Skip navigation.
Home
Home » Blogs » x-men's blog

How to flash WRT54G-TM router without voiding the warranty

Submitted by x-men on Sat, 04/04/2009 - 10:11

I'll say this first: it worked, twice already. Procedure taken straight from dd-wrt website with the files hosted on my host cause you never know when dd-wrt will flip the switch on you like that DD-WRT Store they have there.
Another thing I'd like to comment, even though it says in the procedure that any other firmware is fine for TFTP (this ain't your usual TFTP tutorial so don't jump the gun), I've only been successfully flash it with dd-wrt v24. The router will not, as far as I can tell, start the webserver for web interface when I skip dd-wrt and TFTP Tomato instead. For the record, make it DD-WRT and then flash it with something else, or go back to WRT54GL firmware then to something else like my friend says.
And with no further delay, here it is. (Too lazy to put the table html code)

===================================
How to flash the Linksys WRT54G-TM T-Mobile Edition by Luniz2k1

Please note that this guide is ONLY for the WRT54G-TM router and nothing else. Do NOT attempt to use this method on any other device, as it is written ONLY for the WRT54G-TM router.

In order to flash this router you need to do the following steps:

Note to new users: Do your research and find out what the latest build is and use it from the start, unless there are issues with the latest build preventing the WRT54G-TM from operating properly, then go to a previous build.

1. The default LAN IP Address of the Linksys WRT54G-TM is 192.168.0.1. You will need to set a Static IP Address on your computer for this procedure. If you are on Windows I suggest that you reset the router to it's defaults and set 2 LAN IP Address on your network controller to speed up the process, otherwise once you upload the CFE_Updater-WRT54G-TM.bin you will need to change your LAN IP Address from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.1.2 to be able to TFTP DD-WRT onto the router.

On Windows XP, Control Panel/Network Connections/right-click on Local Area Connection icon and select Properties.
On Windows Vista, Control Panel/Network and Sharing Center.

Go into the properties of the Local Area Connection/Internet Protocol TCP/IP and set the static IP address. 

     IP Address: 192.168.0.2
     Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
     Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1

Click the Advanced button in the TCP/IP setup window and in the IP Address section click the ADD button to add the following 2nd IP Address to the adapter: 

     IP Address: 192.168.1.2
     Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

Then click OK on each screen. Your network interface card (NIC) now has 2 LAN IP Address statically set on it, 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.1.2. This will allow your PC to communicate with the router before and after replacing the CFE on it. It will also allow you to be able to tell when the router is ready for a TFTP upload.

2. Open a command prompt window and type ping -t 192.168.1.1 and hit enter. Leave this window open.

3. Log into the WRT54G-TM's web interface @ http://192.168.0.1 (assuming that the router has been reset to defaults) and go to the Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade. Upload the CFE_Updater-WRT54G-TM.bin to the router.

!!!ATTENTION!!! You MUST wait at least 5 minutes after clicking the Upgrade button to allow the CFE_Updater to replace the stock CFE on the router and for it to erase the rest of the flash, otherwise you will brick your router.

A few seconds after clicking the Upgrade button the Linksys web interface will report that the upload has been successful and the power light will begin flashing on the router. Do NOT assume that the CFE replacement/flash erasing/reboot process has finished as the power light will continue to flash after it has rebooted. So there is no way to tell when it is ready for you to TFTP the DD-WRT firmware to it except when you begin to see the ping respond.

So once it is finished replacing the stock CFE and erasing the rest of the flash, the router will reboot. When the router is ready for the TFTP upload of the DD-WRT firmware, you will see the ping -t 192.168.1.1 begin to respond in the command prompt window that you opened before.

4. Start up the TFTP utility and set the following: 

     Server: 192.168.1.1
     Password: <leave blank>

     File: <path to dd-wrt.v24-10404_NEWD_mega.bin> (or whichever build you wish to use)

Now click the Upgrade button. Once the firmware is sent to the router, it will reboot. The power light will change from flashing to solid when it is ready to be configured @ http://192.168.1.1

If you do not see a progress bar as the tftp utility transmits the file, you may need to power cycle your router. Wait until the tftp utility has finished its attempts, then power cycle (possibly waiting a few seconds) and wait until you can ping 192.168.1.1 before clicking Upgrade again.

A few notes:

  • Tornado has made it so that the router will retain it's MAC Address that is on the label on the bottom of the router with the new CFE replacement.
  • Tornado is in the process of making a revert bin for those who may choose to revert back to the stock Linksys firmware (god only know why)

Many thanks goes out to Tornado, Eko, and Brainslayer for their work on this!!! Cool

No more will you need to void your warranty by opening the WRT54G-TM to JTAG DD-WRT onto it, or spending $70+ USD for a WRT54G-TM pre-loaded with DD-WRT from eBay

==================================
HTML copied over and cleaned up some bit. Here are the original links in case you have the urge to use it.
v24-SP2 build 10404
TFTP utility
CFE_Updater-WRT54G-TM.bin

»