This is a problem that recently faced, I update a router ASUS RT-AC68U with version 384.13 do firmware Asuswrt-Merlin and after the apparently successful update, it does not work anymore.
Issue
The ASUS RT-AC68U I was the version 384.12 from the Asuswrt-Merlin before upgrading. I installed the new version (384.13) using the option to upgrade the firmware itself, as I always do. To complete the installation it appeared the message asking to restart it manually, as often happens.
Follow the instruction, but then on the router crashed. the on and Ethernet LEDs were usually lighting, but no WiFi and no connectivity, no DHCP, nothing…
then downloaded the firmware restoration tool itself ASUS, the ASUS Firmware Restoration version 2.0.0.0, which is available on Product Support section on the manufacturer's website.
You have to put the router into recovery mode, connecting it while the small RESET button is held down for 5 seconds. The light flashes POWER, indicating that the router is in recovery mode.
Then, you must connect your PC to a LAN port, manually configure the IP to 192.168.1.10 and the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0. Then run up the ASUS recovery program and choose a firmware file to apply the router.
The problem is that at the end of the procedure, despite the message that had been successful, the problem persisted. I tried with the latest version of Asuswrt-Merlin (384.13) and also the latest official firmware (3.0.0.4.384.45717).
Solution
The solution I found is on SNBForums and it is simple. I installed an old firmware version, if the version 378.55 do Asuswrt-Merlin, usando a ferramenta de recuperação da ASUS. Com isso o roteador voltou a funcionar e pude instalar a versão mais recente novamente, a 384.13. Dessa vez não houve problemas. Recuperei então o último backup das configurações que eu tinha, ainda da versão 384.11 if memory serves me, e tudo voltou ao normal.
Não sei exatamente porque foi necessário colocar a versão antiga primeiro. Um membro do forum mencionou algo sobre o CFE (Common Firmware Environment). Que ele precisaria ser atualizado quanto ao tamanho de partição ou algo parecido e que duas versões poderiam fazer isso, a 378.55 do Asuswrt-Merlin, que foi a que usei, ou a 376.3626 da ASUS. Não entendi muito bem, but the important thing is that it worked. 🙂
Esse é o tipo de informação deveria estar no site da ASUS, na própria ferramenta de recuperação, etc. But unfortunately it is not.
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Good morning.
I bought a model that today (18/10/2019).
Does this problem keeps happening ?
Only happened to me once when I was updating the firmware, and I had made many updates before. I do not think it's something common.
But if it happens, It is good to know that is reversible.
Thank you very much.
Funny, I did an update these days and mine went without doing anything. I have EXACTLY the same router and I use Merlin too! Another device. A pity that RoubAnatel does not let you enter the country anymore. I bought mine at an auction on Ebay for 50$. Here it costs 1k… sniff sniff.
The case I mentioned is an exception, the normal is to update without problems. This router in question apparently already had problems, shortly afterwards he died for good. I guess it was a problem with the flash memory, that stopped holding the recorded data.