"Could not find network interface" when trying to use Netinstall

[browse]

I’ve a cAP AC, and I want to upgrade the routerOS version on it. It currently has version 6.48.6, released back in 2021. I’ve resetted the AP with the option No Default Configuration.

But everytime I try to upgrade unit through WebFig and WinBox (version 4.0beta24) it says that it downloads the new software; reboots; and then display an error message. The version number never changes.

I’ve tried to update through System / Packages in WebFig and WinBox; and through manually uploading the *.npk files through WinBox.

It seems that the issue may be not enough storage space. The npk files are around 12MB big, but there’s only 15MB of storage. Why there’s only 15MB of storage, and 128MB of RAM is confusing to me.

I found a thread on this forum that suggested to upgrade the software through NetInstall in these cases.

I found the tutorial describing how to upgrade software through Netinstall, but it takes stop just before connecting the AP to my machine with Netinstall running.

I’m running Netinstall (version 7.19.2) on an laptop with Windows 10 Pro installed. Windows Defender Firewall is disabled completly. I’m planning to connect my laptop with the AP unit directly through an ethernet injector.

Note that I’ve disconnected the AP from my laptop and power socket before going through the tutorial.

I’ve disabled the other two network interfaces in Windows, as instructed in the tutorial.

And I’ve set the IP-addresses given in the tutorial. I guess that these aren’t necessary in my case, but the tutorial recommends strongly that beginners with Netinstall setting an static either way.

Now here comes my problem.

The tutorial doesn’t mention any “Could not find network interface” windows. Note that I still haven’t connected the unit to either a power source or the laptop; the tutorial says that it’s the next step.

Several steps before, when the tutorial instruct you to start Netinstall, when the tutorial tells you to start Netinstall it says

Make sure that the Ethernet interface is running and launch Netinstall.exe.

What do they mean with “[m]ake sure that the Ethernet interface is running”? It’s active, but because I don’t have any ethernet cables connected it says it’s disconnected. This must be correct?

[holvoetn]

If your storage is full, that means something is consuming everything in the background.
Netinstall is your only way out then since it clears complete storage on that device.

Try version 7.18.1 and stick for now with wireless package.
If you use wifi-qcom-ac, you will find there is close to nothing left to use that device for anything else but as a simple access point.

Netinstall can sometimes be finnicky to get running.
Make sure you start it in Administrator mode.
Sometimes it takes multiples tries. Press reset, THEN apply power and keep pressing reset until you see the device appearing.
Putting a stupid dumb switch in between can sometimes also help.

Personally I had a close to 100% success rate using a Linux based machine to run netinstall.
Windows is usually hit or miss.

[browse]

Try version 7.18.1 and stick for now with wireless package.

Thank you! This solved my problem. What did they do that made it impossible to update their firmware?

If you use wifi-qcom-ac, you will find there is close to nothing left to use that device for anything else but as a simple access point.

Also thanks for this tip! Improved my wifi connection.

Netinstall can sometimes be finnicky to get running.
Make sure you start it in Administrator mode.
Sometimes it takes multiples tries. Press reset, THEN apply power and keep pressing reset until you see > the device appearing.
Putting a stupid dumb switch in between can sometimes also help.

Personally I had a close to 100% success rate using a Linux based machine to run netinstall.
Windows is usually hit or miss.

First try resulted in a fail, but from my second attempt and forward I’d a 100 percent success rate on Windows!

[notanetworker]

Found this thread while googling, joined to say it was netinstall 7.20 beta 9 that worked for me on win11.

Stable 32/64 didn't work for me with “Could not find network interface” when trying to create the netboot server.

[helectro]

I have a crs309-1g-8s+in that turned off when it was updated. I'm trying to reinstall with netinstall in Win 11 version 7.20 but it won't let me. That message appears. If you have any ideas, it would be a big help to recover the new switch

[jaclaz]

Generally speaking there are two main issues with modern PC's and modern Operating Systems:

1. multiple interfaces (ethernet/wifi/virtual)
2. firewall

You can temporarily disable ALL network interfaces BUT the ethernet one you use to connect to the Mikrotik.
The Mikrotik should be ONLY connected to your PC, at which point you can disable, again temporarily, the Windows firewall.

The poster before you reported success with 7.20 beta 9, maybe you can try with that same version.

[erlinden]

In case of this error, I go back to an older version of Netinstall. Usually solves my problem.
How...just rewrite the URL. Or check the download archive:
MikroTik Routers and Wireless - Software

[helectro]

Thank you very much for your suggestion. I checked and applied both of them, but still no results.

try with netinstall 6.48 no see nothing it would be a big help to recover the new switch

I followed these instructions

Press the Reset button and power on your device. Wait until the "USR" led is blinking then stable "On", and when the "USR" led is "Off" - release the Reset button - the device is booting in bootp mode to reinstall RouterOS using Netinstall.

PC win11- rb750gr3 interface bridge - crs309-1g-8s+

pacht cord Ok y try with another pc same result

it would be a big help to recover the new switch open box updtae and crash

I created the following ticket in support SUP-200575 wait obtain any response

Meanwhile, if you have any other suggestions, I would appreciate it.

[helectro]

After several attempts, I managed to get it to work for me. It worked with NetInstall 6.48 connected directly to a PC CRS and using Jaclaz and Erlinden's advice.
Thank you so much for your support.

[jaclaz]

Good.

Yet another proof that it is a hit and miss game in many cases.