D-Link DIR-615 E4 Issues installing barrier_breaker/14.07/ar71xx/generic/

*I have read the information on www.openwrt.org for D-Link DIR-615 thoroughly.

Situation
Attempting to install barrier_breaker/14.07/ar71xx/generic/
(openwrt-ar71xx-generic-dir-615-e4-squashfs-factory.bin)
to a D-Link DIR-615 E4
using PC MS WindowsXP-SP3 Internet Explorer 8.
Experiencing browser timeout and router reboot problem, as described on
https://oldwiki.archive.openwrt.org/toh/d-link/dir-615
section: Installation, Rev. C1 and E4 (Including section on Browser problems).

Also tried using Firefox FirefoxPortable_13.0.1_EnglishGB.paf.exe same problem.

Are there any browsers I can use under MS Windows XP-SP3 that will work?
Or do I have to find a Windows 7 machine ?

Regards
C.

You are trying to flash 14.07 because wifi isn't working in 15.05, right?

Are you aware that 14.07 is completely unmaintained and to be considered insecure due to several CVEs accumulated over time? Unmaintained means: 14.07 does not get any security updates.

Do you really want to invest a substantial amount of your lifetime in flashing a known insecure firmware on your router?

3 Likes

Also tried using Firefox FirefoxPortable_4.0_EnglishGB.paf.exe same problem.

Hi tmomas
D-Link DIR-615 E4

QUOTE:
'April 2016 - Version E1-E4 of this router, wifi is no longer supported with Chaos Calmer release This is due to limited flash storage. See here for more info. That forum article has some tips to get it working with Chaos Chalmer, otherwise you are better off staying with Barrier Breaker release on this platform.'

Router is being re-tasked for non-Internet use, internal airgapped network. So there are no security issues.

As stated clearly in the post, I am looking for a successful way to flash the DIR-615 E4 using a browser on MS Windows XP-SP3.
C.

This also should be rectified -- XP has been unsupported for years. Calling this "insecure" is an understatement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EternalBlue as just one example.

Good- and excellent-quality replacements for the router that can run current, secure firmware start at ~US$20.

2 Likes

Hi Jeff
Thankyou for the input. But it does not address my problem as stated in this post.

Router is being re-tasked for non-Internet use, internal airgapped network. So there are no security issues.

As stated clearly in the post, I am looking for a successful way to flash the DIR-615 E4 using a browser on MS Windows XP-SP3.
C.

If it isn't flashing through an unsupported browser on an unsupported OS to an unsupported release of a no-longer-supported router, a serial adapter and referring to the current https://openwrt.org/toh/d-link/dir-615 would be a reasonable approach.

1 Like

LMFAO

@tmomas and @jeff ...y'all handle this one!!!

Who tf.....uses Firefox Portable...on XP...in 2019...and seeks tech support!?

:confused:

I do have one suggestion... https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/

  • Stop using Firefox Portable...just try other versions of real Firefox.

And as Jeff suggests, perhaps following the current Wiki - instead of a posting in an old forum.

(I would suggest SSH, download etc....but if you're truly running this in an air-gap, you wouldn't have those resources.)

Also, per the Community Guidelines, please refrain from signing your posts.

Jeff
Thankyou for your input.

Please read: https://oldwiki.archive.openwrt.org/toh/d-link/dir-615 .
D-Link DIR-615 E4 was known to have been successfully upgraded to Barrier Breaker 14.xx in the past.
Hence why I am posting for advice.

Router is being re-tasked for non-Internet use, internal airgapped network. So there are no security issues.

As stated clearly in the post, I am looking for a successful way to flash the DIR-615 E4 using a browser on MS Windows XP-SP3.

Your suggestion of flashing serially is a definite possibility. But I would obviously prefer the easier approach first, before I get out my soldering iron.
C.

PS. Moving to a MS Windows 7 PC now...

Did you refer to the current page?

AAAAH, you wanna be unreasonable, I understand now!

Also, per the Community Guidelines, please refrain from signing your posts.

The advice stands, as does the statement that your references are equally outdated. Please note both the URL of that page and the banner across the top of the page.

I would not be surprised if you are the only one in the world with that combination of outdated systems available at their disposal with any significant, technical knowledge.

2 Likes

I had a version C1, likely very similar bootloader, and curl was the only way I could use the recovery mode.

These things are obsolete. In a secure environment don't use anything known to be insecure.

3 Likes

mk24
Thankyou. Finally some useful information without a put down comment.
I appreciate it.

Something is definitely wrong with the timing of this post. I can't be so sure what exactly. I thought of some possible explanations:

  1. User has sent this post few years ago and it just arrived now.
  2. User is in a different version of our past and has managed to find a way to send messages to the future (our present).
  3. User in an undiscovered time zone that's about GMT-40000 or so.
  4. Starlink internet is now operational, and the satellites picked a message form another planet where they also have OpenWrt and Microsoft Widows, but they are only a few years behind.
1 Like

For anyone that follows down this path:
Re:
https://oldwiki.archive.openwrt.org/toh/d-link/dir-615
QUOTE
'Internet Explorer 6,7,8 on Windows, [Firefox 13 Portable Edition](http://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla Firefox Portable Ed./Mozilla Firefox Portable Edition 2013.0.1/) on Windows 7, Google Chrome 49 on Windows 7 are known to work.'

I was not able to load openwrt Barrier Breaker successfully onto D-Link DIR-615 E4:
MS Windows XP-SP2
using
IE 8
FirefoxPortable_4.0_EnglishGB.paf.exe
FirefoxPortable_13.0.1_EnglishGB.paf.exe
or
MS Windows 7
using
IE 11
FirefoxPortable_4.0_EnglishGB.paf.exe
FirefoxPortable_13.0.1_EnglishGB.paf.exe
Same symptoms in all cases:
192.168.0.1 raises the D-Link Firmware upload page ok, but attempts to send the openwrt firmware result in the router rebooting, and the browser indefinitely awaiting a response from the router.

Will investigate using Curl, and/or serial interfacing at a later date.
If anyone has some genuine knowledge to add to the problem as originally posted, I am still interested.

You said you think I'm trolling...but you honestly didn't read the instructions on how to flash your router.

  • You might have to change the magic number at the end of the OpenWrt firmware to the one used by the stock DIR-615 firmware to get it to upload.

It may also be helpful to note that the Wiki does not tell you to use the OEM firmware upload page!

You're describing EXACTLY what happens when the directions aren't followed.

(Also be warned that Barrier Breaker is the last supported version on your device...the new Wiki tells you why.)

Adendum
In all of the above instances: Router reset button held pressed, then power applied to router, router successfully entered boot mode (flashing orange power indicator on front panel); 192.168.0.1 returns webpage titled: 'D-Link Firmware Upgrade System' version 1.0.0.0 2009/07/15.

At NO TIME was an attempt made to upload firmware through the normal admin webpage 192.168.0.1 that appears when the router is powered on WITHOUT holding the router reset button pressed.

1 Like

Adendum
In ALL instances the procedure steps on
https://openwrt.org/inbox/docs/installation/d-link_recovery_gui
were followed.

1 Like

And what about the magic number (which isn't mentioned on the new page you linked)?

Ademdum
Using Windows 7 + 'Ultra Simple Web Browser 2.0',
upload of data now appears to take place (starts and reaches 100%).
Now investigating issues with openwrt firmware images available.