows features on or off’. Scroll down and locate TFTP Client. Check the box. Then what I would do is place the .img file in your dowlnoads folder and then from command prompt do a cd C:\users\username\Downloads basically to point where the file is at and then run the commands from the netgear tutorial above.

@@MannyTutorials thanks for the link after countless times of trying, at least I understand now that .img files can be loaded trough tftp, I use tftpd64 client and follow instructions in your link, worked as a charm. Thanks.

Did you find the answer?

Hi, have you managed to fix your router yet? I'm running into the same issue

@@gabrielbuzatu1951 no i had to throw it away, because they told me it was bricked, thank you

Same here..

Me too!

Linksys was my replacement router. I also had it on the network at the time I made this video and it had a different IP Schema and it apparently loaded when I typed in the IP Address of the Netgear.

I think with the newer Nighthawks you have to do it using TFTP using the steps found here kb.netgear.com/000059633/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-TFTP-client

​@@MannyTutorials Ok , Thank you I will try that, that looks hard though, i will try,,

@@MannyTutorials . i never used TFTP, how do you use it, it looks complicated. ? thank please help

Were you able to revert back? I have the same router.

Some people don't know how to setup SMB functions in DD-WRT, Port Forwarding is a bit complex, editing wifi settings can be challenging, setting up things like QOS/RIP/UPNP is difficult too. There are many reasons why you would want to go back. DD-WRT for me feels like a compressed Linux OS and if you've never dealt with Linux then DD-WRT is not for you. Netgear has had their issues with each new firmware release which is why I switched to DD-WRT in the first place, but as a home user I'm not as concerned with the Netgear issues. You can't always blame your Router for bottleneck connections. I learned in my case that I had to bridge my ISP modem and disable the Firewall, DHCP, Changed DNS and after that I was getting 500MBPS/500MBPS hardwired and about 275MBPS on WIFI 5GHZ.

@@MannyTutorials I've got gigablast and was only getting 50 down on my ps4 hardwired? So I had a cox tech come out and he showed me that I was getting full speed into my home but not from the router. Just to make sure, I also hired a local computer service tech to come out and check it as well. He came to the same conclusion that its caused by the netgear firmware not working correctly! And of course my 90 day warranty is up so i cant get any support from netgear either...so ive bought a $350 netgear P.O.S.!

Jim_Mitchell aka/jmgargoyle Do you have a PS4 Pro ? Are you NA East? Is your computer ethernet card 1gig ir 100mb? You can check things like that. I have a ps4 pro and their servers always give me no more than 80-90mbps hardwired with the Fiber connection I have. Now, if you aint getting the fulll speeds hardwired to your pc from your router i would first start looking at your ethernet card. Ive owned the Netgear R6400, 6700 and now the 7800 and ive had great success. If it all fails, sell your router lol.

@@MannyTutorials it's the same with the pc. So yeah its the router. nighthawk r8000P. Btw, I've gotten over 500 down with my pro before?

Jim_Mitchell aka/jmgargoyle You can also try OPENWRT if you dont like DD-WRT. I actually like OPENWRT better. Yea Playstation servers have been bad for me 😂

You can try the tftp method with the .img file: here it is..... kb.netgear.com/000059634/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-Windows-TFTP Now to activate TFTP in cmd you need to: Go to the Start Menu and open up the Control Panel. Navigate to Programs and features and then on the left-hand side, click ‘Turn Windows features on or off’. Scroll down and locate TFTP Client. Check the box. Then what I would do is place the .img file in your dowlnoads folder and then from command prompt do a cd C:\users\username\Downloads basically to point where the file is at and then run the commands from the netgear tutorial above.

Nate Thanks. Which Netgear router you have?

@@MannyTutorials netgear r6400v2

Nate you have to make sure you download this firmware www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/R6400v2/R6400v2-V1.0.2.14_1.0.7.zip

I had this issue with my AC1750 what I did was even though the power was amber, i connected my PC hardwired to any of the 4 LAN port in the router and I was able to go to my browser and type in 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 and the recovery screen appeared in which I was able to fix the issue by following the prompts. Hope this helps.

