Yesterday I posted about my router taking a dump on me and what I did to solve my problem and get back online.
If you were wondering before I get comments on it, yes, my router “taking a dump” is the proper technical term.
I also mentioned about using the DD-WRT custom Linux firmware and received a few emails about how to set it up and what special things I do with it.
Today I’m going to cover how to flash DD-WRT on your Linksys wireless router.
Disclaimer: I do not take responsibility for anything you do to your router. If you brick it or something else goes wrong, it’s not my fault. I’ve documented everything I’ve done in flashing my own routers however your mileage may very. Proceed at your own risk.
It takes only a few minutes to flash the router with a new firmware but you must note these key steps.
Keep in mind that you can only flash a Linksys WRT54G Router version 1-4. Look on the bottom of your router. There should be a label with the version number on it.
You can also tell from the serial number by checking the first 4 letters:
- Version 1.0: CDF0, CDF1
- Version 1.1: CDF2, CDF3
- Version 2.0: CDF5
- Version 2.1: CDF6
- Version 2.2: CDF7
- Version 3.0: CDF8
- Version 3.1: CDF9
- Version 4.0: CDFA
I’m going to assume you’ve already downloaded your choice of DD-WRT firmware. If not, go download it now. I recommend dd-wrt.v23 SP2.
Flashing Your Router:
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 lead to a 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 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! Have a drink, go for a walk. Just don’t touch your computer or the router. Leave them alone for this intimate moment. Interrupting this process 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. Have another drink or walk around the block again.
7. Now click Continue. You should be forwarded to the main configuration page for your router. In the case of DD-WRT, it looks much like Linksys’ own page, except with DD-WRT markings and a whole lot more features to explore.
That’s it. You’re done. Congratulations. From here you’ll want to explore the configuration pages and follow any guides or documentation available for the firmware you’ve installed.
Possible Issues:
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 one through six. 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 various other tricks you can try to revive a bricked router, also known as recovering from a bad flash. In this case, you want to consult the WRT54G Revival Guide.
Further reading:
- My Linksys Wireless Router Died
- DD-WRT
- Best Wireless Router | The Best Wireless Routers Of 2008
- T-Mobile Offers Free Wi-Fi To PSP Players
- SRG Clean Archives 3.0 For WordPress Released
I’m not a hardware girl at all!
Why would I do this?
Hi Ellie.
For most home WiFi users, this would be overkill.
The benefits of upgrading your firmware like I mention would be for increased signal strength, better security, more control over what your wireless does or doesn’t do and a ton of other things.
Granted, some home users would say “I want those things too” but using non stock firmware voids hardware warranty and if not done correctly, can kill a router.
That makes sense, Sean. I would love for our wireless connection to reach further and be a bit stronger. Unfortunately, I live in an “older” building with lots of pipes and stuff that seem to interfere with the signals.
I’ll ask my systems admin/techie older brother if he can test it out at his house and let me know how it works!
@Ellie: Using upgraded firmware (like DD-WRT) with signal power boosting and the ability to make one antenna send and one receive can actually help with older building issues like you mention.
If you can’t upgrade your stock firmware, you can also check into 7dBi High Gain Antennas which will help too.
I want to flash my new Linksys WRT54GL with the ddwrt. All the instructions I’ve read say that I first need to reset the router to original factory settings – however, if I do that I’ll lose my internet connection due to currently having a wired connection. Is there any way around this? Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide!
@Tazzy: You will need to reset your router to factory defaults as instructed.
I highly suggest before you hit the reset button, make a back up of your settings so you can add them back in once you upgrade your routers firmware.
Good luck with your upgrade. If you follow my instructions from my post, you should be fine.
Thank you very much for your quick reply…I guess I’ll dive in and see how it works!
You’re welcome Tazzy. Be sure to come back and comment on how it went for you.
Thank you Sean! It actually worked
(that’s a comment on my abilities, not your instructions!).
Now I just have to figure out how to get my two computers to talk to each other, and share the internet connection and I’m all set. I’m very glad I found your site!
You’re welcome Tazzy.
Enjoy your updated feature rich DD-WRT powered Linksys Wireless Router.
Hey sean I have a v1.1 Linksys and I was wondering what bin file should i flash with because theres so many?
@Stephen: The v1.1 has plenty of memory and CPU power, so go with the full version of dd-wrt.v23 SP2.
That will give you all the features available for things like VoIP, VPN, Radius Server, etc.
If you don’t want all the bells and whistles, go with the mini version.
i have everything i need to flash my router but i dont have internet so how do i flash it?
Hey the default password for this is root/admin correct? if so why can I not log in? however I can still see the screen just cant do anything…
why do you write that ver. 1-4 can only be flashed and dd-wrt site says v6 can be flashed….am I understand their compatability chart?
i just upgraded my wrt54gl and now i cant access the administration page with…192.168.1.1 can you tell me the reason why? my internet is working fine for other web sites but not this one, thank you
I read the post really impressive…. Iam using linksys wireless router WRT 160N N-series router… Can tis firmwire be installed in my router…. or is there anyother way to help me !!!!
Hey all, its not required to reset the firmware to factory settings before upgrading. It should upgrade fine without the reset.