so my friend gave me a routerboard. its a 532A running firmware v 2.9.
it only powers on with POE. I am able to hyperTerminal into it.
when it tries to boot from NAND it just says kernal not found.
when i try to boot over Ethernet, i have netinstall runing, it finds its gets an IP, it shows up on my list, and i choose what to install, i have tried any version of routeros i can find, no matter what i get “ERROR: could not format partitions”
i have done memory tests, all good.
can i install the routeros to a compactflash(CF) or what can i do?
did you try installing directly to the compact flash via Netinstall? Netinstall will detect all drives in your PC, if you connect the CF with a USB adapter, you will be able to install to it directly, avoiding the net booting. See if it works then .
I personally had more than a fair share of my own in not being able to format routerboard when using Netinstall.
I found out in the end that it’s the firewall.
In my case, it was the Windows standard firewall. Initially, I thought simply disabling my (own) installed firewall was sufficient. But to my surprise, Windows standard firewall automatically kicks in. In many instances, it may be considered as a good practice providing some basic protection for an average user. But it’s definitely NOT when you Netinstall your routerboard.
So here is my two cents. Disable your installed firewall. Then go to Windows firewall, and add netinstall.exe to the local allowed column. Give it a try.
RouterBOOT booter 2.9
RouterBoard 532A
CPU frequency: 264 MHz
Memory size: 64 MB
Press any key within 3 seconds to enter setup...
kernel not found
trying bootp protocol... OK
Got IP address: 192.168.1.2
resolved mac address 20:CF:30:55:90:DE
transfer started .................. transfer ok, time=1.04s
setting up elf image... OK
jumping to kernel code
Welcome to MikroTik Router Software remote installation
Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete to abort
mac-address: 00:0C:42:0F:04:B0
software-id: XC94-3TT key:
99/vC8iM5++3Y9C9+UfXJZuARmYs1aEgQstYHW5FQ8yvLT+PUzSKgC9jO+SJBPTUJlVeFoL+BXnTEYiT3dN9dC==
Waiting for installation server...
Found server at 20:CF:30:55:90:DE
Formatting disk...
ERROR: could not format partitions
Press ENTER to reboot
I have used a 64bit windows 7 and a 32 bit windows 7 along with a 32bit windows xp pro. all firewalls turned off and firewall exceptions added. any idea?
What I found works in the end was I had to allow the specific version of Netinstall.exe (I had several versions) which I need to flash the routerboard with; after first disabling Windows standard firewall did not seem to work. Not sure why. I disabled my other firewall though (Comodo).
Steps I took on Win7:
Control Panel/ System and Security
under Windows Firewall heading, select ‘allow a program through Windows Firewall’
click on ‘Allow another program…’ It’s here that you add Netinstall.exe
Just to be sure, allow it on both private and public network colums.
You may also want to try option r for ‘reset configuration’ in Hyperterminal, then e for ‘format nand’ before actually selecting ‘boot over ethernet’ option to see if it make any difference. If this still does not work, your routerboard may be a lemon.