@@MannyTutorials Tks for quick reply but I've just tried it, and the browser error: "This site can't be reached". Once again, here is my connection: Modem--->Ac1900 Router (which has firmware updated & dead now) ---> wired to Pc & wifi to other devices. Can you please give more details ?

Your router is probably bricked. You will have to follow these steps to unbrick: medium.com/@nitinkaveriappa/how-to-unbrick-a-bricked-netgear-router-92b4b1e98eeb

@@MannyTutorials Nope, It doesn't work even I've tried many times & also saw people comments the same issues on that site. But tks anyway

Manny Fresh, I am doing as your instruction, but I don't think it applys to my router situation cuz as you know my router now has only 1 power amber led on now, it means it has network connection, so how can it get Default Gate address after typing Ip config /release or /renew. Secondly, how can you get the program, the sreen at 1:20 ? and how come the factory reset is so complicated and doesn't work as manufator instructition (7s reset button hold) ???

You may need to be hardwired and also set your pc with a static ip

Junee, hit up my Facebook page and send me a message. Look for MannyTutorials in facebook and message me.

I've done 10 of these Netgears and not once have they bricked, you did something wrong. With DD-WRT if you hold the reset button for 30 secs it should pre-load everything back up.

I'm facing the same situation.

highlander723 you have to reflash it with the serial cable

@@HakimoCrays hey since you're here let me tell you what's going on maybe you can help me. I followed this guy's instructions to the letter and I downloaded firmware number 1.0.096_1.0.15 which is the initial release on the Netgear website for the r7000 everything seemed to be working okay. I got the r7000 responding and telling me that I wasn't connected to the internet but then all of a sudden I couldn't communicate with it anymore The lights turn on it looks like it's able to communicate but when I try to ping the router itself I always get destination host unreachable or I get timed out. The other thing that is strange the Wi-Fi is broadcasting Netgear and Netgear 5G not Netgear21 like it says on the bottom of the router. I have a suspicion this firmware was too old and my router was probably a different board maybe. I tried the TFTP but I get can connect request failed all the time. I'm waiting for the TTL cable to come in connect to the board directly and use PuTTY to try to get it to accept a more updated firmware. but before I do that is there any other way?

highlander723 no there is no another way, I was in the same situation. I ordered 1 TTL câble and was stuck for 2 days before realizing it was the wrong cable, then I ordered another one, and in 10 minutes I got my r7000 back working. Flashing the R7000 with the initial version got my router brick in the first place

Did you fix your router?

@@carlos.f.2092 Nope, its still not giving me wifi lights on or any wifi but Ethernet works. i put the factory back on but nothing? i dont know why, i got it from Ebay 6 months ago for 275.00 now i lost that money!

@@ORLANDOBUSA @Orlando Gonzalez Try a 30-30-30 reset and then try to install the firmware again using the tftpd64 software.

@@carlos.f.2092 YES tried that alot of times but not wifi lights only the 60g will light up, but none of them work with with signal giveing out, crazy huh

@@ORLANDOBUSA So your wifi is not working or just the lights? Because the only reason I went back to the original firmware was that my 5GHz was slow and anything I tried wasn't working.

Any idea how to do for R7800 please

Zeusfather-_- Use the 1.0.0.96 Firmware

If you are not in the US, use 1.0.2.194

This doesn't work on my R9000. It just says, "please wait" after the timer counts down to zero and it never does anything different. Rebooting the router puts you right back into DD-WRT. How do you take a Netgear R9000 back to the factory firmware??

Afi I heard the newer Nighthawk routers you have to do it via tftp: kb.netgear.com/000059634/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-Windows-TFTP

@@MannyTutorials I followed everything and its still not working i need help

@@MannyTutorials i keep getting the "Disc Image File is Corrupted" everytime i download the firmware, any way to fix the file?