RT-N66W Firmware backup before trying

[newbiec]

HI all,

I have a RT-N66W for a week now running firmware 3.0.0.4.374_836 and have no issues. I like to try Asuswrt Merlin and tomato.

Since firmware 3.0.0.4.374_836 is working for me, I like to know if I backup this firmware from the router to the hard drive and use it later if I need to revert back?

I am not a tech person, so please help me.

Thank you very much.
Carol

 

[RogerSC]

Two things. First off, keep the firmware file that you used to upgrade in case you need to revert to the same firmware version. And then go to the router's web admin GUI "Administration" tab, and save/backup your settings so that you can restore them if you need to revert. You'll see that you can restore your settings file in the same area of the admin GUI that you saved it in.

 

[newbiec]

Sorry, I haven't done any upgrade.

This firmware 3.0.0.4.374_836 is the original firmware already in the router when I bought it. I only need to know if there is anyway I can extract this out.

Thank you for your help.

 

[jlake]

HI all,

I have a RT-N66W for a week now running firmware 3.0.0.4.374_836 and have no issues. I like to try Asuswrt Merlin and tomato.

Since firmware 3.0.0.4.374_836 is working for me, I like to know if I backup this firmware from the router to the hard drive and use it later if I need to revert back?

I am not a tech person, so please help me.

Thank you very much.
Carol

Carol,

The firmware 3.0.0.4.374_836 is a manufacturing build and is not available to download. So if you flash another firmware, you're going to lose it forever (unless you're lucky enough to get someone from ASUS to email it or send you a link).

The latest download is .979

I would imagine that .979 is pretty much the same as .836 if not better, but I can't guarantee that.

https://www.asus.com/Networking/RTN66W/#support

 

[sm00thpapa]

Will this router except the same firmware as the RT-N66U? I want to flash .276 on the RT-N66W.

 

[sm00thpapa]

Just got this router today and .836 wireless distance is worse then .979. I'm going to try and load .276 on this router.

 

[RogerSC]

Sorry, what I was trying to say is that you can't extract your firmware from your router. The only firmware versions that you can keep for later use are the ones that you have the firmware binary files for (the ".trx" files). I didn't realize that the firmware version that you're trying to save is not available for download, that's unusual. Usually the firmware on the routers that I've bought is one of the firmware versions that you can download.

The other part of what I was trying to say is that if you do have the firmware binary file for a particular version, and it's working for you, then you can revert to it more easily if you've saved your working settings in a settings (.CFG) file. After you've re-upgraded (reverted) to that firmware version you can easily get back to where you were by restoring the settings file.

Sorry for the confusion, it was on my end, I didn't understand that you were trying to save firmware that you couldn't download. Personally, I save all the .trx files that I use, since Asus has a habit of removing old versions. So if there's any chance that you might want to revert to a particular version, saving the .trx file is a good idea.

 

[RMerlin]

You can actually save a backup of a firmware to reflash it later on. However it involves using telnet and commands that directly manipulate the flash (mtd-write), so not something I would recommend for a beginner, as that command can potentially irremediably brick your router if misused.

Personally I would recommend upgrading to 979 if that's what's on the website. Those interim builds are often not fully tested/finalized like released builds are. It's common for Asus to ship routers with a working build just so manufacturing can begin, while they keep working on the firmware and issue a more finalized FW later on through the website.

 

[KevTech]

If the router came with a recovery CD the CD will have on it the original firmware version that came with the router.

 

[sm00thpapa]

.276 works on this router and increases the range by -10 dbm. Let me know if anyone needs it.

 

[wouterv]

.276 can still be downloaded from Asus:
https://www.asus.com/Networking/RTN66U/#support