Install Open Wrt

WARNING: Open Wrt comes with NO WARRANTY and NO TECHNICAL SUPPORT. Loading Open Wrt will invalidate your router's warranty! If this does not bother you, please read on...

It takes only a few minutes to flash the router with new firmware, but you must follow these key steps.

First you should right click on where it says 'bin' on this page and save it somewhere that you will be able to find it again.

After downloading the firmware image you should make sure that the file is not corrupt. This can be verified by comparing the md5sum from your downloaded image with the md5sum listed in the md5sums file found in the download directory. For win32 platforms use md5sums.exe; for GNU/Linux systems use the md5sum command.

1. Connect your PC with the .bin file to the router via Ethernet cable. Do not try to flash the firmware through a wireless link, which could be unstable and possibly leave you with an unusable hi-tech brick.

2. Reset your router's current firmware to factory defaults. You can do this through the current firmware's configuration pages - Administration/Factory Defaults/Yes/Save Settings. As an alternative, you can physically reset the factory defaults by pressing and holding the reset button on the back of the router for 30 seconds.

3. Now you can flash the new firmware. Connect to the router's configuration pages with your browser by typing http://192.168.1.1 in the address bar and navigate to Administration/Firmware Upgrade. Open the browse dialog to select your .bin firmware file.

4. Once you start the firmware upgrade - do nothing! Whistle. Whittle. Have a coffee or something stronger: just don't touch your computer or the router; leave them alone for this intimate moment. Hacker interruptus will only produce a new baby brick.

5. After a minute or so you'll see the upgrade progress bar complete. The router will now reset itself, and assuming everything worked, you'll see a new page with a button marked Continue.

6. Wait at least two more minutes before clicking the Continue button. Sometimes the router presents the continue screen before it has truly cleaned up from its upgrade, and you're better safe than sorry. Drink another coffee.

7. Now click Continue. You should be forwarded to the main configuration page for your router.

What if you didn't make it this far? What if something terrible has happened, and the router did not come back to life? This is a rare but possible event. It is very unlikely if you've followed steps 1 to 6. Your router may be bricked, which is somewhat like being dead, except with the possibility of resurrection.

First, try to reset the router to factory defaults by pressing and holding the reset button on its rear for 30 seconds. When and if it relights, try to connect to it with your browser. You may be lucky and have a chance to start the process over again. There are several more tricks you can try to revive a bricked router, also known as recovering from a bad flash. In this case, you may want to consult the WRT54G Revival Guide.

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