Beginner Here - Can I run a clean re-install on my router? (Wndr3800)

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Years ago, I bought a WNDR3800 router pre-installed with LibreCMC (Which is based on OpenWRT, so I presume it should operate the same way). I haven't touched it at all since then but recently I decided I want to give it a try.

Obviously, I would want to update it before I run it so I wonder if its possible to run a fresh clean flash of the latest version of LibreCMC/OpenWRT.

In the unlikely event the router may have been tampered with during transport, would such a clean install undo it?

Thanks.

2

we know nothing about LibreCMC, if that's what you're installing, you'll have to ask them.

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They don't have a forum and because LibreCMC is based on OpenWRT, I thought I could find help here. And going on their chat server seems too nebulous to try and make an account for.

4

sorry, but no.
"based on" is very vague, content and function wise, both are based on Linux, that's pretty much what they've got in common.

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5

Go Here. Your device is supported. Add Official Openwrt (latest supported version), and we’ll be glad to help.

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Wndr3800 is nearly the same as the wndr3700 v1 and V2.
All those have an OEM recovery flash routine in the u-boot bootloader.
That should be intact,mand using it would wipe all firmware components.

Advice in https://openwrt.org/toh/netgear/wndr3700#recovery_flash_in_failsafe_mode

...

happen to brick your router, do not fear. You can use TFTP file transfer to flash the router with a new firmware. Note that this TFTP recovery mode is separate from OpenWrt's own “failsafe mode” and is offered by the original u-boot boot manager by Netgear, so it should be enabled with either an original Netgear firmware, a working OpenWrt firmware or a bricked OpenWrt firmware.

Note: WNDR3700 may also automatically enter the TFTP recovery mode, if you have flashed a bad firmware image. That is indicated by the power led blinking slowly and steadily, much slower that during a normal OpenWrt boot.

For TFTP recovery you need:

  • A TFTP client for your computer. There are both command-line tools and GUI versions available.

  • Your computer must have an IP address from the 192.168.1.x network, as the router failsafe mode defaults to 192.168.1.1. You might need to manually config the address, as some operating systems change the IP to a link-local 196.254.x.x address after a while if there is no DHCP server.

  • A new firmware to flash in. Either an original Netgear firmware or an OpenWrt “factory.img” firmware. “Sysupgrade” version will not work.

  • Access to router's reset button

Steps needed in the flashing process:

  1. configure and connect PC

  2. power on the router

  3. press and hold the RESET button as soon as the switch LEDs light up.

  4. keep holding RESET until the power LED begins to flash orange and then green.

  5. once the power LED is flashing green, release RESET

  6. start the TFTP transfer to router at 192.168.1.1.

  7. wait a few minutes for the router to complete flash. It should reboot automatically.

Please note that the TFTP transfer is quick, as the file is stored in RAM. However, the flashing process itself will take several minutes, after which the router should reboot automatically. Be patient -- it will eventually come up as a brand new factory-fresh router with NETGEAR firmware (or OpenWrt if you used the OpenWrt 'factory' firmware version for debricking)

Ps. I have used the recovery dozen times during my decade of creating wndr3700 community builds. It works well.

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If it was me I would just flash the sysupgrade file for OpenWrt. I cant see why it would not work after all you can flash a sysupgrade of OpenWrt all the way back from 17.xx up to the 23.xx. Just untick the box to save any configs and you should be good to go.