Cannot upgrade asuswrt-merline firmware from 3004.388.9_2

[ColinTaylor]

Are you saying I can change the router IP and try to upgrade the firmware in "normal mode"? Still, why does it make a difference? Just curious.

If you're doing a normal firmware update through the router's web interface (Administration - Firmware Upgrade) it makes no difference what the router's IP address is.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Just to confirm, you meant the upgrade is done in "normal mode", right?

Yes and if not try the rescue program, so both.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

If you're doing a normal firmware update through the router's web interface (Administration - Firmware Upgrade) it makes no difference what the router's IP address is.

It should not, but sometimes it does?

 

[ColinTaylor]

It should not, but sometimes it does?

Nope. If you can reach the Administration - Firmware Upgrade page you've demonstrated you have a connection to the router.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Nope.

Strongly disagree, seen it multiple times.

 

[wandererm]

Strongly disagree, seen it multiple times.

Although I don't understand the reason, but there is no harm to try it out. Thanks John. I will give it a try.
But for your information, ExtremeFireTop was helping me last week and we found out that my router don't have the following command (symlink) available. It doesn't look right to him. Not sure what happened but my router doesn't seem to have a normal environment so the firmware upgrade failed. (normal update process went through but NO upgrade; ASUS utility could not detect the rescue mode; missing commands observed on the router system, ..., etc.)

admin@router:/tmp/home/root# which hnd-write
admin@router:/tmp/home/root# type hnd-write
hnd-write: not found
admin@router:/tmp/home/root# ls -l /sbin/hnd-write
ls: /sbin/hnd-write: No such file or directory
admin@router:/tmp/home/root#

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Although I don't understand the reason, but there is no harm to try it out. Thanks John. I will give it a try.
But for your information, ExtremeFireTop was helping me last week and we found out that my router don't have the following command (symlink) available. It doesn't look right to him. Not sure what happened but my router seems to be in a non-stable state so the firmware upgrade failed. (normal update process went through but NO upgrade; ASUS utility could not detect the rescue mode; missing commands observed on the router system, ..., etc.)

admin@router:/tmp/home/root# which hnd-write
admin@router:/tmp/home/root# type hnd-write
hnd-write: not found
admin@router:/tmp/home/root# ls -l /sbin/hnd-write
ls: /sbin/hnd-write: No such file or directory
admin@router:/tmp/home/root#

Have you tried going back to stock firmware yet? (Reset to default and factory flash stock firmware, just to see if it goes?)

 

[wandererm]

Have you tried going back to stock firmware yet? (Reset to default and flash stock firmware, just to see if it goes?)

No, I don't know which ASUS stock firmware I should try (the latest?)
Also, I have a strong feeling it will fail as well. Because I have tried upgrading the merlin firmware with the factory reset first b4.

 

[wandererm]

Again, there is nothing wrong with my router's daily operation. The only issue I have so far is the upgrade. I am stuck at the firmware version mentioned in the title of this thread.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Again, there is nothing wrong with my router's daily operation. The only issue I have so far is the upgrade. I am stuck at the firmware version mentioned in the title of this thread.

Go back to Factory Stock to see if it repairs/heals the corrupt missing error. YES, try the newest Stock first.

If newest does not go, try first 2025 build:

ASUS RT-AX86 Series(RT-AX86U/RT-AX86S) Firmware version 3.0.0.4.388_24338

Version 3.0.0.4.388_24338 71.55 MB 2025/03/25

SHA-256 ：9EEA3104BBBF294208E0EE7F11BB3732F5683A575F1C6155767794D9D1EF3292

1. Fixed the UI issue in Chrome.
2. Fixed client binding issues in Mesh scenarios.
3. Enhanced input parameter handling techniques to improve data processing stability and system security.
4. Enhance system access control mechanisms.


If no go, then try:

ASUS RT-AX86 Series(RT-AX86U/RT-AX86S) Firmware version 3.0.0.4.386.46061

Version 3.0.0.4.386.46061 75.31 MB 2022/01/11


If any stock is able to flash successfully, then try going back to RMerlin RT-AX86U_3004_388.11_0.zip